Billy Dha Kidd’s Journey: Hip-Hop to Real Estate & Wealth

BillyDhaKidd.com (00:00)
that’s usually what I try to do is let them know, hey, you know, the timeline is this obviously.

Let’s beat the clock, but you do have those six months and plan for those six months I think that’s the that’s the key is planning for the longest and plan for the worst because it could happen and it will happen most likely so

Erika (01:50)
Hey everyone, welcome to the Real Estate Pro Show. I’m your host, Erika, and today I’m thrilled to be joined by Billy Dha Kidd, a true entrepreneur, I guess is the best way I could say it. He’s killing it as a hip hop artist, real estate investor, hard money lender, contractor. He does coaching. Billy, welcome to our show.

BillyDhaKidd.com (02:11)
Thank you so much. I’ve been looking forward to this. I’m super excited. I like that. I’m going to start using that. know what? Serial Entrepreneur is out the window now.

Erika (02:19)
Awesome.

Okay, Billy, let’s dive in. For our listeners who don’t know your story, give us the rundown. How did you go from hip hop to real estate?

BillyDhaKidd.com (02:29)
Yeah.

So, you know, it’s funny because hip hop is real estate and especially nowadays. But and actually, you what? It’s always been. And what I mean by that is ⁓

My thought was always how and don’t take this out of context, but I like to be lazy, right? And I want to run my businesses, my life, finances as lazy. And I know it sounds funny because trust me, like all this has been a lot of hard work, but, ⁓ the hard work is what got me here, right? Where I can be lazy. What I mean by that is, you know, real estate, you’re sleeping, it’s making you money. Music is the same thing. Guys, music, you’re sleeping.

And somebody’s listening to me on Spotify or Apple Music or Pandora, right? Like right now I can probably pull it up if I wanted to and check. bet you there’s at least one listener somewhere out there, right? Like listening to my music. So what that means is lazy is how can you build something? How can you build your business or just your finances, your life in general to where you don’t have to put your time for money? And honestly, that’s the biggest gift. So freedom is the key. So with that being said,

My music I that was the thought right like okay Can I go do a show like can I blow up and go do a show and make all this money that I don’t have that I can make in three months working at a job or just just an example so At that time I used to hustle CDs I used to go to the literally the streets like I would park at a Walgreens or wherever you know I would see a crowd of Walmart or something and I had a van wrapped up with all my logos and stuff and I would sell CDs I would sell merch, you know that night. Maybe I had a show

at a local venue in that city or town or locally and ⁓ that’s how I started to quote unquote get rich because there’s a big difference between wealth and rich right so when I saw that I was getting rich quote unquote ⁓ at that around that same time and this and actually my music I’ve been rapping since I was a teen I got signed to a major label they didn’t deliver what they said they were gonna do same old story but the nice thing is that that was only on my first album so I learned

real quick and I started my own LLC my own record label I signed myself and since then you know I’ve been building this foundation that nobody can take away right in that time I learned taxes I learned you know I was just telling you accounting all the insurance right like if you did a show at a venue you needed liability insurance so all those things came to play in the next business which was my construction company so I own a

construction company and then from there I bought my first house about a year later. ⁓ The construction company is turning 10 years actually. yeah that’s kind of the fastest rundown and then now I do some hard money lending ⁓ and ⁓ I just get lazier and lazier Erika. I love it.

Erika (06:13)
I have to ask, do you find your creative side as an artist influences your approach to these other businesses that you have?

BillyDhaKidd.com (06:23)
Love that question. Yes, very. ⁓

If you were to ask me like, what do you do? Right? Like I would say a creator and it’s funny because you hear content creators. So like, yes, on social media, I’m a creator on my podcast. I have the million dollar hustle back here. That’s my podcast. I just create content. You know, the construction company we’re creating, like, you know, you’ve seen the tile before, right? Like you’ve seen, look at this wall back here. It’s beautiful. We created this wall out of stone. So, you know, and I love that taking something that’s

Not so good and turning it into something and then I I will say it on here I have no filter by the way, even with music is the same thing, you know I’ve signed a couple artists out there. Some people were questioning me like why are you signing this guy? He doesn’t even know how to do some some raps right or how to write but I see what they can do right like maybe I heard something in their voice or the Lyric one of the lyrics caught my attention and then boom all of a sudden they have this professional product that we can present so it’s the same concept with real estate right like

you find this house and you know leave things better than how you found them right so that that’s that’s that’s the key there you know you’re building a house you know it’s it’s you’re literally creating you know a whole structure so yes of course I’m a creator at the end of the day in every business

Erika (07:42)
it. Love it. Billy, I want to talk about the markets that you’re operating in. Do you have a particular focus and how do you decide where you want to do a deal?

