DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — A Durham rapper known as KidCali has expanded his career beyond music with the launch of a motivational brand aimed at inspiring others to pursue their dreams.

Charles Lewis, the artist behind MDMG (Money Doesn’t Mean Greatness), said true success comes from passion, not profit.

“What you love to do,” he told ABC11. “The determination, the motivation you have to wake up every single day if you weren’t getting paid.”

MDMGreatness.com, launched this fall, offers merchandise featuring the brand’s message. Lewis’s social media presence under the handle KidCaliMDMG has also been growing, with followers engaging with his motivational content.

“I want people to look at me differently and see that ‘oh yeah, he’s a rapper’ but in the same sense he cares about his audience,” he said. “Don’t look at what I have, look how much I love what I’m doing so you can channel that back to what you love to do.”

MDMG is more than a clothing line-it’s a movement rooted in North Carolina values of authenticity and determination, encouraging dreamers worldwide to believe in their purpose.

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