Today we’d like to introduce you to Jerahn Thomas.
Hi Jerahn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
For those who don’t know me my name is Jerahn Thomas, also known to many as Rahn The Don. I am a multifaceted artist with skills ranging everywhere from accounting, audio engineering, skateboarding, filming, photography, art, music, and poetry. To get to where I’m at in my life today has felt like one big road trip filled with pit stops, roadblocks, and even more beautiful memories, experiences, and people met along the way. Originally, I was born in Helena, Arkansas, and raised in Valdosta, Georgia, where I spent most of my life with my parents, Sandra Hobb-Marshall and Edwin Thomas. Given those two locations and their environments, I consider myself a thoroughbred country boy down to the bone marrow of my body.
With so many skills that I have accumulated over the years, I will always say that music is my first love of them all. Even though my parents aren’t musically inclined I credit them to my love for music. My mom had me in piano lessons as a child, which ended before I could get proficient with it. That led to me learning to play drums for my church, and then eventually, I ended up working in the media room doing sound and video for the church as a teenager in high school. My dad, being the bilingual music lover that he is, would take me on road trips and play every genre under the sun. We listened to everything from Sade, Nat King Cole, all the way to Luis Miguel so he definitely gave me the palette of taste for the many different kinds of music I listen to.
I attended Savannah State University, the oldest HBCU in America. Going to college at Savannah State definitely helped shape me as a man and a creative and instilled a sense of pride in being unapologetically black that I didn’t have before. Going to an HBCU and that one specifically was one of the best experiences. During college, I not only received my bachelor’s degree in accounting, but I also picked up skateboarding, started performing my poetry, and received my first camera from my big brother Jermaine Thomas, who’s an award-winning short filmmaker himself.
After college I moved to Houston with my girlfriend at the time. It didn’t work out, so instead of deciding to go back home, I made my roots in Houston. With so much opportunity in Houston I decided to start honing in on my skills and trying to make a name for myself. With my accelerated progression in skateboarding, I was able to land a sponsorship with Geometric Skateshop, in which I was immersed in the skate scene. Through that sponsorship, I started filming my first skate video, “It Is What It Is,” featuring some of my good friends. Shortly after I met John Tucker and started filming with him that opened the doors for me to start filming for many other brands, events, and parties. Some credible names I’ve done work for are Aaron Mays, Stockz, Boiler Room, and Physical Therapy. Photography was something I found a love for recently, inspired by my grandmother and her photo books that she’s made throughout her lifetime. I’m still fairly new to photography, but it’s been a great tool for networking. Lastly, I can’t forget about my musical journey. After receiving my audio engineering certification from Avant Media Institute I started working on my own musical project From A Blank Canvas. This was a project I had in conception for quite a long time, maybe 8 or 9 years. I finally put it out in 2022 for my birthday and since have received many compliments for it as well as two of my songs being featured in movies on Tubi TV, “The Hooper” and “Make It Out,” two Houston-based films. I look forward to continuing to grow in my respective roles as a creative in Houston and hope bigger and better opportunities keep getting presented to me such as this interview with Voyage Houston.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. There’s been a lot of obstacles and roadblocks along the way. However, I will say that the biggest struggle that I’ve faced throughout my journey in life has been self-doubt. Through and through self-doubt has always been a hindrance for me. Feeling like I’m not enough or I’m not doing enough. I’ve been my biggest critic and enemy for a long time. As I’ve moved into my artistry, though, my confidence has definitely changed. Mainly due to the unwavering support and encouragement received from so many people who come across my work. I know my worth now, and I fully believe in myself and my capabilities 1000%.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an all-around creative individual. Most people know me for my video work and photography. I specialize in the vintage aesthetics. I’ve always been drawn to things from the past, I think it’s just because I have an old soul trapped in young man’s body.
I have well over 10+ vintage camcorders that still use tapes, about 4 different Polaroid cameras, and 3 different 35mm film cameras I use in my arsenal. I think what truly sets me apart from most other people in my field is my attention to detail and being able to capture the essence of life in the moment. I put a lot of attention and love into my filming, video editing, and photography. So, I feel like when people see my work that love resonates through it and gives it feels that not too many people can conjure.
I’m proud of the fact that I can inspire and motivate people through my artistry. It’s something that I put on the back burner in my life for years on end and just to be able to make a name for myself through it in one of the biggest cities in America is wild. I’m not as big as I want to be yet, but I’m scaling up the charts.
As far as accomplishments go, I’m mostly proud of releasing my musical project “From A Blank Canvas” as well as my Polaroid Wall Installation. I had been working on From A Blank Canvas for well over 7 years. The self-doubt kept me from pulling the trigger on it for so long, but I finally put it out and received so much love from it as well as two movie syncs. My photography journey is fairly new but when I started with it, I got busy. So much so that over my first year of taking photos, I accumulated over 800+ Polaroids. With so many of them on hand, I decided to make a Polaroid wall in which people have greatly taken a like to and I’ve been able to present it at my first art gallery exhibition called the Summer Gallery, thanks to a good friend and creative Alejandro, as well as being booked to display it at other events since I created it.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is the youth and the young black boys and girls that are navigating through this life in America. My mother has been a teacher for over 20+ years, so that’s where my passion stems from. The youth is our future and I just want to be able to be a role model and set an example for the young black boys and girls that anything is possible, you can do whatever it is you set out to do in this lifetime. I want to be everything I wish I had in a leader to the youth who come from the same struggles. A goal of mine is to become a mentor to the youth and help cultivate their artistry.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rahnthedon?igsh=eHJkYTF4cHozMXZv&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@jerahnt24?si=KYc2oprh4iuXsWYM
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/album/7IGVKaqAQBbRCtGnObASS2?si=qAdN1_rBSo6xwgc9MJ0tHg
Image Credits
John Tucker
Max Hummels
Alex G.
Frank 80
Nasa Lamode
Jean Paul Fuentes
