SA STRONG: Former San Antonio rapper, drug dealer turns life around to mentor kids
He grew up on the East side surrounded by drugs and violence. Despite difficult times, Hubert “Streetz” Brown was able to turn his life around and is now a mentor for young minds in San Antonio.
SAN ANTONIO - He grew up on the East side surrounded by drugs and violence.
Despite difficult times, Hubert “Streetz” Brown was able to turn his life around and is now a mentor to young minds in San Antonio.
Brown spends most of his days inside P.O.W.E.R at GLASS Ministries.
It’s a non-profit he started with his team to support children, adults, and the homeless on the East side.
Being a part of P.O.W.E.R takes him back to his own childhood and what was once his reality.
“It was kind of hard growing up in poverty living where we were at. My mother being on drugs and my step father being on drugs. You were born in a situation (and) now you have to adapt to that situation.
There were drug dealers. There were people out there scamming. What we thought was normal, was actually illegal,” said Brown.
At just the age of 8, is when Brown got involved with drugs.
My brother (and I) would run the drugs from one side of the projects to the other side. We would come back with the money and they would give us five dollars. I'm an 8-year-old kid. Five dollars to me (was) a lot of money,” said Brown.
Brown said growing up, he wanted to be a drug dealer. After going to college and coming back to the Alamo City, Brown ended up getting shot.
He also spent six years in federal prison for possession of drugs related charges.
Shortly after his time, he started a record label and pursued a new purpose as a rapper.
“Fate ended up bringing me to be a rapper. We started 15Five. We had Wobble When She walk on the radio. We owned a beat bash. After that is when we decided to go to Atlanta,” added Brown.
Today, the former rapper is an entrepreneur and is in the process of opening his own restaurant on the East side, near the AT&T Center.
Brown said not matter where his new business takes him, his primary goal is to continue to help people.
Over the last few years, Brown has worked with several charities and put on events for the homeless.
“It was the best feeling I ever had in my life. That is why I still do that today. The rapping, the money. The cars, the fun. None of that compares to the looks on people's faces when you help them. We started P.O.W.E.R. We go right in there and we help. We come up with the money ourselves,” explained Brown.
P.O.W.E.R not only provides food for people in need, but youth mentoring programs and an emergency shelter.
Camilla Rambaldi: “How would you define strength?”
“I would define strength by love. I would define it by how much you love.”
Brown hopes his own story of survival will inspire other kids in the community.
“I would tell kids just to hold on and have faith. When the time comes that you can get out of that situation (and) make the right choice. Just don't give up. Don't give up. Always believe in yourself,” added Brown.
If you have a SA STRONG story idea for Camilla Rambaldi connect with her via email or on social media.
