Murphy law says, if anything can go wrong...it will. The first call to Jamaal ended with a voice mail message, thinking we’re going to have to reschedule again, no problem. A missed call from Jamaal ended with a voice mail message explaining why he missed our call. He was sleep because he was on set shooting a video with Big Sean, E-40 and Kanye West from ten to twelve hours till 8 am west coast time, 11 am our time. We finally get connected but we were not out of the woods yet, we had to end that call because of a bad connection. Weeks of planning we have made it to our destination. The interview has begun.
Who is Jamaal Lewis? Born and raised in the small town of Colorado Spring, Colorado, Jamaal is a God fearing man. That’s what drives him, that’s what keeps him going. He lives in faith and he found out once you do it that way life will be so much more fruitful no matter what you’re trying to do. With a full ride scholarship to play at Arizona State University, Jamaal thought his life was set playing football. From high school to college to the pros, Jamaal was banking on that, but like so many that came before him he fell into that jock mode not really excelling in his classes. When asked what was it that caused his plans to be derailed, Jamaal states that God had a different plan for his life. “Didn’t see it at first” Jamaal says. Didn’t know what was going on, everything was going left, this was not how it was planed out, so I did what I knew how to do…I prayed.
Not wanting to go to deep into his personal life, I asked Jamaal what was it that caused everything to go left to humble him. Jamaal then replies “I’m an open book, my life is my testimony. You can’t help people grow, people won’t be able to see who you are if you are a closed book”. He then goes on and say, it started from when I was first introduced to football. “I was a short fat bald headed kid, who was given the nick name of “Sinbad” cause I looked like the comedian Sinbad”. I played the tuba; I was geek, a nerd. Then one summer I shot up, I grow like a foot. I started playing basketball and football but I was doing well at football. Then I started to take on that jock personality more and more attention came and from being a short fat kid I was feeling good about myself.
Once he got to ASU (Arizona State University), Jamaal says it just got worse. The attention, the celebrity status, the life style he was living he didn’t think it was wrong, he felt like he had accomplish because of where he came from to where he was at the time. Jamaal then goes on to say he didn’t pick up is first drink until his sophomore year in college because of his family’s strong Christian background. It was a shock to people to know that this big man on campus, who has all this attention and celebrity status, didn’t drink. Being at Arizona State University (ASU), at that time was the number one party school in the nation, I started to party and that was a key factor in why I didn’t make it any further. My way was not the right way, not the way God had planned for me Jamaal says. His junior year at ASU he was set to go into the NFL. He was ranked to be drafted in the second round of the draft. I was just thinking money; look second round is great I’m getting out of here. That was my focus I really had no intentions on graduation because I was so into football Jamaal says.
That same year, Jamaal got into some trouble. Two nights before his first football game, Jamaal got pulled over. “I’ve been drinking but I didn’t get a DUI ticket, but I was suspended for the first two games of our season. My mind set was I was living the NFL life it wasn’t about football no more I was content”. Jamaal stayed and played his senior year. He had a deceit year but his junior year was better and after the season he didn’t get invited to go to the NFL combine, which was a shock to everyone that followed his college career. It was because I was labeled a high risk, Jamaal says. when it comes to football your resume is your life and at that time Instagram was not out but I had Facebook and was always posted pictures of me and some hot girls and turning up bottles, thought I was cool and everything didn’t know the NFL really look at that stuff.
Jamaal Lewis is also the owner & creator of Stay Blessed Clothing Line. When ask how did Stay Blessed come to be, Jamaal says. He was at an all time low, after graduating from college he didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life. He had a lot of money and a lot of friends due to the money and when the money started getting thin so did they. When he stopped buying bottles, clothes, their way into the clubs or this or that, then he became no good to them. Then a good friend of his pulled him to the side and said, “Brother, you blessed man stay that way”. I haven’t had anyone talk to me that way in years. I felt the passion, the realness behind it. That’s when “Stay Blessed” came into the picture. It’s Also when I started modeling. The Girl I was with at the time said, “You should model”, and I said I’m not modeling. I’m used to football helmets and pads and everything, but she went and booked a shoot for me. I had fun, really enjoyed may self and when I got the check…modeling it is.
