Because I, myself, made it a personal obligation to symbolize and epitomize what my brand signifies, it is my duty to do thee. It is my duty to personify this brand by way of my life existence. In this piece, I will be nothing more or nothing less than me— Devin Joseph Francois, Beaux. I intend for this piece to be raw. I intend for this piece to be disorganized. I intend for this piece to be of the utmost authenticity, legitimacy, and genuineness. Solely [soul-ly) & purely organic in its entirety. For that is what I am. That is what we are. We are broken. We are muddled and incomplete. We are all over the place. And that is okay.
Often, I’m asked “How’s Agape?”… “How’s business been?”… “How is your brand going?” Always, i spit out the same answer:
“It’s growing as i’m growing.”
As I am a reflection of it… as I am it… As I grow, it grows. As I do, it does. As I don’t, it doesn’t.
Now, with growth comes adjustment, right? Development. With growth comes learning and unlearning. With growth comes variation… and change.
In 2017, when I morphed Agape Way from only an idea to actuality, I advocated the concept of bringing people together— people of all shapes, sizes, colors.. races, religions, political views, sexual preferences, financial stability, intelligence or lack thereof, styles, talents or lack thereof, hand dominance, and the list endures. Bringing people together was the central and preeminent point of Agape Way. It was the “big idea”.
I used to always say things like “Man, I just want everybody to love each other” and “We weren’t put here to hate each other… why is there so much hate and negativity going on EVERY MOMENT OF EVERYDAY?” I’d say in interviews that my goal with Agape Way was “Utopia.. a perfect world.” I’ve shed real deal tears in front of my friends and family speaking on what I want this world to look like. [Hollat me for footage if you questioning my honesty.]
For years, I’ve stressed the notion of unity and togetherness. I was a broken record— “Let’s just love each other!”… “Let’s come together as ONE HUMAN RACE!” That’s what I stood on, and that’s what I was known for. And because that’s what i was known for, that’s what Agape Way was known for.
In the brisk three years that Agape Way has been established, I’ve gained and attained more wisdom. I’ve gained and attained more experience, more life. I’ve challenged even my own thoughts and ideas. Some of which i disposed, some I put on the back burner, and some I stretched and expanded. I’ve become far more aware of energy and self preservation. Self maintenance.
As I am, as is Agape Way. As I do, as does Agape Way. I am it.
Although utopia, togetherness, and “just love each other” are all absolutely beautiful things… Although a world where hatred was nil and nonexistent… where people treated others only as they themselves would like to be treated in return… Although the idea of a world built upon such imaginative essence is tremendously pleasant, this idea is no longer the forefront of the Agape Way Brand.
Agape Way supports each of these concepts and objectives, but neither of them sit as the primary principle of the brand. Agape Way supports each of these concepts and objectives. Agape Way supports each of these concepts and objectives, but neither of them sit as the primary principle of the brand.
The primary principle of the Agape Way Brand is self-love. Nothing more. Nothing less. Self-love, self-preservation, self-maintenance, self-care, self-discipline, self-expression. Self. Agape Way is for THE PERSON before it is for THE PEOPLE. Again, Agape Way is for the person before it is for the people.
Loving and caring for everyone is great. But what’s more important, and what is a prerequisite to such a deed, is loving yourself. Caring for yourself. Being confident and comfortable with yourself. Free yourself. This is what the brand stands on. This is what I stand on.
The brand logo, the Pegasus, is a representation of ultimate freedom and connectedness to one’s inner SELF. It is disturbingly common how we as a people arrange our OWN opinions strictly based off of the judgments of other people. We take the opinions of others and make them our own truths. PEOPLE SAY ANYTHING, but if enough people say it, WE MAKE IT OUR TRUTH. Is this not ridiculous? This is puppetry. This is mental slavery. FREE YOUR SELF.
The Pegasus represents living the life only what we trust we were born to live with no desire to impress or satisfy society— only desire for SELF satisfaction. Be you, bro. Sis. If you like to draw, please do so and don’t let society suppress that passion. If you like to dance… sing… do that! Share it if you like, and no matter the feedback, DON’T LET SOCIETY SUPPRESS THAT PASSION. Don’t let society tell you there’s something wrong with your tattoos. Don’t let society tell you there’s something wrong with sagging your pants. Don’t let society tell you there’s something wrong with your locs. Dont let society tell you there’s something wrong with the way you talk. The way you walk. Dont let society tell you there’s something wrong with your skin complexion. Don’t let society tell you there’s something wrong with the shoes you have on. The clothes you have on. Don’t let society tell you you’re weak for crying. Don’t let society tell you you’re dumb. Don’t even let society tell you you’re smart. Don’t let society tell you a damn thing.
Society don’t know you, so don’t let society tell YOU about YOU. Do and say whatever you want, however you want to do it or say it. Just make sure you handlin’ your business.
Even without the people, the person can still reach utopia. When the person deletes and destroys the desire to please the people, the person will know peace. When the person acknowledges the significance in, instead, pleasing themselves and loving themselves, the person, the Pegasus, will know peace. When the person, the Pegasus, knows peace, the person, the Pegasus knows utopia.
The primary principle of the Agape Way Brand is self-love, so as an Agape Way Pegasus, love yourself. The rest will fall into place.