BillyDhaKidd.com (07:52)
Yeah, great question. So I’m very boring when it comes to that. Again, remember, lazy, boring. We’re going to keep track of these words. But no, I’m very boring in the sense of, honestly, as of right now, my construction company has done stuff all over our region here in Nebraska. So Nebraska is where I’m at. Lincoln, to be specific. But as far as my investments, I keep them in Lincoln, my personal ones. Because it stuck to me.

Years ago when I was starting I heard you know or either read it or heard it somewhere ⁓ If you could drive by your investments, it’s even better right and Again, it’s boring because you know, I see some some crazy Entrepreneurs out there’s crazy investors that are like man. I have an investment in Hawaii, right? Like and I live in New York or vice versa, right? So I love that I’m I’m not saying that I’m not gonna do that. But as of right now what I’ve done has worked

⁓ Now

I think I’m going to keep investing in my local market, I’m also the nice thing is that I’m not a tree. Like I can move away. Right. Like so I have I’m originally from El Salvador and born there. So, you know, I have one of my goals is to build like a beach house back home, you know, and basically be able to have my businesses here locally, but be able to leave and come back whenever. So and we get some snow out here. So most likely in the in the winter.

Erika (09:22)
Yeah. Billy, I also know that you’re a hard money lender. When it comes to borrowers in today’s market, what’s the biggest challenge that you see and how do you help them overcome it?

BillyDhaKidd.com (09:36)
Mm-hmm. I love that question. So yeah, we do some hard money lending new era lending is the name of my company again boring because new era construction New era music new era real estate and then now new era lending so it’s it’s ⁓ Boring, right? But ⁓ so with the lending, know, that’s a great question. I think ⁓

I try even at the very beginning to kind of go over certain things and with them, right?

Like to let them know, hey, you know, ⁓ even like, for example, our terms are six months. And I always tell them because, you know, there’s some that will come in and they’re like, hey, I’m going to pay you back in two months. And I’m like, no, I love that. And it’s been done. It’s been done for sure. But ⁓ I think six months is like realistic. Right. ⁓ There’s some that have taken a little longer, but I think

⁓ In our local market six months is usually pretty good I would say three months is probably the fastest that you could probably turn around a property out here locally And I’m thinking more for like a flip ⁓ just a renovation on a single family is what I’m thinking right now ⁓ and so I think

You know, during those three months, you did a really good job. And I make sure that I tell these investors that whenever they do turn it around in those three months, because I let them know it’s not the average thing to do. ⁓ Even ⁓ myself, like I still do some flips, ⁓ but I do it more just on the side. I’m not like, again, I’m boring, you know, just a couple of houses a year. And ⁓ but yeah,

that’s usually what I try to do is let them know, hey, you know, the timeline is this obviously.

Let’s beat the clock, but you do have those six months and plan for those six months I think that’s the that’s the key is planning for the longest and plan for the worst because it could happen and it will happen most likely so

Erika (12:02)
Speaking of planning for the worst, every operator has a moment where a deal becomes very real. It goes sideways, you have to pivot. Do you have any moments like that in your journey that you could share with us?

BillyDhaKidd.com (12:17)
Yeah, that’s honestly that’s why I wrote the book the power being uncomfortable right like I’m gonna say if it’s a newbie listening make sure that you understand that whether it’s an investing or entrepreneurship If you’re not ready to be uncomfortable like don’t even start sounds harsh But that’s the truth like you’re gonna get certain calls that you don’t want to deal with right like Like it’s not like it’s gonna be scheduled right like a nine-to-five like hey after five o’clock you’re out of there like no this now

I think and I was talking to you a little bit about it like with me. I don’t answer my phone before 10 a.m. And then at 5 o’clock it’s on like I put it away and then Automatically I I want to say 9 20 p.m. It goes to do not disturb and that’s me personally doing that right like ⁓

Can emergencies happen? Of course, but you got to have those systems in place. The people and and you know for us like we have like a automated. ⁓

Text message if they text it right because most people text nowadays that says hey send to the send your request to this email if it’s an emergency so those things kind of take off some of the weight but ⁓ Other than that as far as like an actual deal there was one time that somebody came to me ⁓ as a since I’m a contractor and they wanted me to basically partner with them and ⁓ I did I partner with that person as far as

being the contractor, was going to pay for the material stuff and then all of sudden I’m doing the hard money lending. He had to refinance his house. I did not know that he this person had had this house for like over a year with hard money with the hard money loan at that time. So I didn’t do my homework. And he did some unethical things, you know, sweet talking to my guys to try to have them go do work, you know, ⁓ underneath me and stuff like that, which, you know, you don’t do.

