THE NEWEST KID ON THE BLOCK.. SHE’S TURNING UP ATLANTA AND DRIPPING SAUCE All Over BALLER ALERT RADIO, MEET SU SOLO

When your energy is intoxicating you know you got the juice... lemme introduce y’all to Su Solo. From working the door for others to now opening up her own, Su Solo is taking the lead in defining her own path. Her journey originally started with her working the door at Atlanta’s hottest events for Alex Gidewon of AG Entertainment. Putting in work for 9 years, Su officially became known as AG’s door girl. Yet, instead of just counting bills, she was stacking up knowledge and setting up accounts of networks to monetize her dreams into reality. It was there that she made the connections that led her to start up GET BRUNCH, the hottest brunch series in ATL. It was also there that she met Kenny Burns. That connection landed her the female host spot on the infamous Baller Alert Radio.

Now-a-days on social media she looks like the ultimate turn up queen! Between partying it up at her #GetBrunch Event, hosting, and being shamelessly honest on Baller Alert Radio, Su Solo is the life of the party and out here living her BEST life. The compilation of it all has officially branded her as the curator of vibes. But, behind the lit-ness, behind the turn up, and the genuine smiles of joy there is so much more to her. Growing up as a child of an immigrant, Su’s interest in arts, music, and entertainment did not meet the expectations of her family’s idea of success. Yet, her passions were meant to manifest beyond not only her family’s expectations, but hers as well. From her perspective, she says she always knew what she wanted to do. However, the road to get there was haunted with a host of insecurities in who she was, doubts in who she could be, and fear in trusting the process of letting her dreams grow into her reality. Check out the interview below where we get to know a little bit more about Su Solo and find out just what kind of vibes she’s curating…

Well, first off lemme just go ahead and add DERBY in Louisville, KY to your 2018 “Get Brunch” Calendar!! Go ahead and mark your calendar for that weekend, the first Saturday in May!

Will do! I’m down for that! As long as you’re really gonna be there I’m down for it.

Yes, I’ll definitely be in attendance. For those of you that haven’t experienced “Get Brunch,” it’s basically brunch plus the epitome of a LITTTTuation! It’s dope-ness with good food, good music, and the best turn-up. I had so much fun when I went and everyone I’ve sent there loves it!

Yes! Yes! I’m so glad to hear that.

Now, let’s get into who is Su Solo….

EPISODE ONE – A LIL PREGAME

“Nervous. Won't lie about that. But you gotta get comfortable being uncomfortable, otherwise, you ain't doing enough. So, I just 😁” --#SuSolo

With a host of brands you represent including Get Brunch and Baller Alert Radio, you have defined yourself to be a curator of vibes. For me, growing a brand and even more finding those to support my dreams is DIFFICULT!!

Say that again.

GIIIRRRRRL YES!! What do you think was the most beneficial step you took in growing your brand?

The most beneficial step that I had to take was to really change my whole perspective on everything. On friendships, on business relationships, everything. I had to learn to not take things personally and realize that I couldn’t get stuck on a certain people not supporting the things I did when there are so many strangers that do support. Don’t allow that negativity from people that don’t support you to affect you too much!

EPISODE TWO – THE TURN UP

“Sacrifice. Left my job of 11yrs, had to sell my car and still don't have a new one, currently teaching myself to budget because my main source of income now is #GetBrunch 😫 lost some friends x some more shyt...moral of the story, listen to that thing that keeps saying you can do it. Build your Brand Identity. Stay true to you, be honest about where you are in life so your FRIENDS/FAMILY know how to help ( let them help ) keep going, you never know when @kennyburns will call with an opportunity of a lifetime!” --#SuSolo

You’ve now gone beyond building a brand to being a brand. The Brand ‘Su Solo’ hosts parties, events, and now the infamous Baller Alert Radio alongside Kenny Burns and Ferrari Simmons. You take on the role as the female voice for the culture. How did you land the gig with Baller Alert?

So, I’ve known Kenny Burns for over ten years now, he always had a really long business and personal relationship with AG, Alex Gidewon, the guy who has all the best clubs and parties in the city. Kenny has been someone that I looked up to. I saw him hosting the biggest parties but still being personable to people and he always made time. I was the door girl forever right, like my reputation was oh that’s AG’s door girl you gotta go through her. Yet, there’s so many people that see past you when they’re going into the clubs, but Kenny, he always took the time to stop by and see how I was doing and get updates and just encourage me. It turned into a mentorship that turned into him believing in my process and my growth enough to ask me to be one of his co-hosts on Baller Alert Radio. So, it’s crazy, it’s still sinking in.

