Interview
Professional Basketball Player, Eugene Campbell III Has Proven His Worth Today By Playing His Way Up to Higher Leagues
Eugene Campbell III is a professional basketball player from Jersey City, New Jersey living in an environment where violence, drugs, and crime were the norm. Growing up, his family was not the wealthiest, but they managed to provide him with the best life filled with enjoyment and valuable life lessons. His passion for basketball is rooted in his relationship with his father and older sister. We had the opportunity to interview this incredible player on how he became a true dream chaser and how he has managed to overcome so many challenges and become who he is today.
Hello Eugene, welcome to Honk Magazine. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
Eugene Campbell III – “Before I took basketball seriously, I was into baseball in the eighth grade and was pretty good at it. Unfortunately, one of my teachers did not like the idea that I was playing on the baseball team and told my parents that I was failing her class and wouldn’t be able to play baseball. Come to find out, I was never-failing my class and was kicked off the team anyways, even though I wasn’t ever failing. This teacher never wanted me to play baseball and lied to my parents as I was never failing the class. When the Baseball incident happened, I stopped playing sports up until the end of middle school. It was hard for me to play any sport, knowing that I would always be cut just because of who I was. Once I went to high school, though, I started to get back into sports and focused more on basketball instead of baseball. I felt that I was one of the better players in my freshman year, but because my school was again not fond of me, I was cut from the team. I used this to motivate and fuel me to have the career I have today.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started this career?
Eugene Campbell III – The most Interesting thing that happened at the start of my career was my teammate and I being placed in a city in Moldova where we were the only people who spoke English. We had to use sign language and pronouns just to communicate with people. It was also interesting that we were the only Americans in the whole city. At times we were often starred at walking to the stores and asked for photos with people. It was very interesting and it is something I won’t forget.
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Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Eugene Campbell III – The funniest mistake I made at the start of my career was bringing expensive white Jordana with me to Moldova during my rookie year. It was a funny mistake because when I got back to the United States my sneakers were brown. I learned my lesson and that movement on I either brought cheaper sneakers or darker colored sneakers.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
Eugene Campbell III – I am working on some new designs for my clothing brand coming out this spring. I am going to be modeling a couple of brands that I am a brand ambassador for and I’m working on getting news coverage from News 12 New Jersey to come my community service events coming up.
Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?
Eugene Campbell III – The most interesting people I interacted with are people from Armenia. They had upbeat energy that was unmatched and very memorable. The best story is on my birthday when I went to the mall and I told the people at the burger place I always got to that it was my birthday and they gave me free food and played the birthday song in English and danced with me. It was very kind and sweet and it was a memory I will never forget.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
Eugene Campbell III – I would recommend them to take care of their bodies. The best ability is availability which is what my college coach uses to always tell me. If you are available to play you have a better chance of longevity in your career than someone who isn’t available.
You have been blessed with success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?
Eugene Campbell III – My advice is for the people out there seeking professional basketball careers is to stay locked in and make sure you give everything 120%. The bigger the dream is the early your going to have to wake up and then later you are going to have to stay up.
Can you share with our readers any self-care routines, practices, or treatments that you do to help your body, mind, or heart to thrive? Kindly share a story or an example for each.
Eugene Campbell III – The best self-care treatment for me is listening to Eric Thomas who in my opinion is the greatest motivational speaker in the world. Whenever I’m not feeling the most motivated I always listen to him and I am instantly motivated and ready to take a goal at hand.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
Eugene Campbell III – I wish someone would have told me that euros are worth more than the U.S dollar that way I would have known in advance that I would be losing money exchanging USD. I wish I would have known in advance that in my rookie year in Moldova that the city I was in didn’t have an ATM that way I would have just brought a lot of money to exchange. I wish someone told me that Armenia was a racist country so I would have been more prepared for it instead of dealing with the culture shock as soon as I entered the country. I wish someone told me that a full overseas season lasted 7to 8 months that way I would have packed more clothes and sneakers. I wish someone told me that bringing a laptop is very important being overseas. It would be 10x easier to get work done if I had my laptop with me.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Eugene Campbell III – “Trying suggests the option of failure and failure is not an option” This quote is very relevant in my life because it comes from a very special brother of mine Shawn Hawkins who was my educator in my intake process of being a proud brother of psi sigma phi multicultural fraternity incorporated. It made me eliminate the word trying out of my vocabulary and now I just say it’s going to get done it has made me more confident and determined in getting things done.
None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
Eugene Campbell III – I have to give a big thanks to a great family friend of mine Kenneth Faried (NBA player). Kenneth is someone I grew up with and my father and his father are best friends. He was able to make it to the NBA have a great career and I was blessed to be able to receive some meaningful advice from him. Kenneth called me in the spring of 2019 when I told him that I officially wanted to be a professional basketball player. He sat on the phone with me for over 30 minutes giving me the blueprint and the tools I needed to become a pro I listened to every word he said followed the blueprint and became a pro two years later. I still talk to him to this day and I always thank him for giving me the advice and motivation I needed to get my career started.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Eugene Campbell III – I want to build my recreational center for children and adults of all ages who like sports. They don’t have enough of these in New Jersey that cover all sports so I want to be the first. People don’t understand that sports not only build lifetime friendships but also keep people active and lower the obesity rate around the world. I will not only change the community but I will change the world.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might see this. 🙂
Eugene Campbell III – I would most definitely love to have breakfast with my favorite basketball player of all time Paul Pierce. He is the reason I love basketball the reason I am a die-hard Celtics fan and was my biggest motivation to keep playing. I imitated everything Paul Pierce did from the headband to the wristband to even the trash talking. He is my role model and I would love to sit with him and just talk basketball.
