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What Growing Up on the South Side of Chicago Taught This Visual Artist About Hustling Hebru Brantley learned how to sell from hip-hop. Now, he has Jay-Z as a client.

By Ximena N. Larkin Edited by Dan Bova

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Hebru Brantley always knew he needed to find an outlet to express himself. But, why did he choose art and, more specifically painting, as his means of expression?

"Because it was the cheapest way," Brantley says. "[I could] go grab a can [of paint] and figure it out."

He also explains how he learned about business growing up on the south side of Chicago from his neighbors and from hip-hop. There, he learned that you don't need to wait for someone else to start promoting your product -- you can do it yourself.

Whatever he learned must have worked, because Bradley now counts Jay-Z, Chance the Rapper and Lenny Kravitz among his clients.

Watch the video to learn more.

Related: At 17, This Entrepreneur Worked the Cash Registers. Now, He's a Vice President of the Same Company.

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Ximena N. Larkin

Writer, Publicist and Founder of C1 Revolution

Ximena N. Larkin is a digital strategist who specializes in using social media for public relations campaigns to create offline engagement. Based in Chicago, she is the founder of C1 Revolution and has worked on public relations, social media and marketing campaigns for companies. 

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