Love Is Dope: How BP Parker and Eric George are uplifting community through their BP Brand
By Vaughn Williams
The BP Brand rocketed into the Black Media Matters Studio last week for #FeelGoodFriday with Trae Holiday. Founder of The BP Brand, Brandon ‘BP’ Parker, and his partner, Eric George, came to spread the word that “Love is Dope.” These two launched this clothing brand with the purpose to inspire youth around the world. There is no better way to spread a movement than with shirts, hats, and a message that reinvigorates the soul.
Parker, the founder of The BP Brand, started out as a motivational speaker. His brand was launched after the murder of George Floyd. Appalled by the tragedy, Parker was motivated to use his skills to uplift the masses. During the 2020 protests, Parker was there at the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP), using his gift to inspire, “I was doing a lot of work uplifting the energy but still connecting it to what we needed to do as a people,” said Parker.
George, who had a previous connection to Parker, was essentially, and literally, called upon to help Parker spread his message. According to George, Parker said he had something big going on and proceeded to ask George to get everyone’s phones together. “So, that’s what I did. I got the phones together,” said George. From there, the BP brand began to take off.
The BP Brand uses its clothing to portray a message. In a sense, the clothing, which is in a league of its own, is only a supplement to the messages that Parker wants to spread. “You have to represent more than yourself,” said Parker. When it comes to The BP Brand, George and Parker’s goal is that, wherever the brand goes, its message must follow.
George has been in the networking industry for a long time, “I started on the streets,” said George. He was on the streets handing out flyers and putting up posters. This experience led to him working with KUBE 93, and he worked on some of their summer jams. Using this same formula and his now prominent network, he helped rocket The BP Brand into stores and the public consciousness.
As a Black-owned business, The BP Brand feels emboldened when working with other independently owned Black businesses, like Platinum Plush Fashion, which currently sells The BP Brand clothing. “Black businesses are supposed to grow together, not against each other,” said George.
Parker wants to make sure that The BP Brand embodies its message no matter where it goes, “to elevate kings and queens to be the best versions of themselves. Being the best of yourself, you can’t do that without love,” said Parker.
Changing the mentality of the youth is something that drives Parker. He told us a story about when he was a keynote speaker at the Great Wolf Lodge. When speaking to the high schoolers, Parker helped articulate his success so that he could hopefully encourage them to work towards their dreams.
“How I speak is creating those opportunities, not waiting for those opportunities,” said Parker.
That quote is the embodiment of Parker’s central message that he hopes to spread, “Teaching these young men about the mentality of building brick by brick,” said Parker.
The BP Brand is revolutionizing the clothing industry with its message, “The brand represents itself when you put on the shirt it’s a great feeling,” said George.
Make sure to check out their clothing on their Instagram, TheBPBrand. If you want to buy their clothes directly visit their site, https://www.thebpbrand.com/
If you want to watch the full interview click the Youtube video above