249: Creative Control: How Artists & Creators Can Build Wealth on Their Own Terms w/ DIVINE Victor D. Lombard
If you’ve ever felt like you had to choose between making money and staying true to your creativity, this episode is for you. We’re diving into the real meaning of creative control and why ownership, financial literacy, and mindset are non-negotiable when it comes to building wealth on your own terms. Whether you’re in music, content creation, or any business, there’s a way to protect your vision and still build something profitable and powerful.
In this conversation, we’re joined by DIVINE, hip hop artist turned tech entrepreneur and the co-founder of Notes, a financial empowerment platform designed for independent artists and creators. From growing up in the projects and navigating real-life challenges to building fintech startups and working alongside industry legends like Rakim, DIVINE brings a lived experience that is both rare and incredibly relevant. He breaks down how to create multiple income streams, avoid predatory financial traps, shift from talent to ownership, and why his story is proof that it doesn’t matter where you start. What matters is that you start.
DURING THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
- What creative control really means and why it’s key to long-term wealth
- Mindset shifts that help you move from survival mode to ownership mindset
- Practical ways creators and entrepreneurs can generate multiple income streams
- Financial traps to avoid as an independent artist or early-stage business owner
- How to leverage credit, tech, and automation to take back control of your business
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
ABOUT DIVINE:
Victor D. Lombard, known as DIVINE, is a former professional hip-hop artist turned tech entrepreneur and the co-founder of Notes, a fintech platform empowering independent artists and creators. With only an eighth-grade formal education and a decade of incarceration behind him, DIVINE’s breakthrough came when he boldly asked venture capitalist Ben Horowitz for mentorship through a Twitter message. Today, he’s a 3x fintech founder whose work sits at the intersection of music, tech, financial empowerment, and culture. He’s been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, BET, Black Enterprise, and more for his mission to help creators own their power and their profits.
Thank you so much for listening! If you liked this episode, please subscribe to “The Black to Business Podcast” and rate and review on Apple Podcasts:
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OTHER PLACES TO LISTEN: Apple | Spotify
STAY CONNECTED:
DIVINE Victor D. Lombard: Website | Instagram
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