Today we’d like to introduce you to Debonair Le’Flair.
Hi Debonair, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
Creative Writing:
I started off my a creative journey at Parkman Elementary School on Detroit’s west side. Around 3rd grade, I fell in love with writing through a Scholastic’s program that came to my school. In the program, we got to publish our own stories and poems. Let’s just say 9-year-old me just wanted to get out of class early but didn’t know I would fall into my creativity. I ended writing the most books the whole week they were there. I enjoyed making stories and rhyming words. Back then rhyming felt so hard. I swear went to that library every day and wrote stories and poems.
Music & Design Influences:
I’ve always had music in my household. My mom would listen to gospel and r&b a lot. Hearing records like “Share My World” by Mary J Blige and “Silver and Gold” by Kirk Franklin & The Family reminds me of my childhood. She would listen to artists like Fred Hammond & Kelly Price also. My stepdad taste was more DMX and Nappy Roots anytime we were in his car. Around this time, we were in church a lot, so my mom made my brother & I join the choir at Second Ebenezer Baptist Church. We perform in the youth choir on Sundays. It was fun, so I’m a soulful guy at heart.
Also, around this time, I met my biological dad. So, my brother & I would spend weekends at grandmother house. This is the part where my creativity sparked again. My grandmother had a very beautiful record player and a library full of all different kinds of records. We were not allowed to touch the records really, but one summer, I became curious. & I felt like I was old enough & responsible enough to take care of the records. The first one I pulled was Micheal Jackson’s “Thriller.” I lose my mind because I knew his songs like “Bille Jean,” but I never knew it was on the same album as “Thriller” & “Beat It.” I feel like you’re really not a true music kid if you don’t become obsessed with The King of Pop. That day I must have sat for 3 hours straight just being in aww about every record I pulled. (I later noticed we had “Thriller” on CD, too & listened to “Human Nature” on repeat all night) I examined every cover front to back. I read credits. I read lyrics. Everything! I feel in love with graphic design and music at the same time not even knowing.
My dad had an MPC keyboard and played drums. He was an inspiring producer during his youth for some of his boys that rapped. This my brother & I first time listening to rap for real with actual profanity. So, you can imagine how geeked we were. Going to your dad’s house for the first time and he has a PlayStation 2, a convertible Camaro with IROCS, and every hip-hop album right in the living room from cassettes to CDs we lost our minds. My dad was big fan of DJ Quik, 2 Pac, and the Ghetto Boys, and he always listen to Detroit artist to like Blade Icewood, K-Doe & Rock Bottom. That was my intro to rap.
Perfomance:
This all the little “Ray-Ray” moments going to all my family basement parties I would be the kid they told to dance for the adults; my cousins and siblings were always too shy. I would do my MJ moves of course because I was obsessed mixed with my Detroit jit footwork. This is how I learn to perform in front of people. I never was scared I would just do me. The next year I did a talent show and gained so much confidence dancing in front of my whole school I got 3rd place, and I felt really good. I zoned out and didn’t realize it was hundreds of students and staff. I couldn’t believe I could crowd control too. Fast forward to my fifth-grade year at Clark Elementary on Detroit’s east side. My Teacher Ms. Johnson aka Teacher Flo (a retired vet who really cared her students) would have a class talent show & I won rapping a Lil BowWow song. Teacher Flo didn’t like rap, but it was a popular song I knew I would win my class over her favorite song to play in class was The Staple Singers “I’ll Take You,” and a lot of Aretha Franklin.
That summer, I would do my third talent at Riverwalk fair that WJLB hosted (local Detroit station) I did my MJ and Detroit jit mix routine that won us tickets to the Soul Circus and got offered a commercial for Fox 2.
Getting Back to It:
By Middle School, I was in love basketball and sports. I even played 8th-grade year. But my ears for music would broaden going to suburban school. At our dances, they would play “Top 40” hits some light hip-hop and rock.