that. ⁓ But long story short, that deal like turned into like a nightmare. you know, the ⁓ the water, there was a water issue, the electricity wasn’t even ran to the house. That, you know, we had to pull all these permits. Honestly, I want to say that house probably took two, three years to to get it sold. ⁓ I actually had to buy him out. And one of the biggest lessons that I had to learn because I had heard this before and I’m going to say here and I hope

It

helps somebody don’t do business with people that have less money than you and it’s harsh harsh harsh harsh Call me whatever you want to call me, but ⁓ I found out myself like, you know, there’s certain things that I’m like, okay I don’t think so, right? I don’t believe this let me find out and that was one of the lessons there is Don’t do business with people that have less money than you because all of a sudden I’m carrying this whole deal. So it’s like, know, what what did you do? I mean you found this house that I I it’s not in my body

box anyways but he convinced me right like that person convinced me ⁓ so yeah I would say don’t do business with people that have less money than you that has worked so good guys because I’ve been very mindful of that now and it’s almost like you know like wait you’re gonna pay for that you know like you’re almost like ⁓ shoot like I’m I’m actually doing business with people that are legit right like so so yeah that would be the lesson there I hope that helps

Erika (16:23)
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And also, Billy, I know that you are a coach and that you help other people scale their business. What’s the number one piece of advice that you give to someone who’s looking the level up?

BillyDhaKidd.com (16:35)
Mindset so I’m a mindset coach and then you know from there slash success coach is what my coach Called me and I just ran with that Because it’s all the same like you can’t have success if you have a shitty and I’m sorry I don’t know if we could cuz here but if you if you have a shitty mindset, you’re not gonna have success and I would say it’s a daily battle like I’ve been on my journey. I’ve been on it for over a decade as well, you know

listening to podcasts studying, I’ve studied a lot of psychology and you know, all the books that you see back here and more like I’m a geek when it comes to that. Something that’s gonna make me get better, I’m gonna read it, I’m gonna listen to it. so I’ve been on that. And that’s one thing I’ve learned. And that’s just a key indicator is if you have a positive mindset, you’re gonna get success. And it’s very hard at the beginning, right? Because you you’re literally like, ⁓ man, like,

Negative is these bills all these negative things that at the very beginning can keep you down But that’s why not many people make it unfortunately is because you have to get the right mindset and now I have a I do one-on-one coaching here and there and I have a mastermind group to get uncomfortable mastermind and That’s you know all the it’s crazy Erika

There’s been some members in there that they had a really good company, but we took it from 200,000 a year to over a million now. it was literally beginning, starting with the mindset. of course, here’s the thing too, is don’t just think that you’re gonna be like, I’m thinking I’m gonna be a millionaire, right? And then all of a sudden you’re gonna be a millionaire. It takes a lot of effort, a lot of work, a lot of sacrifices. And we were just talking about that earlier, Erika, that you have

to hustle at the very beginning. nowadays, again, I hustled. I didn’t have the clean shoes that my friends used to make fun of. Right. Like my car window was falling down. Right. Like at the at beginning. But those were the sacrifices that I had to make to invest into my music at the time, to invest, to save the money, to invest into something later. ⁓ You know, when I invest, ⁓ I’ve gotten very creative. Yes. But I think I just go back to

what’s been done for years and it’s like save your money and invest in real estate. Like don’t try to get creative because you know if you’re doing all this being creative stuff and all of a sudden you know your HVAC goes out on that house that you just barely bought that you didn’t have a lot of money saved for and then one deal can take you out so it’s very important to save your money and then invest it.

Erika (19:15)
I I know, Billy, that you are still releasing music and it’s really interesting what that album currently is that you have out. Can you tell us more about what you have going on?

BillyDhaKidd.com (19:27)
Yeah,

so generational curses to generational wealth.

And I’ve had people call this like a ⁓ serial entrepreneur business genre. know, like I’ve had people tell me like I’m on this whole other genre. So basically, essentially, it’s me. It’s the stuff that I’ve done. But I try to be creative in like that aspect of the actual album. know, every song has like a theme, right? So like the like we kick it off with generational

wealth right it’s a it’s a song that just literally talks about that where it’s like you know each generation repeating situations say most stuff just a different occasion right for example and those are the curses that that I’m talking about right like we have to say hey this is enough I’m the one I’m gonna be the one that’s gonna become a millionaire I’m gonna change my family’s mindset my kids and then guess what your kids are gonna change your

⁓ I’m fighting very hard for that. I want my last name to be that, Like, I want my last name to be, if you think of the Rockefellers, you know, whether good, bad, whatever, but their last name is there. And so I think that’s generational wealth. is when your last name stands for something more than just BS and other stuff. But then it leads into a song called LLC, you know, where

I talk about just business or like every song is like that. There’s a song called Serial Entrepreneur in there. Big investments. There’s one of my favorites is called Self Development. One of the songs is called that. So, you know, open minded. ⁓ There’s there’s different songs that ⁓ that I’m excited about on that album. And then I ended with them with a song called Peace. And it’s funny because you listen to this whole album that’s going to motivate you to do better, to get money. Right. Like. ⁓ But then at the end, I end up

It was saying that like money’s cool, but.

