Local Musician Is Changing The Watts Narrative Through His Music And Passion To Give
In the city of Watts, California, there was a man in Brandon “Stix” Salaam Bailey’s neighborhood named “Bad Luck” who had changed his name to “Good Luck.” Good Luck was the first rapper Stix knew personally. Stix was impressed that Good Luck made his own CD especially since CDs were popular during this era. Stix would hang out in the street in front of his house and sit with Good Luck in his car. Inside the car they would listen to his music, artists such as Tupac, Jay-Z, Ludacris and Fabolous. He was so amazed by all these artists’ music that he wanted to create his own. Good Luck encouraged him to pursue music and taught him how to make a song. From that moment and with Good Luck’s help, Stix became an artist.
Watts has a rich history of music that is commonly unknown by those who do not live there. Stix said he wants to educate the community about the rich history and the power that lives in Watts. “The narrative of Watts of what people think it is will change in a matter of time when I’m done,” Stix said. “We are taught to survive. People are resilient, strong and overcome adversity.”
Stix in his youth was an athlete who was always seeking his passion. He transitioned from being an athlete to a dancer. Stix was part of the Krump dancing movement where he is now a founder of the movement that has spread across Los Angeles. He was still in search of his passion and he then transitioned from an athlete to a musician where he now has been a musician for the last 16 years. “Music became my new love and I’ve been doing that since.”
Stix has expanded his musical portfolio with different artists and music genres. He has worked with Snoop Dog, DJ Rock of TDE, Wyclef Jean and BJ the Chicago Kid. He has worked solo with his radio tour. He has been on tour with Iggy Azalea, whom he helped at thebeginning stages of her career by writing and coproducing her first three mixtapes, Ignorant Art, Glory and TrapGold. Stix has also been in a rock band and a group with a R&B singer.
Stix’s favorite experience as a musician was going on tour with Snoop Dog. “I mean that is like legendary. I have been on two tours with Snoop Dog so he personally requested me for the second one.” For Stix, being able to stand on the same stage as Snoop Dog in multiple cities and hang out with the rapper has been the highlight of his music career.
Stix created the first anthem for the Los Angeles Football Club. Creating the anthem for the LAFC was something new and he was passionate about this project since it was never done before. He wanted to create a collaboration between soccer and hip-hop. LAFC is involved in community work which was something that married well with Stix since he is heavily involved with the Watts community. The sponsors from the LAFC are loyal fans for their team and their city and they like to help people. This relationship does not always happen with a local community artist and a sports team.
“It was a no brainer to do it and it felt great it felt amazing. It was one of my favorite things that I have done as an artist.” Stix has gained influence through the music business, which has helped him to develop his nonprofit foundation, the Think Watts Foundation.
The nonprofit organization has fed 16,000 people, provided financial literacy courses, serviced teachers and students, donated essential goods, and provided over 1,000 people with internet devices for distance learning. He has partnered with multiple organizations such as the Los Angeles Clippers to help build 13 basketball courts.
“The mission is to just continue to serve the people and provide them with tools and resources to help them, to help educate them, to help them accede and succeed.” The nonprofit foundation’s goal is to build the Think Watts HQ, which will be a center for entrepreneur setup, an incubator for financial literacy, sports programming and provide classes such as embroidery, coding, and career development and training. The headquarters will be a new source for residents to attain work through Stix’s developing partnerships with AT&T, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Dodgers.
“The goal is to create that into a hub where it produces massive economic development. People can start making money and put money back into their own community, start their own business and really truly flourish as a citizen in their neighborhood,” said Stix.
Stix finds it important to give back to the community because, he said, it is the scientific structure of existence. “There’s plus and minuses, there’s left and right, there’s up and down, and then there is give and receive. You have to give in order to receive and in order to receive you have to give.” He believes giving and receiving is a scientific law that we as people need to focus our attention on.
“I don’t even think about it, to be honest. I just do what I do and if somebody’s life is changed and impacted like I said it is a bonus… I say it every single time I do something they’ll probably never remember my name ever.”
Local resident Beatriz Gutierrez took her son to a Back-to-School Supplies Drive conducted by the Think Watts Foundation on Aug. 22. Gutierrez is currently unemployed, so she said it was a relief to receive a backpack filled with school supplies that her son could use for the 2020–21 academic year.
“I can really say that he is a person who cares for the community to rise in a positive manner. I have seen him work in the community events he organizes and engages with the people by talking to them, taking pictures and just showing his presence,” said Gutierrez. She hopes Stix’s contribution to the community will encourage people to work with the foundation or create more non-profit organizations.
“I think that Stix has impacted Watts by giving the people of Watts hope that there are people that care for the community. Stix is a person that sees a problem in the community and has decided to stand up and deliver a positive outcome,” said Gutierrez.
The COVID-19 pandemic has not negatively affected the nonprofit foundation, since Stix has been able to supply and serve many Watts residents. He has been able to help more residents now during the pandemic since he has worked with the foundation. “Not a lot of people know where to give or know how to give. I know exactly who to give it to and where to give it and I know how to give it.” Since before the pandemic, Stix has already been giving, therefore, he was able to be creative and well prepared with supplying residents in need. Not many people want to give or do the work. The foundation has been able to grow with the determination of Stix to do the necessary work.
One lesson that Stix has learned through his nonprofit foundation is that he won’t be able to make everyone happy all the time. There will always be someone who wants more than is provided to them through the donations.
“The goal is to just do what is in your heart, give what you can, help as many as you can, but understand not everyone will be happy.” Stix accepts these end results since the intention of donating is to give. The purpose of the foundation is to give back to the community and if the person receiving is happy then that is just a bonus. He believes you should not seek for any recognition, acceptance or award since there will be people who won’t remember you.
“As long as one day, when it’s all said and done and my services are no longer needed on Earth, whenever that is, hopefully someone will remember me and I hope my kids see that and carry the legacy of giving. That’s my ultimate goal.”
Stix does not just see celebrities as role models but individuals who do great things. One person Stix sees as a good role model is Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice. He is inspired by role models such as Sotomayor who do great things and create history not only for themselves but for their culture. “I appreciate people who come from humble beginnings and grow to huge successful individuals.”
Stix was part of a Watts protest, which was a three-mile-walk in response to the Black Lives Matter Movement. The protest was meant to bring awareness to the injustices that are being affected by Black and brown communities. He has been communicating with both the LAPD and the LASD to create methods that invoke peace and move forward. “Us the people we can’t tolerate no more injustice.” Stix’s hands-on communication with the law enforcement hopes to implement change.
Stix recommends future artists to produce music that is authentic. You are allowed to express your freedom of speech in music where you can be yourself and be free. The best music is where you are authentic so do not lie about who you are and what you do. “Hip-pop is a form of expression so you want to express your feeling you want to show emotion.” One message that Stix wants to send out with his music is wanting to be true and have fun with yourself.
For anyone who wants to be an artist, he says to make sure to perfect your craft first. Figure out what kind of music you want to produce. If you want to make a profession as an artist it is ideal to educate yourself on the business side of music so you won’t get taken advantage of. You have to continue to perfect your craft and practice that music over, over and over again. “It is like lifting weights. Eventually you’ll get buff.”
To listen to Stix’s music visit https://thinkwatts.myshopify.com/collections/all-music
For more information about the Think Watts Foundation and how you can be part of the change, visit https://thinkwattsfoundation.org
