Peace, family! As promised, here is the first interview in the Black Legacy Interview Series highlighting Black Men doing incredible things for themselves, their families, their communities, and the world at large. Our first interview features an extremely talented and passionate brother I have the pleasure of knowing for nearly 10 years now, Stephen "Illflo" Edwards. Keep scrolling to read his bio and get into our interview.
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For nearly two decades, Stephen "Illflo" Edwards has lived, eaten, and breathed photography. What began as a hobby evolved into a mastered craft, allowing him to capture the very essence of beauty in everything around him. With an artist’s eye for composition and a deep technical skillset, Illflo transforms fleeting moments into timeless imagery.
His passion for photography extends beyond simply taking pictures—it’s about telling stories, evoking emotions, and conveying the true essence of his subjects. Having photographed diverse people, places, and moments across the world, Illflo understands the power of visual storytelling.
Personal Legacy Journey
Q1: Tell us about your upbringing. What early influences shaped who you are today?
A1: I grew up bouncing between Gowanus Houses and Coney Island Houses, splitting time between my mother and my aunt’s crib. It was rough—I didn’t always feel like I fit in, but I was always welcomed. Early on, I didn’t have much inspiration to do anything. Then I found a love for writing stories, which eventually turned to writing music. That was my thing. I got my musical drive from a mix of legends—Slick Rick, KRS-One, and Rakim—plus my cousins Tim, Ed, and Shonne. They introduced me to it. My mother was my biggest influence. She is the person who put the typewriter in my hand at five years old and encouraged me to start writing stories. She was also the one who put the guitar in my hand around 7 or 8 years old, which got me into music. She was also the one who put the camera in my hand when I was 12 years old that got me into photography.
Q2: What inspired you to pursue your career path? Were there pivotal moments that changed your direction or perspective?
A2: Photography was just a hobby until one night at a party with my girl at the time. She was working the event and asked me to snap a pic of her in the crowd with the parents who hired her. After that, someone walked up and asked how much I’d charge to shoot their party. That was the first time it clicked—this could be a way to eat. That moment changed everything.
Q3: Who have been your biggest role models or mentors, and how have they impacted your
journey?
A3: I didn’t really have mentors growing up. That’s part of why my music career didn’t take
off like it could’ve—there wasn't anybody who knew the real game. I had people around me who knew a little more, but we were all just hustling, trying to make a dollar out of fifteen cents. I do, however, respect the grind of those who’ve been hustling since day one and never let up. Hustling isn’t just about money—it’s about vision and execution.
Community Impact and Responsibility
Q4: How has your work contributed to the Black community?
A4: I’m a living example of Black excellence. I provide a top-tier service with immaculate customer care and quality visuals—both photo and video. But beyond that, I’m a storyteller and documentarian. I have award-winning documentaries under my belt, but that’s not the flex. The real flex is knowing that every day is tomorrow’s history, and I capture moments with that in mind. One day, when people tell our stories, my work will give those stories the visuals they deserve.
Q5: In your opinion, what does Black male leadership look like today, and how can it grow
stronger?
A5: Black male leadership is having a plan, the courage to execute it, and the influence to
bring others along for the ride. Black men don’t get the luxury of mediocrity. Whatever we d0—sports, music, business, art—there’s an expectation that we gotta be great from the jump. But I know better. I competed with my yesterday. As long as I’m better today than I was yesterday, I’m winning. That’s the leadership I move with.
Q6: How do you empower others, particularly younger Black men, to succeed and leave their
own legacy?
A6: I lead by example. If you’re paying attention, you’ll see the blueprint. If you don’t
catch it, we can talk about it—but you gotta be willing to listen. I learned this lesson firsthand
when a younger brother told me he’d been watching me—seeing me hoop, go to college, do
music, hit the stage, and even dabble in the streets. He tried to walk that same path and got
himself locked up. That was my wake-up call. I had to move different if I wanted to be someone worth looking up to.
Black Culture and Heritage
Q7: What does Black culture mean to you?
A7: Black culture is resilience. It's surviving atrocities while still managing to shine. We’ve been through hell, yet we smile, we thrive, we innovate, and we look damn good doing it. That’s Black culture.
Q8: How do you stay connected to your heritage, and why is it important for others to do the
same?
A8: I read. Constantly. Not just books by Black authors, but histories—of us, of the world, of
religions. I study the past so I can understand how we got to where we are today. Knowledge is power, and I make sure my mind stays sharp.
Q9: What does the word "legacy" mean to you as a Black man?
A9: Legacy means my offspring—my bloodline. The people who carry my face, and my name, and inherit everything I’ve worked for. At the end of this existence, that’s who I did it for. But honestly, that’s a conversation for another day.
Vision for the Future
Q10: What are your hopes for the future of the Black community?
A10: Intentional reading. Strategic collaboration. Sacrifice. And capitalizing on every single resource available to us. That’s how we elevate.
Q11: What advice would you give to young Black men seeking to define their purpose and build a meaningful legacy?
A11: Find out what you really want to do, and start that journey ASAP. The purpose isn’t a destination—it’s a lifelong grind.
Q12: How can we, as a collective, work toward a stronger, united future for Black people? A12: Same way we build our future—reading, strategizing, and working together. The Haitian Revolution of 1804 showed us what happens when we unify and refuse to be controlled. We need that same mindset today.
Rapid-Fire Insights
Q13: What is your favorite book or movie about Black excellence?
A13: I don’t have one favorite book, but Don Miguel Ruiz is my go-to author. Also, They Came Before Columbus, Slavery By Another Name, and The Miseducation of the Negro are must-reads.
Q14: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
A14: "Put something in your head, not on it." —Gwendolyn Edwards
Q15: What's one word that describes your legacy so far?
A15: Persevering.
Q16: What is your favorite childhood memory?
A16: I was performing at a talent show, and some kids I had beef with were in the crowd trying to heckle me. Mid-performance, I flipped my whole set into a freestyle addressing the hate and won the crowd over. My mom stood up, waving her hands, and yelling, "That’s my son!" Big smile, full of pride. That moment will never leave me.
Q17: What was your dream as a child?
A17: Music. I wanted to be an artist, to spit bars and tell stories. That passion is still in me—it just took a different form through photography and film.
This is me. My legacy ain’t finished yet—it’s still being written every single day.
Thank you for reading this interview. To get in touch with Illflo, please visit his website at the following link - www.illflix.com.
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Peace and Love,
Lashawn "Suga Ray" Marston,
Founder, Lashawn Marston Enterprises
Talk that $hit!!!!
“…we thrive, we innovate, and we look damn good doing it.”