Community Highlights: Meet Samuel Gilmore of Blacc Market Enterprises

Today we’d like to introduce you to Samuel Gilmore.

Hi Samuel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Samuel Gilmore, professionally known as King PaySos. I’m a Brooklyn-born artist, entrepreneur, military veteran, and founder of Blacc Market Enterprises.

My story begins long before music or business.

I was born into a community heavily affected by the crack epidemic. At just two years old, I was separated from my parents because of their struggles with addiction.

Growing up in foster care, I often felt out of place. I struggled with feelings of not belonging, being unwanted, and never quite fitting in anywhere.

But looking back, I realize those experiences also shaped one of my greatest strengths: my ability to stand alone.

I’ve always been someone willing to take a different path, even when everyone around me was moving in another direction.

One experience that stands out happened when I was seven years old. I actually ran away from my foster parents’ home because I was determined to find my mother.

And I found her.

When I think about that today, I realize just how dangerous that decision was for a seven-year-old child. But I also recognize something about that little boy. He was determined. He had something he wanted, and despite the obstacles, he was willing to go after it.

That determination followed me into adulthood.

At 19, I joined the military. Leaving my environment and experiencing life beyond Brooklyn opened my eyes to a world of possibilities I hadn’t previously imagined.

It taught me that where you come from doesn’t have to determine where you end up.

Throughout all of those experiences, music was my constant companion.

When I felt alone, music was there. When I struggled to express myself, music gave me a voice. When I needed to escape my circumstances, music allowed me to imagine something different.

Eventually, I decided to pursue music seriously.

Like many aspiring artists, I was excited, ambitious, and eager for an opportunity. I believed that if I could just get in front of the right person, someone might recognize my talent and help me take the next step.

But one of my earliest experiences in the music business changed that perspective.

I met someone who handed me a business card and invited me to what was presented as an audition.

When I arrived, there were other young men there to perform. But the person offering the opportunity made unwanted sexual advances toward me and connected those advances to the possibility of a business deal.

That experience was a turning point.

I realized how easily someone’s dreams could be used against them, especially when they didn’t understand the industry or have the resources to protect themselves.

I made a decision that day.

I wasn’t going to put my future in someone else’s hands.

If I wanted an opportunity, I would have to learn how to create one.

That decision became the foundation of my entrepreneurial journey.

As I continued developing as an artist, I began studying the business behind music. I wanted to understand ownership, royalties, publishing, contracts, marketing, and the systems that determine who benefits from an artist’s work.

The more I learned, the more I realized how many independent artists were operating without access to that same information.

I started asking myself a different question.

Instead of wondering how I could get someone to give me an opportunity, I began wondering how I could build something that created opportunities for others.

That’s how Blacc Market Enterprises began taking shape.

Today, Blacc Market Enterprises is an independent creative and business ecosystem focused on music, media, technology, artist education, and community development.

Through Blacc Market Media, we provide platforms for independent artists to showcase their talent and tell their stories.

Through The Market, we document the people and culture shaping our communities.

And through our Artist Intelligence Operating System, AIOS, we’re building technology designed to help artists understand their ownership, identify weaknesses in their business structure, and make more informed career decisions.

I also founded the Crown Project, a community initiative that provides resources and confidence-building experiences for young people.

During one of our recent events in Brooklyn, we distributed 57 backpacks and provided 52 haircuts to children preparing for the school year.

That work is especially personal to me.

I know what it feels like to be a child navigating circumstances you didn’t create. I know what it feels like to search for belonging, guidance, and opportunity.

And I understand how much of a difference it can make when someone shows up for you.

Today, I’m also a father. My son is one of my greatest motivations to continue growing, learning, and building something meaningful.

My journey hasn’t been traditional, and I certainly haven’t figured everything out.

But I’ve learned that some of the experiences that make us feel different can eventually become the very things that give us purpose.

I spent much of my childhood feeling like I didn’t belong anywhere.

Today, I’m building something where other people can belong.

I spent years searching for opportunities. Now I’m creating them.

And that’s what Blacc Market Enterprises represents to me.

