31: Ugandan Musician to Black Entrepreneurship in the USA // The Story of Muyinza Kasirye

Muyinza Kasirye is a highly experienced artist, songwriter, producer, and videographer. He is the founder of APRT Media, which is a digital marketing agency that helps customers thrive in today’s digital environment. This company is composed of all black individuals from diverse backgrounds that have combined their skill sets to assist fellow black businesses to grow.

Being an immigrant from Uganda has been very challenging for Muyinza, especially during his early teenage years when they moved to Boston. Growing up with little money but armed with a lot of knowledge and passion for music, Muyinza made his way to the top of the entertainment industry. Today, he is an accomplished artist, producer, and media creator who has built and runs his own professional-grade recording studio in Los Angeles. You can check out one of his best-produced music videos on YouTube entitled Cold Blooded.

Time-Stamped Show Notes:

• 4:07 Muyinza Kasirye was born in Africa and he moved to Canada when he was five years old. At thirteen he relocated to Boston and lived in a chaotic neighborhood that he described as a warzone.
• 7:09 Living in a dangerous place and surrounded by a lot of negativity, Muyinza focused his energy on music.
• 9:49 Due to his upbringing and experiences growing up, his perceptions are very different from the people he works with.
• 12:17 Muyinza talks about the difference between Canada and the US when it comes to dealing with racism.
• 16:06 Having parents who are well educated gave Muyinza a huge advantage to succeed.
• 21:50 The next step for Muyinza is bridging the gap between the US and Africa.
• 25:31 According to Muyinza, there are three things that are not balanced in this country, which is causing chaos for a long time.
• 28:06 Eric shares his own story that depicts white privilege.
• 29:49 When he was a teenager, Muyinza and his friends were pulled over by seven police cars with guns out.
• 32:43 Muyinza explains how media is partly responsible for how African and black people are seen and portrayed today.
• 35:09 Six years ago, Muyinza experienced his lowest rock bottom moment.
• 39:39 Information and education is very important in Muyinza’s family.
• 43:12 When Muyinza began to see his potential and true power, it became his rockin’ it moment.
• 47:34 The music video Cold Blooded was the first time he was able to perfectly portray what he wanted to say and the message that he wanted to push.
• 50:45 There are two meaningful things that Muyinza wants to tell his past self if he could go back in time during his rock bottom moment.

This Episode Brought to You By:

• 19:57 We would love to get your feedback on Eric’s new book called The Standing Spot, which is about Eric’s personal journey through his most difficult times as a kid dealing with peer pressure, bullying, gangs, drugs, being arrested, and his road to recovery. You can check out the intro and prologue of the book available for download on StandingSpot.com and send us your comments, tips, or suggestions.
• 41:02 The Man, the Myth, the Canadian Legend: Eric Gilbert-Williams. Eric put together this very podcast as a passion project to help you & others. If you’d be so kind to Subscribe & Leave a Written Review of the show, it’d really make our day! You can Subscribe & Rate our Podcast right here: From Rock Bottom to Rockin’ It..

Key Points from the Interview:

• “One of the things that need to be levelled out in the country is equity of information, equity of opportunity, and equity of respect. Those are the three things that are not balanced in the country and it’s causing utter chaos.”
• “Take what you learn and remix it to yourself and don’t do it alone.”

Resources Mentioned:

• LinkedIn: Muyinza Kasirye
• Instagram: muyinza
• YouTube: muyinza
• Facebook: @muyinza
• Aprtmedia.com
• Cold Blooded (music video)