The problem with listening to a hustler is that you have to assume youre always being hustled. While educating myself in the Art of Hustling, I had to seek out examples of men whose words have produced real results, not just great hype (since most hustlers talk a great game and leave you feeling good with empty pockets and nothing to show from it!)

But these 4 men embody what I call the African American Dream: Starting out from nowhere with nothing, rising to prominence despite obstacles that most urban youths face, and making it to the top of their game in a legal way

Andre “Gorgeous Dre” Taylor

You might remember Gorgeous Dre from the groundbreaking Hughes Brothers documentary American Pimp. Born to a prostitute and pimp, his life was destined to be one of violence, crime, and distorted reality.  At the end of the documentary, he was arrested for on several serious state charges while in Nevada. Primary amongst them was aggravated kidnapping. Facing a lifetime sentence and a constant negative media blitz, most men would have been crushed, but after coming through his ordeal victoriously, Dre left the street game, became an author and distinguished speaker, and spearheads a project called Operation Andre Taylor.

From Gorgeous Dre, we get two lessons:

1. Redemption is possible. No matter who you used to be, you can change your character, actions, and destiny. Most people in the street husltle think there is no way out; its all they know. This site is meant to change that, to show those men and women that there is a much more productive and fulfilling path that anyone can travel. If a street hustler and former pimp can now give lecture at universities and coach executives, theres no reason why you cant do the same

2. Learn from your mistakes. Instead of going right back to the street game, Andre developed a new skill set (public speaking) and started a life coaching business to help men avoid falling into the same trap that he did. Even though he beat his charges, being in jail was a wakeup call, and he saw the lifelong disaster that would result in staying down with the streets.

Tariq King Flex Nasheed aka Tariq Elite

This man should need no introduction.

Tariq moved from Detroit to Birmingham, Alabama in the early 1980s in his early teens, but due to slow pace and boredom of the social scene he purchased a $125 plane ticket and decided to leave Birmingham for Los Angeles alone at age 17. He was known as an infamous hustler and street legend in the Los Angeles area during the late 90s.

Since then, he has gone on to author several books (including a New York Times bestseller), he has done lectures at Yale, was featured on MTV’s Made, is the host of The Mack Lessons Radio Show (available on Itunes or his website), and publisher of the best pay per view specials on the internet. Tariq is building a multimedia empire centered around a very specialized niche: developing men and manhood via the art of macking.

From Tariq Nasheed, we get two lessons:

1. You dont need to sacrifice your “self” for success. Tariq has remained true to the game and true to himself since before he published the Art of Macking (his first book). I cant claim to know him personally aside from his podcasts, but his image and outlook on the rest of the world has been full of integrity and honesty. People might not always agree with you, and haters will follow you all the way to the podium at Yale, but by staying true to yourself, you will develop a following more dedicated to building you up than the haters that try to tear you down.

2. If your area is dry, leave. By dry, I mean devoid of opportunity or resources. If youre living in Kentucky, Utah, or Nebraska and you want to get into Hollywood then you need to pack your bags and get on the next flight to LAX. If you want to break into the music scene, Atlanta, Chicago, New York and Miami are where you need to be – not Sioux City, Iowa. Had Tariq never left his humble places of origin, would he be who he is today? Doubtful. Dont settle for sleepy towns. Opportunity will find you easier if you are average in an above average city, than it will if you are above average in a no-name village.

Farrah Gray

Raised in the impoverished South side of Chicago, Dr. Gray defied the odds and became a self-made millionaire by the age of 14. In his rise from poverty to national and international prominence as an entrepreneurial icon and pre-eminent power speaker, Dr. Gray has inspired millions around the world.

At age seven, he was carrying business cards reading “21st Century CEO.” At eight, Gray became co-founder of Urban Neighborhood Enterprise Economic Club (U.N.E.E.C.) on Chicago’s South side. U.N.E.E.C. was the forerunner of New Early Entrepreneur Wonders (NE2W), the flagship organization he opened on Wall Street. NE2W enlisted, educated and engaged “at-risk” youth by creating and developing legal ways for them to acquire additional income. Gray is the youngest person to have an office on Wall Street.

“My message is not business,” says Gray, who also serves on the board of the Southern Nevada United Way. “My focus has been on making the best investment, which is yourself.”

At the age of 21, he received an Honorary Doctorate degree of Humane Letters from Allen University. This was in recognition of his ingenious economic mind and distinguished commitment to the development of values such as leadership, integrity and scholarship. He was also named as one of the most influential Black men in America by the National Urban League’s Urban Influence Magazine. At the age of 24, he has achieved more than many achieve in a lifetime. Now whats your excuse?

Farrah Gray’s example teaches us 2 lessons:

1. Creativity is Key! One of his first ventures was Farr-Out Foods, “Way-Out Food with a Twist,” aimed at young people. His company produced a Strawberry-Vanilla syrup product that resulted in Farr-Out Foods generating orders exceeding $1.5 million. By combining two simple products into a novel concept, Farrah increased his net worth considerably.

2. You dont need to know everything, but you do need to learn. In 2004, Gray purchased an 80 percent stake in Inner City Entertainment, a magazine extension of New York radio station 107.5 WBLS. After Gray signed the Inner City contract, he started devouring books like The Magazine from Cover to Cover and The Editor in Chief: A Practical Management Guide for Magazine Editors. He says he’s invested at least $2,000 at the newsstand, snatching up every youth/music/entertainment/pop and urban culture title he can find. And he has “studied everybody,” from Wenner Media CEO Jann Wenner to Teen People managing editor Barbara O’Dair. Learn as you go, and dont let ignorance be your excuse!

Sipp the Surgeon

I have featured Sipp as a living legend before in The Millionaire Barbers. Sipp managed to avoid all the pitfalls that overtake youths growing up in Mississippi to become wealthy by refining his specialized knowledge. Not only does he cut hair, he also customized barber chairs and host “Hair Wars”, events targeted specifically at barbers and stylists. If you havent checked out his myspace page or his coverage in Against the Grain Magazine, go back to my article on The Millionaire Barbers and you will see why he was included in this list.

Sipps example teaches us 2 things specifically:Leverage your Specialized knowledge and diversify your streams of income.

Create new industries and new ways to make money from the industry that youre in. This man went from giving $10 haircuts to selling $10,000 barber chairs and hosting events that net him thousands more than that! No matter what industry you are in, you can create a brand new niche (a restaurant server could set up a website and become the local expert on dining out, or become a “dining consultant”. A sales representative in a retail store could sell his/her services as a personal stylist on the side (assuming he or she even has style, LMAO!)

The Wrap Up

If you want to be a doctor, you study to become a doctor. If you want to become a lawyer, you study law. If you want to be a successful man or woman, you must study other successful men and women. Follow the examples of these living legends, seriously apply the lessons that their lives have presented, and one day you too may be known as a living legend.

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