I remember seeing you talk about being insecure at one point in time. When the opportunity to host Baller Alert Radio came about did you ever doubt yourself?

Yea. I’ve had a really bad history of always doubting myself, to the point that I drove myself into a depression at one point where I didn’t talk to anyone about anything that I wanted to do. All of my relationships were surface level and I was so insecure about everything like things that didn’t even matter. I had just learned to always doubt myself which is horrible, but I’ve now been allowing myself to become who I know I am. Which is always scary because you have to deal with people that you’ve known be like, oh you’re changing, you’re acting brand new, I don’t even know who you are anymore. Sometimes that’s hurtful because it’s coming from people that at one point you related to and you were comfortable with and you shared things with, so now when they start taking your growth and making it seem like a negative thing that then puts you in this space of doubt. When you’re already a doubter you’re gonna doubt yourself more because those are the people that once helped validate you, even though you never needed it from the beginning! I think as I grew and I realized that the things that I want are really obtainable and they’re not fake, people make a living doing exactly what I want to do. So, I just had to remind myself that it’s mine and I have to take it because what’s for me is literally just for me. My experiences are going to be my experiences. My relationships are going to be my relationships. The things that I am able to achieve are going to be based off of my contributions. There’s never going to be someone doing exactly what you’re doing exactly how you’re doing it.

You once posted the caption on Instagram that stated, “Misunderstood. Broke. Molested. Homeless. Depressed. I've been all of that but I could be dead. I could've never made it to see my dreams become reality. I'm lit man. Happy. Grateful. Loved. Respected.” How does it feel to have found your passion and purpose?

So, I want people to understand this, for me it wasn’t that I found my passion, for me it was that I finally accepted that I was capable of living and doing that. I’d always known what I wanted, I’d always known that I needed to have these things happening in my life and in my career for me to be happy. I’d always known, but I didn’t accept that. I didn’t live it, I was too scared to live that and let people know hey, this is who I am. So, it wasn’t so much about finding it, but more so accepting it. But, it feels… it’s beautiful. As uncomfortable as it is, as new as everything is, as much of an adjustment as everything is, it somehow feels normal to me. I don’t even know if that makes sense. It just feels as if this is exactly where I’m supposed to be. I don’t see myself taking any other steps, I don’t see myself doing anything else. I don’t. It is such a blessing and a healing to be in that zone. I pray that everyone finds this because everyone deserves to be in this space.

One thing I love about you on Baller Alert Radio is that you’re so open and honest with EVERYTHING! From your discussion on “HD” and the “thump” (y’all gotta check out SuSolo.com or BallerAlertRadio for details on those), you’ve become an open book. Since you’re so open… Let’s play a quick game of “Su Ain’t Neva Lied!”

Haha. I like that.

What artist or celeb has been the most difficult or rude to you?

I would say Wale has been the rudest.

Oh, wow lil side eye to Wale. We still love em’ but lil side eye.

Ummm yea… there was a really intimate situation where a few people in his crew tried to introduce us and he was just rude about it.

Ok, ok, so on Baller Alert Radio you were definitely hinting at sliding into Drakes DM’s..

Totally a joke, for the record I have never slid in Drakes DM’s that is false information.

Everyone be clear SU IS NOT SLIDING IN DRAKE’S DM’S! HAHA, BUT, since you’re not sliding in Drake’s DM’s, whose DM’s would you be trynna slide into?

Oh, that’s a good question... umm... I don’t know

You don’t know, because I know whose I’d be sliding in off top!

I really don’t know… hmmm…

Comeeee on, this is Su Ain’t Neva Lied! Haha, but allllright, who would you just say is a Man Crush Monday, #MCM?

You know imma say Luke James right now. I'll definitely say Luke James.

Ooooo oook. Well, since Su ain’t sliding in anyone’s DM’s, Luke James go ahead and slide in Su’s DM’s, one time for the one time!

Yassss Girl Yaaassss!

Only because on several occasions Mr. Kenney Burns has put it out there, so I’m wondering would you ever date your Baller Alert co-host Ferrari Simmons… could there be a lil’ Simmons Solo lituation or nah?