At that point Jamaal started changing his images. All the pictures he had posted of him with the girls at the club turning up and everything, all gone. Now he was just posting pictures from his modeling shoots, food for thought quotes and he would tag it StayBlessed. It didn’t happen over night he said. I would post Stay Blessed and someone would comment, what you mean Stay Blessed, you were just at the club a few months ago? But that didn’t stop Jamaal; he kept pushing & posting Stay Blessed. He started booking more and more modeling shoots as well. One day Jamaal says he went to the mall and made a T-Shirt with Stay Blessed on it, this was also the time Instagram came on the scene. Jamaal posted a picture of the Stay Blessed T-shirt he made and floods and floods of comments of I need that shirt, where can I get that shirt from was coming in. From there Stay Blessed was born.
Outside of Jamaal’s acting, modeling and his clothing line (Stay Blessed), Jamaal likes photography. Something I’ve always had a thing for. There are other things I like, like hanging with my girl, watching movies normal stuff. I always did photography not with a professional camera just with my camera phone or those square Nikon cameras. I really didn’t start pursuing it until I started modeling and going on these photo shoots. Building my portfolio paying for these photo shoots, I’ll get the pictures back and be like, this is Boo-Boo man. You just got over; you just robbed me of five hundred dollars Jamaal said. So after talking to his girl about it, she got him a nice camera for his birthday.
You couldn’t take that thing out of my hands, I was taking pictures of boogers, whatever I was just taking pictures of everything Jamaal said. Still going on shoots, Jamaal said he would study the photographer while he was shooting with them without them even knowing it. I was learning the photographer’s techniques while shooting with them. Now Jamaal has a photography business and a full studio in his house with back drops and everything. The pictures you see of the models modeling his Stay Blessed clothes, he takes the pictures.
You couldn’t take that thing out of my hands, I was taking pictures of boogers, whatever I was just taking pictures of everything Jamaal said. Still going on shoots, Jamaal said he would study the photographer while he was shooting with them without them even knowing it. I was learning the photographer’s techniques while shooting with them. Now Jamaal has a photography business and a full studio in his house with back drops and everything. The pictures you see of the models modeling his Stay Blessed clothes, he takes the pictures.
What’s on the horizon for Jamaal Lewis? The one thing that is guarantee to me is that I stay blessed as long as I have faith. I’ll set a goal and it’s gone because it happens daily. It was a blessing to work with someone accomplished like Big Sean, E-40, Kanye West and DJ Mustard. I’m always rocking Stay Blessed clothes, but on the video shoot I couldn’t wear nothing but my band, but I was waving it all in there face and the camera. I’m spreading the message but I’m in this video where they are talking about stuff I don’t agree with. I wanted to turn off the music and ask them, what are y’all talking about? Let’s talk about something real. I know what’s over the horizon is going to be huge it’s going to be beautiful. I got my seatbelt on I’m riding because it’s in God’s hands.
Since this interview took place in October 2014 Jamaal has gone on to be in countless TV commercial, video shoots, print ads & fashion shows. Check out his Facebook page.
You can catch Jamaal Lewis on his social media sites
Don't forget his clothing line Stay Blessed social media sites
BlackPepper Media, LLC would like to thank Mr. Jamaal Lewis for giving us the opportunity to interview him and we wish him the best in his endeavors.
Always Remember,
You've Made Mistakes But You're Not A Mistake.
You Are God's Workmanship,
You Are God's Masterpiece,
You Are An Original,
You Are One Of A Kind!
You've Made Mistakes But You're Not A Mistake.
You Are God's Workmanship,
You Are God's Masterpiece,
You Are An Original,
You Are One Of A Kind!
Till Next Time
Stay Focus, Stay Grounded & Stay Blessed...
Stay Focus, Stay Grounded & Stay Blessed...
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