Not just a company, but a commitment to making sure the next generation of artists, entrepreneurs, and young people have access to the knowledge, resources, and opportunities I once had to figure out for myself.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all. My journey has been anything but smooth.

I think one of my biggest challenges has been learning how to trust people while simultaneously learning how to trust myself.

Growing up separated from my parents and moving through foster care, I developed a sense of independence early. But independence can be a double-edged sword. When you’re accustomed to figuring everything out on your own, asking for help can feel unnatural, even when you desperately need it.

For a long time, I confused being able to survive alone with not needing anybody.

And that mentality followed me into adulthood.

I’ve struggled with belonging, relationships, self-doubt, and the pressure of feeling like I always have to figure things out. There have been times when I’ve questioned whether I was making the right decisions, whether my vision was realistic, and whether the sacrifices I was making would ever amount to anything.

Building a career in music brought another set of challenges.

I entered an industry where talent alone isn’t enough. You have to understand business, marketing, contracts, ownership, and relationships. Unfortunately, many independent artists learn those lessons by making expensive mistakes.

I’ve experienced situations where people presented opportunities that weren’t what they appeared to be. Those experiences made me more cautious about who I trusted and more determined to understand the business for myself.

Then came the challenge of entrepreneurship.

Building Blacc Market Enterprises has required me to wear almost every hat imaginable. I’ve had to become the creative director, marketer, strategist, salesperson, administrator, and sometimes even my own biggest source of encouragement.

There have been financial setbacks, projects that didn’t work out, opportunities that fell through, and moments when I had to decide whether to keep investing in something that wasn’t producing immediate results.

One of the hardest parts has been learning that having a vision doesn’t automatically mean having the resources to execute it.

You can know exactly what you want to build and still struggle to afford the tools, people, and infrastructure needed to make it happen.

But perhaps my biggest challenge has been learning how to balance ambition with my personal life.

I’m a father, an artist, and an entrepreneur. Sometimes I’ve been so focused on building a future that I’ve had to remind myself to be present in the life I’m living right now.

I don’t have all the answers, and I still struggle with some of these things.

But I’ve learned that progress doesn’t always look like success from the outside.

Sometimes progress is simply recognizing a pattern you’ve repeated your entire life and deciding to change it.

Sometimes it’s learning to accept help.

Sometimes it’s choosing to keep going when nobody else can see what you’re trying to build.

And sometimes the biggest obstacle isn’t the world standing in your way. It’s learning to stop allowing your past to determine what you believe you deserve.

I’m proud of what I’ve built, but I’m equally proud that I’m still willing to grow beyond the circumstances that shaped me.

Because my goal was never just to survive what I came from.

My goal is to create something better than what I came from.

As you know, we’re big fans of Blacc Market Enterprises . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Blacc Market Enterprises (BME) is a Brooklyn-based creative enterprise focused on independent artist development, media, technology, business education, and community empowerment.

I founded BME because I believe independent artists deserve more than exposure. They deserve ownership, education, resources, and the opportunity to build sustainable careers without sacrificing their independence.

As an artist myself, I experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to navigate the entertainment industry without proper guidance. Artists are constantly encouraged to invest in their careers, but very few are taught how to structure those careers as businesses.

We’re taught how to make music, promote ourselves, and chase opportunities. But who’s teaching us about publishing, royalties, intellectual property, contracts, revenue streams, or the importance of owning our audience?

That’s the gap Blacc Market Enterprises was created to address.

Our company operates through several interconnected initiatives.

Blacc Market Media is our media and artist-development division. We produce interviews, performance content, editorial features, and promotional opportunities that help independent artists develop their brands and reach new audiences.

The Market is our digital publication, where we highlight independent artists, entrepreneurs, and the cultural stories that deserve greater visibility. We believe independent creators shouldn’t have to wait for mainstream recognition to have their stories documented.

Blacc Market TV is our developing television and streaming initiative, designed to expand the distribution of independent music and cultural programming.

One of our most ambitious projects is AIOS, the Artist Intelligence Operating System.

AIOS is a technology platform we’re developing to help independent artists evaluate their business foundations. It examines areas such as ownership, revenue diversification, audience control, and contract risk, helping artists identify weaknesses and make more informed decisions about their careers.