I wanted to try rap by now, but I’ve never recorded before. I spent my whole summer trying to record myself on anything I could at home. Cassettes, mini radios, and mp3 players. I finally would use the sound record on the computer and play the beat from the computer speakers. I did two freestyles, one to “Grinding” one to “This Is Why I’m Hot.” Took it to my two friends, and they said I had the rhymes, but I didn’t have a rap flow, but I had potential. I thought I snapped, and they was hating. But I worked on writing raps for the rest of the summer.
HighSchool/Skating Rink:
In high school, I still was athlete making varsity cross country my freshman year. I was one of the first students in my grade to get a letter. But still no music. My school let a student perform during his senior year, and that gave me motivation to see someone else do something like that with their music. I then found out my school had a recording studio in the school and music/design courses. Later made sure I picked any all music and design electives. I would meet other students who were inspiring artists too, and we got serious. By my sophomore year, I would be doing rap battles in the lunchrooms and common areas with friends. I still never recorded a real soon until that summer. We discovered rapping on computer headset mics into free audio recording programs. I’m sure I destroyed our home desktops until my friend got his first set up. The I feel in love when I heard my voice on the playback! Throughout my different electives, I would pick up on production skills. I even won an award for best parody music video at school grammy’s.
I had many hustles as youth, but my first actual job was being a floor guard at The Great Skate (Roseville). I would be around more music. Spending most of my weekends and after-school time there each skate session was different. I learned so much from the skate scene all ages. Working there is where I learned how to network with my peers, talk to girls, and I even became a better skater. The old-school nights were my favorite the DJ would play a lot funk and rhythm music. That’s where I picked up on old music again like those records from my grandmother’s house. Songs like Fabo’s “Geeked Up” and “Shoulder Lean” Young Dro remind of those days. We would do all-nighters and have special guess performers and local acts. I always wanted to perform at an all-nighter; everyone at job knew I made music and I was inspiring artist. By then, I would have real songs and collaborate others. Few years went by, and I finally got my moment in 2012. Opening for Team Eastside. I rocked outed the skating rink by myself in front of family and my peers. Even getting props from Peezy and Lil P made me feel proud of myself. Kids were asking for photos. The following year one of my songs was on the radio at Hot 105.9, and I would do open mics and shows around the city with my crew.
College/Less Music/More Design:
In college, I finally had my own recording set up. & My maybe one good song I had as a single. My roommates would play it every time they had a party! They loved my music! I had no inspiration after the wave I had coming out of high school and transitioning into young adulthood honestly. I finally had my studio and didn’t record much in East Lansing. I felt like I was finally good and had some accolades at the skill, but I didn’t have much life experience to keep rapping. So, I started getting back into more design work, photography, art, and entrepreneurship.
In college, I would go to this clothing boutique called Double Up: EL. I befriend one of the workers who a was DJ. He would spin during his hours, and he had friends that break dance would come by. He brought a mic one day when he found I rap,, and I would just go freestyle there every week he worked. It was just us in the store most of the time. I loved hanging there because I secretly loved fashion just as much music. Even though at the time I couldn’t afford items it was cool to see new “Billionaire Boys Club” and “The Hundreds” merch. One day it got too hot in the store so we decide to take music outside. I would freestyle to students and people walking by to check out the store. The owner got wind of what were doing and decided to help us host a chyper every week that summer. So many people would come out, it just got bigger and bigger. I finally got my motivation to rap again. & started getting serious again. I would DJ parties for extra money to support my music career. Getting my love for music back and being an entrepreneur was perfect. I started designing my own artwork and for others too. At this point, I planned to give it another shot seriously. I came back home linked with a videographer recorded my first real video, and I got my first blog placement. It was so cool seeing my video dropped on 2Dopeboyz the same day as Nicki Minaj. Moments like that make you feel like a real artist.
London/Souncloud:
I finally dropped a my anticipated return project “Blind” on Soundcloud during a summer with family in Louisiana. It did well with majority of my listeners coming for London, UK. I was so excited because I couldn’t imagine people listening to my music outside of USA.
