Today we’d like to introduce you to Jock Solomon.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Born in a family of four, oldest of two and with both Parents in my household raised in the Greenspoint Area. As a child life was great, I didn’t want for much because the value of love outweighed everything I didn’t possess! At around the age of 6-7, I started to notice things getting better financially with my parents and their friends! To be Candid that’s when I started realizing my future was being molded for me at that very moment. Being one of the only Boys on my Dad side of the Family I was able to go everywhere with him. And that’s where it started making sense and I was all ears and eyes! My Uncles was running one of the biggest Cocaine Families on the North Side. Around the Age of ten, I seen them count over a million dollars in 1 day, and they had it all. Luxury Cars, Big Houses, Money, I mean everyone was living good and catching flights to see the Tyson, Holyfield and so on! I never really gravitated to being anything other than one of the Biggest hustlers to grace the streets of the North Side. At the age of 13 in the summertime I made my 1st sell and it felt great. I mean it was so simple to make this money, and you could make 5-100 dollars in 5 seconds!
At that moment, I was ruined mentally. Being that I’ve never really liked school and felt I had enough education, I decided to drop out in the 10th grade and peruse my GED just to please my parents. Around the age 16, it was hard to make some real money with a job and I hated asking my parents for anything. And this is where everything I was soaking up as a child came to life. I started hustling full time and was living it and honestly still broke. At 18 I managed to catch my 1st case which landed me with five years probation and a Bootcamp program, which I ended up serving around 11 months! Being in there I still had that desire for the streets but I managed to at least get my GED and get in shape. I knew while in there I wasn’t going to be able to complete this probation, Prison was just going to be a part of my Future. I was released two weeks before Thanksgiving 2002 and by Thanksgivings, I was back to my Bullspit! This time I was able to think a little clearer and hustle how I wanted! I’ve always had that Big Homie demeanor so a lot of people gravitated to me and I had a tremendous amount of respect from the streets. I started seeing what I thought was real money and picked up an addiction to Codeine Syrup (drank). Being that I had to feed this addiction which was very expensive, I managed to have a 24hr clientele! If I was awake, it was money being made. That same Addiction landed me a few failed drug tests. When I caught word that I had a warrant it was catch me when you can, I went on the run for almost a year.
Ended up getting pulled over for my music 3am with my Best Friend, we both were on our way to Prison. I ended up signing for three years TDC. Now I only had 1 case on me so I made Parole too fast, mentally I wasn’t ready for freedom, I served around nine months total. 2nd day out my Connect seen me outside my Grandmother and stopped. That desire for money is an addiction on it’s on, so two days later, I was back at it and all in again. Now on Parole you have a little more freedom which caused me two pickup both of my addictions again. This time I ended up getting set up by someone. This case wasn’t that serious so I pled guilty for a lesser sentence and ended up serving that time and the remainder of my Parole in TDC. But this time was different because I was 300 miles away, everyone left my side except my parents and sister. Like I said in the beginning I always had a tremendous amount of love from my Parents and Sister. They managed to make those long trips for a 2hr visitation with me. And life wasn’t that great for them at the time, my mother is a real worrier and I could tell my lifestyle was getting to her. I vowed to give myself 1 shot to do something right!
After serving two years, I came home to absolutely nothing. I had 1 Goal and that was to find my way in life. I met a women two days after being released from Prison who is now my Wife of 11 years. Ironically we met at one of Houston’s ratchetest clubs The Spot in 3rd Ward. I didn’t even have a phone for her to call me on besides my Grandmothers. Her life was already blossoming. She worked in Banking, no kids, Pretty, intelligent and her own place and I was up for the challenge! I ended up getting a Job working with my Aunt moving furniture for Mechanical Engineers. But this working for someone stuff just isn’t me. So I started a company called Mobile Metal Recycling in 2009. That’s where the hustler emerged again but this time, it was a Legal product! That business opened my eyes to how we’re conditioned by our own people whom haven’t found success unless it was through music, television, or the streets. I’ve had business dealings with some of Houston’s biggest Metal Recyclers, and they knew me by my 1st Name! 3 years later, with a market that fluctuates so much and the Scrap industry slowing down I had to put Mobile Metal Recycling to the side and find a better-grounded career. I’ve always wanted my own 18-wheelers due to the amount I spent yearly to have drivers hauling my scrap metal. And at that very moment, we were expecting our 1st child. This put me in a very dark place for a while because it became bigger than me. I decided to get my CDL and things started to get better. I still used my Recycling business as a 2nd income being that I was a Company Driver.
A couple of years later I started a Container company through Mobile Metal Recycling. Me and a business partner were purchasing containers from a Company out in China, selling containers statewide. Now I never had the mind of being a Worker, it just doesn’t sit well with me knowing it’s a bigger opportunity out there for me. After living life to the fullest with the family it was time to get serious. I decided to start a trucking Company in 2019. King Solomon’s Trucking LLC, which is named after my 1 and only Son! To me, everything is a hustle. Your commitment to anything will be the result of the work you put out! You might be smarter on paper but you’re going to have to possess a different type of animal to outwork me. As a father of a young black man, we have to be their biggest celebrity to them. I don’t regret anything about my past, I knew the monster I was dealing with. But I prayed hard and put the work in! I’ve never failed just learned lessons along this journey. The Art Of Never Giving Up!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
My biggest struggle was changing my lifestyle. The way I think, react, my surroundings and accepting the fact that I had to lose some people along this journey! You only fail when you fail to try! I take everything as a lesson, and what I don’t know I’ll figure it out.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about King Solomon’s Trucking LLC?
We’re hauling different kinds of chemicals that’s going or coming from overseas mainly Steamship Line. What’ separates KST is I don’t believe in being late to any Delivery or Pickup! I’m a big believer in representing your Brand, and that comes with staying Professional, Communicating, Attention to Details, and always looking your best! What makes me the proudest is Naming my business after my Son! Next year we’re making another Transition, it’s time to tap into all Logistics!
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success by the results you’ve yielded. Not necessarily money but consistency with progression. Money is a Great possession but it holds no value if you can’t make it work for itself. Being able to inspire other individuals around me, and knowing the sacrifices it takes to create generational wealth.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: the_art_of_hustle__
- Facebook: The Art Of Hustle. Coming 2023