The best thing that I’ve ever gathered is having peace, right? Like and and peace is it so like that and obviously like peace like see ya, right? Like the album’s done. But also like the song is just talking about having peace and and so, just listen to it. You know, those of you guys who like hip hop and maybe if you don’t like hip hop like the lyrics, I’ve gotten that feedback, too, from people that they’re like, hey, you know, I don’t listen to hip hop myself, but and even the interest called investing in

space real estate, I’m not going to say much. Just listen to it. Space real estate. Think about that. That’s the intro.

Erika (22:10)
love

it. love it. These ⁓ titles already have me ⁓ thinking I got to go check it out. So ⁓ Billy, I’ve got to ask what is next when it comes to real estate and investing? What big goal or vision are you looking to scale?

BillyDhaKidd.com (22:16)
Love it.

So I would say what’s next to me, the word that always comes to mind is growth. it’s that simple, is growth. And what I mean by that is me becoming better, my mindset, my family, like everything that has to be around me has to get better. We have to grow. And then the business will grow, guys. And that’s the mindset that I’ve adapted. I was mentioning that a little bit ago. At the very beginning, have to have, and don’t get me wrong, I have goals like, again, build a beach house, right?

think

big. Like we have to think bigger than what we, you know, I’m gonna buy a green Lambo, right? Like those are my big goals and it’s funny that’s one of my songs called Big Goals on my album but… ⁓

You got to have those goals, but also enjoy the journey is what I’m trying to say because a lot of people get caught up in like, man, I said I was going to buy three units this year and I only bought one. And it’s like, yeah, you bought you’re already at the top 3 % by just buying the one. And we’re very hard on ourselves is what I’ve noticed because of social media. Right. Like you might see a big investor out there. I just bought 1200 units this weekend and next weekend I have 3000 more that I’m going to buy. But don’t don’t forget.

like social media does that but for all you know they’re going to be negative cash flow and I’ve seen that happen before ⁓ you know and maybe they’re doing it long term whatever it is like they’re doing it differently than what you can do by buying the one door for the year and so with that being said I am enjoying the journey if a deal comes to my table and it makes sense I’m gonna buy it if I see a red flag saying no is also one of the best deals that I’ve ever had guys like I’ve said no to

certain ⁓ plexes out there complexes or even just the house and all of a sudden I saw whatever other investor bought it and they’re in it you know three years later they’re still in that house right or that complex and and I think obviously once you’re in it like you cannot quit right but because I’ve seen that over and over to where people quit and you know gave up lose the the investment etc but I think that that’s I say all that to say that growth so like I have you

⁓ At the beginning I had this door count right like I need to have these doors or whatever but nowadays I know they’re gonna come that that’s the beauty of it is so be be positive like know that Whatever goals you have they’re gonna come When it’s the perfect timing we get caught up in this race that it’s like man my first quarter I didn’t buy that property writer and the thing is that all of a sudden when you start operating in in in that aspect where you know as long as you get better your

Business will grow your everything else will get better things come like this year I’ve invested in like I I invested in a wholesale company with a partner that’s doing amazing ⁓ You know, we we wholesale that wasn’t part of my goals, but I’m gonna tell you that part of my goals was to Have other businesses right like to invest in other businesses. I I invested in a car wash Again, I’m being lazy. I’m just the investor. I don’t want to deal with what comes with the right like the operation side so

⁓ those were things that weren’t you know I just knew that I wanted to invest I wanted opportunity and all I’m focusing is working on myself and those things just come so growth we’re gonna keep growing I can tell you that

Erika (25:44)
love it. Okay, Billy, before I let you go, if someone wants to connect, whether it’s real estate, lending, coaching, music, how should they reach you?

BillyDhaKidd.com (25:54)
Yeah, so in my Instagram at Billy Dha Kidd⁓ But then just go straight to the source which is Billy Dha Kidd comm and on there You will find all my social medias and stuff and then just DM me send me a message ⁓ I’m more than happy to help with anything, you know, the more you help the more comes to you anyway, so I I’m just an open book. So hit me up

Erika (26:16)
Awesome. Billy, thanks so much for sharing your creativity, your hustle, and your strategy today. It’s a very unique journey.

BillyDhaKidd.com (26:24)
Thank you so much, I appreciate it.

Erika (26:26)
Now for everyone listening, if you got value from this episode, make sure that you’re subscribed to the Real Estate Pro Show. We’ve got more conversations like this coming your way with operators like Billy Dha Kid who are building empires across all different industries. We’ll see you on the next episode.