Interview with Ohnahji B: Community Member of the Month
Host: Welcome, Ohnahji B, to our special segment celebrating your role as a community member of the month. It's fantastic to have you here, sharing the space with us and the ZTalent community. Today, we're going to explore a range of questions curated by our community members and myself, diving into your journey, inspirations, and vision within the web3 space. Let's get started.
Host: How have you enjoyed being a part of the ZTalent community?
Ohnahji B: I absolutely love being a part of the ZTalent community! It’s truly refreshing stumbling organically into a group of highly talented individuals with like-minded and empathetic goals. Every single day I get to engage and interact with the family at ZTalent puts a huge smile on my face and a much-needed gust of inspiration back into my sails. I truly look forward to every single minute.
Davyd: What inspired you to go all out for your dream?
Ohnahji B: Just seeing a huge lack of representation in the emerging tech fields that I love so much inspired me to not only create a safe space for artists and creators that I identify with, but to help educate and share knowledge with people that need it the most. Emerging technology in 2020+ has a huge potential to help close wealth gaps all over the globe. Also, all of the art around me that I get to experience is a huge inspiration. Whether it be music, graphic art, or any other form of multimedia and entertainment, seeing new works of art in new and old mediums pushes me daily to branch out and try new things.
Davyd: Who was your first musical inspiration?
Ohnahji B: Oooh great question. My biggest musical inspiration that still is an inspiration is easily Kanye West. As a producer/artist myself, his ability to push the envelope on his sound and innovate time and time again is not only impressive, but highly enjoyable. Earlier inspirations that may be a first… old r&b groups like Destiny’s Child, Shai, Dru Hill, 112, and Jagged Edge. Individuals like Monica, Busta, Usher, CB, Ryan Leslie, Timbaland, Michael. The list goes on.
Davyd: How do you see your art in the future of web3?
Ohnahji B: I love talking about the future of web3 because of the provenance of the blockchain. It’s the perfect use case for artists in terms of retaining ownership. I see my art in the future becoming more and more valuable over time because I’ve been creating decent art (that other humans wanted to purchase) since I was in third grade. I don’t plan on stopping creating and now I have a recognized theme on-chain that I can build on for the future. I’m bullish on blockchain tech overall as a whole, even more bullish on the creations I’ve shared with the world and minted.
Daniel Obuté: When is your favorite time of day to create?
Ohnahji B: I’m a night owl when it comes to creating. If I’m inspired and in the zone I can stay up all night putting pieces together for whatever is next lol. I’m not really a morning person so if I’m not up getting kids ready for school, or in the gym working out. I’m sleeping.
Daniel Obuté: How do you find inspiration?
Ohnahji B: I find inspiration in everything, I find inspiration in watching my kids grow and discover the world. I’m inspired by nature, I love being outside and traveling. I’m inspired by good storytelling, I love comedy and movies and shows. And of course, I’m inspired by art and music. By my own as well as the incredible works made by others.
Daniel Obuté: Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Ohnahji B: I’m not huge on idolizing celebrity status, so honestly I enjoy collaborating with anyone that would love to. There are so many people I look up to and admire their work and I know I’m in a weird intersection of ‘nerd at the cool table’ so anyone even willing to listen to me talk I’m open to. But to answer the question honestly, probably Kanye, Virgil (rest easy), Pharrell, Timbo, Beyonce, Kehlani, all of the new homies in web3 for sure. Everyone at Z Talent! C’mon compilation album haha.
Tej: What is your ultimate goal in web3?
Ohnahji B: My ultimate goal is furthering the same mission I had when I started up Ohnahji. I want to continue educating BIPOC and Allied communities on the benefits of these new emerging technologies. I want to take the Ohnahji name and brand as far as it will go and even beyond that. We’ve had our sights set on astronomical things with this IP since April ‘21, like an Ohnahjiland theme park that rivals a Disneyland or Six Flags. Anything is possible, we just need to take it a day at a time and remember why we are here.
Tej: What are the greatest strengths you bring to the web3 space?
Ohnahji B: Some of my greatest strengths in blockchain, I’m a jack of all trades and am able to break down complex topics so more people can understand them. I don’t give up on the mission. And in a space that needs so much collaboration, I have no problems being my extroverted self and jumping into anyone’s email or direct messages. There’s no shame in my game there. I’m a non-technical founder that understands the fundamental basics of computer programming which helps in a ton of the web3 space with bridging the gap between creator and dev.
Tej: What advice would you give your younger self, especially in the context of navigating the web3 landscape?
Ohnahji B: Probably the same as everyone else in the space haha, push through and convince everyone around you to mine BTC and hold, and beyond that, buy as much as possible and hold. Outside of that obvious piece, take advantage of the provenance of blockchain and put your work out there early and often; music, graphic art, everything.
Host: That's all for our interview with Ohnahji B. Your responses today have not only provided us with valuable insights but also inspiration. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and for being an integral part of the ZTalent community.
