Composed By Lamar
I’m 37 (Unc), Baltimore-born, West Point ’11, and feel obliged to share the creative journey—from Baltimore’s Studio 17 Leader’s Lounge in ‘22 to evolving into co-founding the company of Gray Chillin. What started as late-night laughs and raw perspective has grown into a lifestyle that proves leadership can be as chill as it is powerful.
The roots of Gray Chillin run strong, and trace all the way back to the Long Gray Line—the thread of graduates from the United States Military Academy at West Point, bound together in discipline, tradition, and an unshakable sense of service. The “Gray” in that line meant order, sacrifice, and yes—sometimes conformity. But let’s not forget—leadership thrives when people unapologetically represent their most authentic, genuine version of their inner being.
That’s where the “Chillin” comes in.
Back in our days at West Point, my brother LB from Virginia Beach (classmate, Army football teammate, and Lead of Gray Chillin) and I saw firsthand the tension between structure and authenticity. On the gray grounds of the Academy, our gritty, fearless class of 2011 broke the Swag Barrier—that fine line between fitting into the mold and daring to be yourself- since then, many graduates to this day have thrived in the best version of themselves.
You couldn’t walk across The Plain in anything, but you could find your style in how you carried yourself, in how you encouraged the person next to you, and in how you found a way to laugh at 5:00 AM after a week that wouldn’t quit. That was the beginning of the mindset: leadership doesn’t mean stripping away personality—it means rejoicing in it.
Fast-forward to today. We’re no longer cadets on the Hudson. We’re husbands, fathers, entrepreneurs, coaches, gamers, philosophers. And we realized something critical: the unique blend of tradition and authenticity wasn’t just for the Academy—it’s for everyone. It’s a lifestyle, a cultural brand for people who lead, guide, inspire, or simply bring good vibes into a room.
Gray Chillin means:
- RespectEverybody
- Leading and owning your perspective
- Represent who you are unapologetically
- Rejoicing in leadership, whether you’re running a boardroom, coaching Little League, keeping the bathrooms clean, or making sure the family dinner hits the table on time.
Our business value is simple, Gray Chillin isn’t just a logo slapped on a shirt—it’s a reminder that leadership is everywhere and belongs to everyone. Our brand empowers people to smile at the grind, to find humor in the struggle, and to celebrate leadership as an everyday culture. It’s for the regular people who’ve never heard of the Long Gray Line but understand what it means to stand on what and who you believe in. That’s Gray Chillin.
So whether you’re in Baltimore, Virginia Beach, or halfway across the world, we invite you to drop a comment, share your perspective, and chill with us.
Lamar