Lakeith Islar Jr.: a camera and a dream

Things are moving fast for Lakeith Islar Jr.

The Claflin 2022 graduate has a BA in Mass Communications and will continue to pursue filmmaking and camera operations full-time.

“This has been a long-awaited journey. I will be a first-generation college graduate with a degree in something that I can use.”

Islar emphasized that this was not only a huge accomplishment for himself but for his mother and late father, Lakeith Islar. Having his hands in the visual arts has allowed him to create visuals for both Claflin’s athletics and Greek organizations on campus.

The passion he developed for creating various film works stemmed from an infatuation with music and music videos. He began shooting with local acts and eventually landed a relationship with charting recording artist PG Ra. From there, he stayed consistent, always eager to learn and shoot more.

As the years progressed, Lakeith became a huge fan of Lil Wayne. Then he got put on to Gucci Mane, Shawty Lo, Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller, Kid Cudi and Chance The Rapper, which led to discovering more artists in the rap industry and “getting to where I’m at now” with his passion for video.

“I was a very visual person, but I never knew that I loved music videos,” admits Islar, who recalls Wayne’s “Go DJ” and “A Milli,” The Game’s “Wouldn’t Get Far” featuring Kanye West, and Busta Rhymes’ early visuals catching his eye.

“I always had this idea since I was super young of what it would look like if I made a music video. I was 8, and was like, if I did a music video, it looked like this and it would be like a Nike Air Force One … It would be on a white backdrop and like the Nike sign would just, the color of it would change with the beat.”

Islar's “just do it” attitude toward creative ideas has trailed him throughout his life.