How can our readers follow you online?
Eugene Campbell III – You can follow me on Instagram – @iamgenecampbell
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Tarantino’s Cinematic Empire, Unveiling the $120 Million Maestro of Hollywood in 2024
Tarantino’s Cinematic Empire, Unveiling the $120 Million Maestro of Hollywood in 2024
Renowned for his bold narratives and unique storytelling, Quentin Tarantino has become a cinematic legend, leaving an indelible mark on the film industry. As we step into 2024, the maestro’s net worth is a staggering $120 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Join us on a thrilling journey through Tarantino’s career, from his humble beginnings to the zenith of success, uncovering the milestones that have paved the way for his substantial wealth.
Tarantino’s love affair with cinema began in Los Angeles, where he nurtured his passion for storytelling while working at a video rental store. This early exposure laid the groundwork for his distinctive cinematic style, blending pop culture, dialogue-driven narratives, and a penchant for non-linear storytelling.
The turning point arrived with his debut film, “Reservoir Dogs” (1992). Despite controversies surrounding its violence, the crime thriller catapulted Tarantino into the spotlight, establishing him as a visionary director in Hollywood.
Post-“Reservoir Dogs,” Tarantino continued to make waves with critically acclaimed and commercially successful films like “Pulp Fiction” (1994), “Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2” (2003-2004), “Inglourious Basterds” (2009), and “Django Unchained” (2012). Each release not only garnered critical acclaim but also contributed significantly to Tarantino’s ever-growing net worth.
Venturing beyond filmmaking, Tarantino explored novels based on his films, directed theater adaptations, and made a mark in television by directing episodes of hit series like CSI and ER. Collaborations with major brands and merchandise associated with his films further boosted his income, creating a consistent stream of revenue.
Quentin Tarantino’s net worth is a testament to his enduring impact on the film industry. From humble beginnings fueled by a passion for cinema to groundbreaking directorial work, Tarantino has carved out a niche uniquely his own. As we witness the maestro’s influence in various mediums, one thing is certain – Quentin Tarantino’s legacy is not just in Hollywood history but also reflected in his substantial net worth. Join us in celebrating the $120 million maestro who continues to redefine cinematic brilliance!
Artist Spotlight
HeIsTheArtist Opens Up about New EP, Faith and more!
Can you tell us a little about your musical background and how you got started in the industry?
Growing up, I was always in some type of choir and band. I didn’t take music seriously, however, until I was an adult, when a music producer from my hometown discovered me online singing covers for fun on my Instagram page. He loved what he heard and invited me to his studio to record a single (now titled “Honey”). The rest is history.
Your new EP, “Dreaming In Emerald City (Wicked Deluxe Edition),” is a tribute to two iconic films. What inspired you to create this project?
In recent years, musical movies have grown in popularity. That alone inspired me to create this project, which mixed the essence of my favorite two musical movies with R&B.
How do you infuse elements of Broadway and neo-soul into your music?
I was deliberate with the nostalgic instrumentation to give an old-school Broadway sound. I mixed in the Neo-Soul element with my soulful vocal delivery.
The theme of empathy and self-love is prominent in this EP. Can you speak more on the messages you hope to convey through your music?
This EP is about self-discovery (which is the theme of “The Wizard of Oz” as well). The EP takes you on a journey, from love of others to self-love. By the end of the EP, I hope listeners have a little more love to give in their hearts.
Your cover of Minnie Riperton’s “Lovin’ You” has gained a lot of attention. What made you choose this song and how did you put your own spin on it?
I chose “Lovin’ You” because it’s the epitome of earthy love songs. I put a spin on it by just being myself while still honoring the original.
The EP also includes a remix of your original song “Mi Amor.” Can you talk about the inspiration behind this song and its remixes?
The song itself was inspired by “The West Side Story” (which is why the lyrics are mostly in Spanish). The song is about falling in love in a world that often times breaks lovers apart.
The retro remixes were inspired by the 1989 musical movie “Teen Witch” where the main character had trouble finding love until she realized she always had the power to find love, she just had to find love within herself.
Your music has reached international success, particularly in the UK. How does it feel to have such a wide audience for your music?
It feels great that my music is reaching larger audiences. It shows that my God-fearing music is being embraced in a world that can be so heartless at times.
You have been described as a Christian R&B artist. Can you tell us about the role of faith in your music?
God is everything in my music. God is love, which is why every song I sing is about love.
Can fans expect any live performances or tours in support of this EP?
Yes, towards the summer, I will be doing various live performances. Stay posted to my social media for performance dates!
What can we expect from HeIsTheArtist in the future? Any upcoming projects or collaborations to look out for?
On May 10th I will be releasing a cover of “(At Your Best) You Are Love” by The Isley Brothers paired with a cinematic music video. I call this project “Dreaming In Emerald City 1.5” because it expands on the concepts that my EP “Dreaming In Emerald City” touched on.
www.artistecard.com/heistheartist
