It was just a few years ago that Steph Jones was making headlines for
dating Jordin Sparks, signing a half a million dollar deal with
Ludacris’ DTP label and being featured in videos all while turning heads
in the industry. But what many don’t know is that he fell on hard times
after he was dropped from the label, and not even his mom or Jordin
knew that he was
living out of
his car. He was making headlines on all of the blogs, meanwhile, he
felt as though he had to continuously keep up a facade.
Steph, who now goes by his real name Garrain, recently caught up with
Vibe Vixen’s VBlog and dished about his inspiring journey from being homeless while pursuing a
music career to transitioning into a more fulfilling
career as a health
coach.
Check out a few highlights:
On living out of his car:
I was living from check to check. sometimes my phone had to get cut off.
Sometimes I had to decide between putting gas in my car or food in my
mouth. Years passed and I would make money here and there but just enough to get by. Eventually the bills were piling up and I had no money
coming in. The lease was up on my apartment so I started staying at
different friends houses. Then I felt like I was wearing out my welcome.
Then I was like, I got my car.
On Perception vs Reality:
I was so numb with emotions I would just
figure it out. Some days I went without eating and some days I would
just cry myself to sleep in my jeep. Nobody knew that cause I had so
much pride that I was willing to play the game of what people thought I
was on the blogs. The more I felt separated from who I really was the
more I was dying mentally. It was so hard to bounce back because I was
so laser focused on music and me being talented in so many areas of my
life that I didn’t even fathom the idea of entertaining anything else.
On Hiding His Situation From His Girlfriend at the Time, Jordin Sparks
“We didn’t live in the same state. I mean my mom didn’t even know. If my
mom didn’t know and she knows everything, I could hide it from
anybody.”
Two and half years living out of his jeep:
I put on an extra 30 pounds. I was 165 my whole life and I got up to
almost 200 pounds. I would be crying in my jeep asking God why is this
happening to me when I have so much to offer the world.
Leap of faith:
August 15th, 2011 at 3:47 am, I was at the post office
outside of my PO box. I spoke to God like I’ve never spoken to him.
Tears ran out of my body to where my body was cold and I said I had had
enough. I wanna be around nothing but positive people but the industry
is not a positive environment. There are positive people in it, but its a
very cold place. A lot of my friends who are platinum selling artists
hate there lives. I wanna be healthy and wanna make money but want the money to represent something that I believe in. Everything I asked for made its way into my life a week and a half later.
Today, He’s taking good care of his body and he has a new gig as a health coach with
Herbalife that he says saved his life.
I don’t worry about the naysayers I worry about the people who are actively seeking a better and healthy living. My main focus is not about the marketing plan. My main focus is you come to me because you want help and I want to help you. It’s bigger than nutrition; its about the person
you become along the way. When they was asked what I wanna be when I
grow up I said I wanted to be a superhero, so when I came into this my
body became superhero like and then it hit me, I’m a superhero! I’m
traveling the world and I get to help people one person at a time. It’s like I manifested this in my life since I was a kid. I am now a herbal hero (laughs).”
On making music:
I did not quit music. I will write and sing in the comforts of my own home until I can build financial
freedom where I can do it my way and I don’t have to conform to anybody
else’s ideas. When I come back, I‘ll come back on my own terms. Now I
have a place to live and I don’t have to sleep in my jeep anymore. I
have financial freedom now and that represents fulfillment and
happiness. People don’t realize that this is what i’ve always wanted to
do; help people and change lives.
Good for Steph!!! This industry can eat you up and spit you out alive.
Read more over at
Vibe Vixen