I got depressed dealing with reality of being back home in Detroit. So, I focused back on photography, art, and design, continuing learning about entrepreneurship by working and seeking mentors. I worked as PA for one of my mentors which lead me getting back into doing promotions. I help do his graphics and rollouts for the tattoo shop and novelty store. As I got better with systems, business, and design. I would building my network up at the same time also. I would go on to work at printshop/design agency in Detroit. One day I’m in the office of one of my mentors, and the designer I was studying and was a fan of at the time had the same mentor as me. I was so stunned. That designer was Tommey Walker Jr. creator of Detroit Vs. Everybody.
Detroit Vs. Everybody:
Imagine dropping out of college with $2.50 to your name and getting an internship at the biggest brand in your city in the same year. So, I now I finally got to put my screen-printing skills to use (another skill I learned in school). Working with any brand is awesome, but I felt like I hit the jackpot. Now I could be closer to someone I actually studied. Throughout working of the brand, I got do numerous projects and be a part of once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as Bad Boy Reunion Tour, working on Dej Loaf merch, and even lacing some of my favorite artists up like Young Thug and walking out stage with him. I was a part of music in another way, but I still didn’t feel fulfilled far as my music career went. After about 6-7 years with the brand, I kept building my network. & started to host my own open mic shows at La Hookahtown and The Bullfrog.
Everyday Talents:
My business partner and I at the time wanted to create a platform to showcase up-and-coming artists. So, we created a competition and use our networks to sponsor our events. We barely broke even and lost a lot of sleep putting together shows, but we built a solid platform for artist. I would host, do graphics, and sometimes bts with camera and my business partner would swap if I need him to. We literally did everything. Everyday Talents was a success. We did our final show at Tangent Galleries. I hosted, with had DJ Limelightz half the show and I DJed towards the end. I also performed that night a 1omin set managed my staff, and we were our own cleaning crew. Would believe the night before I didn’t sleep because I was pressing staffs shirts in the living room and making credential badges? The success of this had me back in love with music and working with brand I got to get glimpses of the music industry by doing mainstream artists merch and being part of the culture in a huge way.
Back to Business:
I don’t know why as artists were so depressed at times. But even though I’ve accomplished a lot alongside music and was involved in a major way. I was satisfied with my music career. So, I vowed to myself to get serious once again to drop constantly at least for my own liking. Which I did I started my serious “Thank You, For The Birthday Wishes: #Chapter26” in 2019 then I dropped another “Thank You, For The Birthdays: 2” in 2020. As we entered the pandemic of course, I was depressed again. I need something to do so I do what I always do fall back on being a creative, and started my own media company Moor Vintage Media, LLC. I took up one of my clients on an offer to help build their brand and do photography. Which lead me to Flint, Michigan.
Flint/Autoworld/Flithy Americans:
Being in Flint really changed my perspective on life and gave me a whole new inspiration. Especially hearing about how close this water crisis was in my own Michigan backyard. Meeting the people alone best part. They welcomed me with warm embrace was so happy that someone like me thought to be there with my skills to help. The project was only suppose to go on for a few weeks, but I ended up staying a few months. As the Flint scene was growing, I had no idea that I was doing photography and product placements with some of the artists there. I literally worked with everyone and interviewed as many people as I could. I got a chance to fly to Atlanta to do YN Jay’s first interview. I was in the studio with Rio Da Yung OG, Louie Ray, RTB & so many more. Seeing them take the industry, YouTube, and TikTok by storm was so crazy. Been a part of things before in my career but this was happening in real-time. Even Lil Yachty came out there.
Being a part of that the Flint scene motivated me so much to get back to my music sooner than later. Once again, I was a part of music in a different way but not comfortable with my current catalogue. I had nothing on major platforms. When I got back home, I decide to sign myself to my media company as an artist and go fully independent. I work alongside another one of my mentors with his brand. Grammy-nominated producer Filthy Rockwell you know might know him from producing for Big Sean (oh and that one song “Mercy” with Kanye West, Pusha T, and 2Chainz) and BJ Symth of the legendary techno group AUX 88. I would get my producer and DJ to come to the Filthy Americans Art & Preservation Center to give customers a unique experience. We would make songs in the store as customers shop. During my time there I would get featured in Michigan Chronicle for being alongside my mentor in the new music economy in Detroit. I finally felt like I becoming a part of music the way I wanted now. I worked community service projects for The Filthy Cares foundation. We even hosted a Keith Murray show at the center.