I believe technology should do more than help artists create content. It should help them understand the business behind that content.

We’re also developing E.A.T., which stands for Elevate, Amplify, Transact, a sponsor-backed live entertainment initiative built around a simple principle: Where artists get paid.

The idea is to create a model where businesses support independent culture through sponsorship, artists receive compensation for their work, and audiences experience quality entertainment.

But Blacc Market isn’t limited to entertainment.

Through the Crown Project, our community initiative, we provide resources and confidence-building experiences for young people and families.

At our recent Brooklyn community event, we distributed 57 backpacks and provided 52 haircuts to children preparing for the school year.

That accomplishment is especially meaningful to me because I understand what it feels like to grow up without consistent access to support and resources.

What sets Blacc Market Enterprises apart is our approach.

We’re not interested in simply helping artists become famous. We’re interested in helping them become financially informed, professionally prepared, and capable of building something they own.

I don’t believe artists should have to choose between pursuing their creativity and protecting their future.

I also don’t believe success should require becoming dependent on the same gatekeepers who have historically controlled access to opportunity.

My goal isn’t to become another gatekeeper. It’s to build an alternative to gatekeeping.

What I’m most proud of is that Blacc Market Enterprises is becoming a reflection of everything I’ve learned throughout my life.

The independence I developed growing up, the discipline I gained through military service, the lessons I learned navigating the music industry, and my commitment to community are all reflected in the company’s mission.

We’re still growing, building partnerships, and developing our infrastructure. I don’t pretend that everything we’ve envisioned has already been accomplished.

But I believe the foundation we’re creating has the potential to make a meaningful difference.

Ultimately, I want people to understand that Blacc Market Enterprises isn’t just about entertainment.

It’s about ownership, opportunity, and creating systems that allow people to build futures on their own terms.

I spent years trying to find my place in the world.

Now I’m building a place where other people can find theirs.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My advice would be to stop looking for someone to give you an opportunity and start looking for people who can help you understand how to create your own.

I haven’t had the traditional experience of having one mentor guide me throughout my career. Much of what I’ve learned has come through personal experiences, research, trial and error, and observing people who have accomplished things I aspire to achieve.

Growing up, I learned to be independent at an early age. That independence helped me develop confidence in my own decisions, but it also taught me something important: just because you can figure something out alone doesn’t mean you should have to.

I’ve learned that mentorship doesn’t always come from someone officially taking you under their wing.

Sometimes your greatest lessons come from a conversation, a book, an interview, or even watching someone make a mistake you can learn from.

I believe one of the most important things you can do when networking is approach people with genuine curiosity rather than an expectation of what they can do for you.

Ask questions. Listen carefully. Understand what someone is building and what matters to them.

And don’t underestimate the value of relationships with people who are at the same stage of their journey as you.

Some of the most meaningful connections I’ve made have come through working alongside other independent artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives who are figuring things out just like I am.

Another thing I’ve learned is that access isn’t the same as opportunity.

Being in a room with successful people means very little if you don’t understand why you’re there, what you want to learn, or what value you can contribute.

I also believe it’s important to be selective about whose advice you follow.

Not everyone who presents themselves as a mentor has your best interests at heart. Early in my music career, I experienced how someone could use the promise of an opportunity to take advantage of an aspiring artist.

That taught me to pay attention to people’s actions, not just their titles, connections, or promises.

A genuine mentor should help you become more capable and independent, not make you feel dependent on them.

Today, as I build Blacc Market Enterprises, I try to apply those lessons to the relationships I develop.

I want to connect with people who value collaboration, integrity, education, and long-term growth.

And just as importantly, I want to share what I’ve learned with others.

Because I believe mentorship should eventually come full circle.

The knowledge someone shares with you shouldn’t stop with you. It should become something you can pass on to the next person.

If I could offer one piece of advice, it would be this:

Don’t network just to get into rooms. Build relationships that help you understand how to build rooms of your own.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.kingpaysos.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itskingpaysos?xtok=bWRnZmsxbHZoMnMw&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sosstillstandin
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@kingpaysostv?si=BQo9uFDg0_Y1eWJf