Devante Jefferson struggled with money in college until he came up with a few different ways to make money.

Devante Jefferson, a Florida A&M University Alumni, struggled with money when he attended the school.

“I worked three jobs, and that was enough to pay my bills, and if I didn’t have the money for rent or bills, then I had family who was able to help”.

In college, Jefferson started to tap into his creative side which caused him to start making beats.  He soon became a producer who started off in his small hometown, but then started making beats for musicians such as J. Cole, Rapper, and Raising Kanan star, Joey Bada$$, and C. Redd.

Jefferson gained the name “BackPack Beatz” and came out with albums and ep’s, one of which being named “Mochila”, mochila being Spanish for backpack.

After college, Devante started vlogging his beats, teaching young people how to make beats on YouTube.

Vlogging on YouTube isn’t what started his videography hobby. Devante started being a videographer and publishing his work with the music that he made in the background, expanding both his musical skills and his video graphing skills. People started to contact him so he could film for them. Chicago College basketball Star, Grace Hall, is one of the many people he has shot for.

Devante started to really tap into his creative side when he came out with a clothing line called “No Freer Beatz”, which sells all his merchandise. He of course makes hoodies, socks, hats, pants, basketball jerseys, and more all of which are sold on his Instagram. Right after the clothes designing, Devante started to design rugs, make custom orders, and even just design for fun. Now it makes him money on the side.

Interview has been edited and condensed

What are some of the hobbies you do that make you money on the side?

I’m a DJ, producer, YouTuber, videographer, clothing designer, I make rugs, I just do a lot of creative stuff.

What made you get into all these hobbies? Who inspired you?

Just being creative, finding diverse ways to be creative. My grandfather does a lot of stuff. He’s really creative. He’s a musician, and he’s also into technology and doing a lot of new stuff.

How long would you say you’ve been doing these hobbies?

I’ve been doing music for about twenty years. I’ve been doing videos for probably about fifteen years, but I’ve just always been creative. When I was in middle school, I used to draw clothes and draw shoes, but I didn’t look at it as a way to make money until I was like nineteen or twenty.

In college, what did you major and minor in? Did you ever find yourself struggling with money during that time?

I didn’t have a minor, but I majored in broadcast journalism. In college, I worked three jobs and that was enough to pay my bills. If I didn’t have the money to pay my bills or rent, then I had family members that were able to help.

Did you ever think about expanding your business with clothing design, designing rugs, or making beats? Does it ever feel like a stress reliever when you’re doing it?

Expanding my business, musically, is just reaching out to more people. Anything I’m doing I’m just naturally expanding. A lot of the stuff I do, I don’t have to stay in one place. It’s like a constant expansion of what I’m doing. When I’m doing it, I feel like it’s an effective way to pass time and focus.

How much money would you say you make off your side hobbies alone? Do these hobbies help you in any sort of way? Are you making new friends or going to new places?

I couldn’t really put a number on it, but it’s enough to pay some bills. They have helped me. I’m getting money off of it, traveling around the world off of it. I’m always putting myself in different areas and various places with people that I don’t know, especially since I’m not from Chicago. So that helps me connect with more people, which benefits me all the time.

Any last words of advice?

Do what you want to do, follow your dreams, and don’t be a bum. Find something that you enjoy because everyone is able to find some sort of hobby that they enjoy.

And follow my Instagram @Back_Pack_beatz