I Finally Earned a Rap name:
At this point, I would meet Hula Dula, an NYC emcee and also the real son of Dolomite. Who would name me Deboniar “We call him debonair because of the clothes that he wears… fly god” says Hula. Filthy and I would later have a conversation, and he added the Le’Flair. I finally got a rap name! Everything is starting to make sense. When you get your name from hip-hop legends, I think you’re legit at this point. So, I ditched my old name, got back in studio, and drop the official “Thank For, The Birthday Wishes” as Debonair Le’Flair in 2022, and my followed up with my lost tapes project “Lost My Phone in Dumbo! (Lost Files)” that also is available on all platforms as of Feb 2023. The new project features: hip-hop legend Keith Murray, the trailblazer Samuel Shabazz and more of my favorite artists and producers. The cover was shot by Kaline Ferreira-Barbosa in Dumbo, Brooklyn based on a true story.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Some parts of the road are smooth, other parts are bumpy and rigged! Honestly, it’s all about believing in yourself and keeping your faith no matter what! Keep going!
I think the one of the major struggles I had along the way was just dealing with depression, self-doubt, and mostly downplaying my skills. Even though you’re talented you have to keep perfecting your craft constantly. I’ve learned from so many people, and I’ve been privileged to use my other skills to keep me close to my dream even when I didn’t feel my best, but I keep pushing and networking.
Sometimes I feel like I might have been quiet and comfortable in the background roles for the sake of my pride. Like I was with Rio Da Yung OG in the studio during his prime run, but I never asked him for a feature because he met me as a media guy. I got to work with Oba Rowland during his Black Santa 2 run. I didn’t play none of my music because my job was to be his roadie. Moments like that those can make you feel confused or become could shoulda woulda moments. At the end of the day, I built my media portfolio and use my position to get a glimpse of what it will be like to be an artist at those levels. They are no shortcuts.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a recording artist, but I also have a media company where specialize in graphic design, multimedia, photography, marketing, print, and brand development.
I’m most known for working with brands such as: Detroit Vs. Everybody, Whatupdoe/Filthy Americans, Autoworld Brand, and of course my home is Moor Vintage Media, LLC.
I’m most proud of being a kid from Detroit and being able to travel using my skills. Everything I learned along the way and all the foundation I built came from hard work, and now I can use all my gifts to help bring my dream to reality every day. I think it’s pretty cool that I got to worked on projects with my mentors and made garments that people cherish all around the world. I can see people in everyday life wearing something I got to be a part of, and that’s special to me. Feels like I always knew I would be a part of the culture in unique way.
What sets me apart of others mostly is my mentally. I know the grind, I been in trenches before, so I’ve had to start over many times. So, I know how to market myself to the point where its seems like I’m everywhere, but I’m not. I’ve help so many along way on the journey I will always have love and respect in my community I hope that never stops.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters to me most is legacy. I’m not a role model; I’m just a person. I want my some kid from Joy Road (like myself) or anywhere in the world that finds my art to know if I can be successful, they can too. I use to think all the sayings and motivational quotes was corny too. I would be hard on myself because I thought success meant financial gains, but really success is being able to actually do what you love to do and being able to grow in your art. Hopefully, inspire someone else to keep doing what they love to do or called to do. I’m only here because I seen other people doing what I wanted to do & I was crazy enough to believe I could too, and did.
Pricing:
- Debonair Le’Flair Feature: $350
- (250) Holographic 2in Custom Stickers: $150
- (250) Full Color 2in Custom Stickers: $125
- Custom Logo: $100
- MV Trucker Hat: $50
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/moorvintagemedia
- Instagram: @debonairleflair
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debonairleflair
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DebonairLeFlair
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SSCashiz
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/debonair313
Image Credits
Moor Vintage Media, LLC
Rayshon Gore-Willis
Mike Jordan
Lil Monsterr