Heeellllllll nah. Like there’s no way. No way. Ferrari Simmons is literally a brother and a mentor to me. We are too close of friends for that. I know some people be like, oh you know some of the best relationships are with your friends. I get that… but we aint that kind of friends! He is so awesome I think any woman that can get him is a lucky girl, she’s got to be a good woman too because he’s a good guy he’s super smart, the work ethic is crazy so yea, just not for me.

Ok, you’re team Ferrari, just not team Su and Ferrari?

Oh, yea I’m team Ferrari all day.

On the show, a lot of topics surround relationships. And a debate that’s pretty notorious is do hoes be winning? With shows like Power, Love and Hip Hop, and even in real-life, it can often seem that way. What’s your opinion?

Ok this is why I think hoes be winning. Hoes, be winning because they don’t want much out of the situation most of the time. If a guy is dealing with a female or vice versa and all they want is the weekend or the night shift or a few dollars here and there to go to eat, to go party at a club, and no real commitment or emotional value in that persons’ life then yes, they’re winning because they’re getting everything that they want. They don’t care about being the one that lives with them or having the keys to the house. They don’t care about that. So, in their terms their winning, do I personally think they’re wining overall in life? No. I don’t. I think they’re probably desperate lost or confused, either one of those things. But, if you want to ask if they’re winning in their terms yea they are.

I agree with that, but I do feel like these quote on quote “hoes” they do be the ones that further into relationships and marriages and I be like dang how did that happen. In the words of Draya from VH1’s Basketball Wives did they just “erase their hoe-ness”?? #rqtna

Well, I guess you got to be who you are and apparently there’s somebody for everybody man.

Well, that is true. I guess I’ll just keep on waiting.

Yup. Yup. Haha.

Welp, that’s all I got for “Su Ain’t Neva Lied” !!

EPISODE THREE – CLARITY

“I used to look down because I was insecure. I remember looking through my couch for change to get on Marta, living in the projects. Prayed when I didn't believe, kissed peoples asses while they laughed at me. All I wanted was to be valued, supported... #GetBrunch 2yr Anniversary is happening tomorrow because of YALL! Strangers who showed up every Saturday x turned into friends, some family. Y'all might not ever understand the life you've given me, the darkness y'all pulled me out of but I am forever grateful x indebted to you. I love seeing y'all smile, dance...love when y'all stop to say how much fun you're having. Energy, Thank you for sharing yours! Cheers!” --#SuSolo

On your website you state, “My experience as the child of an immigrant although rich in culture, was a bit of a dream crusher. My mom expected her children would excel as doctors or lawyers which are both dope AF, just not for me. There wasn’t a lot, if any, support in exploring creativity in arts, music, or entertainment.” This leads me to wonder do you ever feel a conflict in being who you are but staying a “positive” representation for the culture?

Yes, I absolutely have. More so in the past than now, because as I said I’m in this space in my life where I’m totally accepting this woman that I am at this time, and I think I’m going to relate to who I relate to and who I don’t relate to that’s ok. If I’m not for you that’s totally fine. As far as culture goes there’s always been a difficult situation with that because I’m born and raised here in Atlanta, but for my family I’m a first generation American. So, everything that my family experienced with me here in America was totally brand new. I don’t think they understand that radio is work, entertainment is work, media is work. They don’t get that. And that’s ok. But being from a culture like that, you’re not inspired to be creative and you’re scared to follow those avenues. Because of that mindset I think if I don’t share what I’m going through, if I don’t share my journey then I’m really doing my culture a disservice because there are so many creative people in Africa period. I think as long as I continue to share that I am Ethiopian and that I’m proud of that culture and that heritage then I think I’m doing all that I can do for others to let them know that it’s not scary anymore to follow your dreams. And, I’m proud of that.

I’d definitely say your success is a testament to what others could be. You succeeding is setting the path for who knows who in the future. So that’s dope.

Thank you so much. Thank you.

What advice would you give to others looking to pursue a career similar to yours?

Well, it’s true what the old heads have been telling us forever. You have to surround yourself around like-minded individuals. You have to surround yourself around people that understand what you’re doing and can actually help you versus people that will give you blind advice or judgment about something that they know nothing about. It’s not about looking at old relationships or friendships as they aren’t important anymore, but you will outgrow situations and you gotta be ok with letting go of some things so that you can grasp at everything you’re supposed to have. Do not try to force people to stay in your life when it’s obvious that they can’t really be in your life at the same degree that they were. That was a real struggle for me, but I understand that it’s important to accept my life and let things be.

Be sure to check out Su Solo on Baller Alert Radio and follow her on IG @SuSolo