Today we’d like to introduce you to Antonio Hurt.
Hi Antonio, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Originally I am from Memphis tennessee. I grew up in the North part of Memphis. I went to school all over the city growing up. Mostly east and north memphis. I started playing the drums at 11 and was on the drum line until 15 years old. I was under privileged growing up. The community I grew up (Frayser) in has high rates of poverty. I had to work at a young age to help my mom provide for me and my younger brother. When I was 16 I started barber school and when I graduated from Trezevant high school in 2013 I had completed barber school with a academic scholarship to go to MTSU in Murfreesboro. When I started college I had a car and my own apartment I was always popular growing up and became very popular in college. I was partying alot and cutting hair and it took a strain on my college career. I dropped out after two years and focused on my barber career. I started working in barbershops when I was 21 years old in 2016 in Memphis. Then I packed up and moved back to murfreesboro. I worked in barbershops and got back in college. I had a vibrant love life juggling multiple relationships with women. I started selling houses in 2018 when I was 23 years old as a realtor. I was in my last semester in college getting ready to graduate in spring ’19 when I was arrested for a shooting at a barbershop in November 2018. I had a jury trial and was sentenced to 7 years in prison. I got out in Dec. 2025 and went to Memphis working in barbershops in a suburb called cordova. I recently moved back to Murfreesboro where I work in a barbershop and is working to restart my career as a realtor and start my career writing and recording music.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No i grew up in a poverty stricken neighborhood (Frayser) where the street influence is persistent. I decided to start a business and go to college despite to opposition I faced from people I grew up with and some family members.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My business is a model to other aspiring entrepreneurs that opportunities are available to every person who is willing to work hard. I am a barber a realtor and a mentor to people all over tennessee. I am known for being charismatic and professional. I am different in that I am not afraid to fail and work hard towards my goal of success. I am proud that I receive alot of support from the community in helping my business to grow here in Murfreesboro/Nashville and in Memphis. I want them to know I offer more than a service I offer an experience to inspire whatever you aspire to do using my skills. I also am working to inspire people through my music.
What does success mean to you?
Being able to do the things you love without outside interference stopping you.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @lilyothebarber
- Facebook: @LilYo Thebarber
- Other: tik tok: @heavycuts
