In Atlanta, there's no shortage of towering Black religious leaders who profess a calling to ministry, but not every influencer in one of the South's most progressive and LGBTQ-friendly cities occupies a pulpit—some are in nightclubs, restaurants, and hair salons—they're Black Atlanta LGBTQ entrepreneurs and they're doing ministry differently. Mychel "Snoop" Dillard is one of those entrepreneurs. The self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur owns eight Atlanta businesses, including three salon suites and five restaurants, two of which, Escobar Restaurant and Tapas and Esco Seafood, she famously opened in partnership with Grammy-Award winning rapper 2 Chainz. A Detroit native and graduate of Vanderbilt University, the Nashville transplant says her success was not overnight and was almost completely derailed early in her career after opening The G-Spot, a Nashville club that opened and closed within three months, squandering Dillard's nearly $40,000 investment. "When I moved to Atlanta, I said that I would never get back into the nightlife industry, that I would never open up another spot again. But I think it's a calling," said Dillard. "Before meeting 2 Chainz, I'd been partners with several different people and it really didn't work out. It was always me getting the short end of the stick," said Dillard. "The relationship has been very successful because we both kinda stay in our own lane. My lane is operating the businesses, coming up with the menus, ideas, etc. My experience is in the hospitality industry; his is in music." For Dillard, who identifies as a gay woman and is masculine-presenting, Atlanta offered an opportunity beyond business—an environment where she could thrive in both her personal and professional life. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍?⁠ ⁠ ?: Mychel 'Snoop' Dillard⁠ ?️: Darian Aaron

In Atlanta, there's no shortage of towering Black religious leaders who profess a calling to ministry, but not every influencer in one of the South's most progressive and LGBTQ-friendly cities occupies a pulpit—some are in nightclubs, restaurants, and hair salons—they're Black Atlanta LGBTQ entrepreneurs and they're doing ministry differently. Mychel "Snoop" Dillard is one of those entrepreneurs. The self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur owns eight Atlanta businesses, including three salon suites and five restaurants, two of which, Escobar Restaurant and Tapas and Esco Seafood, she famously opened in partnership with Grammy-Award winning rapper 2 Chainz. A Detroit native and graduate of Vanderbilt University, the Nashville transplant says her success was not overnight and was almost completely derailed early in her career after opening The G-Spot, a Nashville club that opened and closed within three months, squandering Dillard's nearly $40,000 investment. "When I moved to Atlanta, I said that I would never get back into the nightlife industry, that I would never open up another spot again. But I think it's a calling," said Dillard. "Before meeting 2 Chainz, I'd been partners with several different people and it really didn't work out. It was always me getting the short end of the stick," said Dillard. "The relationship has been very successful because we both kinda stay in our own lane. My lane is operating the businesses, coming up with the menus, ideas, etc. My experience is in the hospitality industry; his is in music." For Dillard, who identifies as a gay woman and is masculine-presenting, Atlanta offered an opportunity beyond business—an environment where she could thrive in both her personal and professional life. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍?⁠
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?: Mychel 'Snoop' Dillard⁠
?️: Darian Aaron