Today’s guest on Celebrity Myxer is a TV Personality on VH1’s hit show Black Ink Crew Chicago. He’s one of the most recognized beard gang members of the show. Don’t judge his book by the cover, because his personality goes far beyond his psychic and transcends to philanthropy with the founding of a mental illness and suicide prevention foundation for his late sister Dominique Flewellen. He’s currently touring between show tapings and I’ll let you get to know him in this interview. Read and watch Don Bishop interview!
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Alexus asks Don what new can we expect from him since they are in the process of taping season four of Black Ink Crew: Chicago. He responds that he is in a meditative state and maturing his on camera behavior. The biggest misconception about Don is that he is angry. He says he’s a big teddy bear and people who knows his can concur.
In reality, he was coping with deaths in his family of significant people in his life. He lost his uncle and grandmother in the course of the first two seasons- these stories were not told on television. The emotions of how he dealt with them were- in fact they were exploited. He would come on set dealing with losses, then interjected into situations on the show and since he did not know how to deal with them properly- he exploded on camera. This makes for great reality TV. Renee then asks Bishop what did he do to change that behavior. He said he had to find his rotation with playing ball, working out, puffing a cigar and stopped on-camera drinking so he can have clear thinking and clear responses.
The reality show personality is an avid cigar smoker. Previously he launched his own line called the Don Strawberry Tequila Cigar. He plans to revamp this line. When asked how he got into it he replied it was a woman who actually introduced him. It was a woman who taught him everything about cigars including how to investigate the stick- from the leaf to the tobacco. There is a large community of female cigar connoisseurs out there. His reintroduction will be aimed at his & her smokers.
The beard gang member is often asked how does he care for his beard. He recently become an ambassador for Luster’s Beard Balm and 103 Collection. He values the fact that they are organic products. Both companies are based in Chicago- he really has an affinity to support local and African American businesses.
#NMOL (No More Ordinary Lifestyle)
A phrase chanted in his brother Phor’s hot rap song “Chi Town“. This phrase represents a movement started when the siblings were youth. “This is basically pushing people to be want you dream to be. We weren’t blessed to have things everybody else had. I was a dream we started as kids. We were determined not to be ordinary. We’re not going to have the ordinary lifestyle. We’re not going to have the regular office job. We’re going to do something above and behind to change our families lives,” Don elaborates. It’s not to be confused as a gang but a positive movement. He illustrates how they have elevated beyond poverty, homelessness, even beating the odds of statistically slated to be in jail with successes in television, music and art.
He started a T-Shirt line with Neek Bey from the show in dedication to his sister Dominique Flewellen. “NEVER ALONE GOD WITH ME” NEVER ALONE represents individuals who feel mentally, physically, or emotionally alone. Proceeds will be donated to her mental illness and suicide prevention foundation. Rest in paradise. You can purchase the shirt or donate here. Dominique passed from taking her own life after struggling with mental illness. This struck Don hard, thus this apparel line (which is in the process of becoming an awareness charity) will be in remembrance of her. It’s a movement to contradict the trend of today’s entertainment society to be lonesome, drugged up and in their feelings- with love, support and embracing one another.
In Don Bishop interview he expands on his transition from initially managing Phor’s music career- to them both needing managers to micro-manage tasks they put in place. Speaking of Phor, his new album is doing well. He’s currently touring and performing- even pulling off a Chi-town remix to include hitters such as Lil Durk, Bump J, and Twista. Don explains this hasn’t been done for the city since Kanye West. Musically his repertoire is not the typical gangster but things that he knows as Bishop describes, “We’re not gang-bangers. We’re not going to fake it. We wanted to stay true to who we are… and what we are. So my brother gonna rap about what he knows. He’s gonna rap about love, music and we’re making money!”
Aside of the show and charity, he does piercings with the 9Mag team. Renée asks him about the craziest place he was ask to pierce. You’ll have to watch the show to hear that hilarious story. Most people also would not know he loves to cook. Whether it’s barbecuing, smoking, baking… he’s does it all. We had a fabulous time learning more about Don Bishop than what the show portrays. You can keep up with Don Bishop on his Instagram.
This episode of Celebrity Myxer™ was sponsored by V75 Lounge. Located at 125 W 75th St, Chicago, IL 60620. Contact us to sponsor the TV show.
