 I think we're live. Welcome to the Millennial Mind, a new show with an indefinite description. I'm your host, Nicole Alexandra, and today we have Bretman Rock, who I coerced into coming here. Bretman, still a senior in high school, is a member of track, a newborn uncle, and a highly skilled whistler. But what most people know him for is his presence on social media as an independent makeup artist. With over 7.7 million followers on Instagram, Bretman has captivated an audience ranging from middle schoolers who loitered Pearl Ridge all day to the parents of those middle schoolers to the distant relatives of those parents residing on the mainland. In fact, most users of social media have probably been exposed to at least one of many of Bretman's thought-provoking, nasally strenuous expressions which you can see displayed behind me. While Bretman's skills in crafting looks are significant, strong enough to induce heart murmurs, his success as a figure on social media can be attributed to his potent personality. Welcome, Bretman. Oh wow. I'm speechless. Thank you so much for that introduction, Nicole. Thank you. I've never been introduced like that before. Me neither. I've never introduced. And thank you for having me. Thank you for giving me an excuse to not go to school today. If you want, I can rate you like a slip. Yes, that would be really nice. Thank you. But I'm only missing PE, so. So tell us, how did you get your name? My dad got my name from two different wrestlers. Actually, it's like Bretman Rock is my actual born name. So Bretman came from the Bret, the hitman, heart and the rock comes from the rock. So Bretman Rock. And he thought I was gonna be like a wrestler, which I'm almost kind of a wrestler. I run tracks. So yeah, that's kind of like I make people ask me all the time, like, why do you do sports? Because my parents, they thought I was gonna be a wrestler, but they never signed me up for wrestling, which I'm really thankful for. But what you do do are videos. Yes, I do. I'm sorry. I said that. I'm sorry. So how long have you been making videos? I've made, like, I've been always been making videos since I was on Facebook. But they're all private now and they're all disgusting. And when I started making as a career for Snapchat, that was in sophomore year of this year. And before you became Bretman Rock. Yes. There was definitely a difference in the videos. Can you sort of explain your original intent? The videos? Is it just to have fun? Yeah, well, um, yeah, they were kind of like super thought provoking, like you said, like, I wasn't woke, I guess, because I didn't really know like anything about like the outside world. So I was just kind of like making videos for fun, like, without even knowing that it could like offend people out there. But I wasn't. And like, to be honest, I wasn't never really like expect. I never really expected or I never really wanted to become famous. Like I posted snap, like the video, the old videos that I posted are Snapchat videos. And the reason why I posted them on Instagram is because I had a friend that was like, Oh, I was trying to show my uncle your video, but it's like gone on Snapchat now. So I posted them on Instagram, which my account was always private, because I didn't want anyone to see. And then she was like, I can't show my uncle's seal because it's private. So I went off private. And then I guess once I click, yes, I'm sure that's when my life kind of so how do you feel about people who start using social media with the intent of becoming famous? I know there's a lot of people who don't have as much power as you and they sort of fall into that slim T or detox T advertising. And it's become sort of a joke. Like you see celebrities just copy and paste the message from their sponsor. Yeah. And everyone knows it's a fake message. Yeah. I'm not gonna deny like it. I've done like, slim T's and all that stuff because because I, I didn't know any better. Like I didn't have managers back then that would tell me like, you're not even checking it or like, or whatever like that. And like you said, like social media is becoming such a like desired job, especially for like the millennials. And I think what they need to like, know is like, social media is not all that it's just like any other job out there. There are like, good and bad. That's there's pros and cons with working for social media. And they need to prepare themselves for that. And I think a lot of them like they think just because I see people all the time like dropping out of school just because they have like a following and it's like, girl, you're not gonna graduate because you have a few thousand followers like really. But yeah, it's honestly, if I had like one word of advice for people who are looking into social media as like their job or career, it's that it's not handed to you. It's you have to work for it. And sometimes like, just kind of have to have fun with it. Because if you see social media as your job, then it's not fun. It's really not. And when you do things that you enjoy, everything just flows. Yeah, everything just flows into place. And I and I'm still trying to figure out social media for honestly, because my managers tell me like things all the time about like, don't do this, don't do that. But then I'm like, but if I don't do that, I'm not Berman Rock. When did you get a manager? Um, I got a man. Well, I had two different like agencies or managers. One was when I hit like 1.4 million, but they sucked. And then I kind of just dropped them. And I, and then I found a new manager who is more involved in the beauty industry, who knows more about like the beauty industry, which is the side I'm trying to say. Would you ever like, trust your mom to do it? Honestly, no, she doesn't even speak English, but like those business calls would just be a hot mess. But no, but yeah, I'm like, my time where I got a serious manager would have to be like last year, around this time last year. So as you're following sort of guru, did you notice a change in your content, like listening to your managers or Oh yeah, definitely. Oh my gosh. I used to say like words that I can't say now or ever even for that. I didn't really know about like, for example, like the n word, I used to like drop that all the time without even knowing like, like how it affects other people in a way because in Hawaii, like no one I'm not saying no one's woke, but like no one really like, like tells people not to like, even like for in combo, for example, that tree, if you go around the school asking like, what is this tree called? They will all say tree, the tree. And so yeah, we know about that when we if you go to Campbell, you know about that. And like, I guess like, that's kind of why like my mentality with it was like, I didn't know. I'm not using it as an excuse, but I should have known better. And I now I know better. And I'm I deleted all those videos since because I felt I felt discussing honestly, for saying those things. But yeah, like you live in your girl and that's what like life is all about. And I think social media taught me a I guess a few things about life. So how does your persona as an entertainer and like a figure on social media differ from how you social media to interact with friends? Oh my gosh. Well, social me, I don't really like you social media to interact with my friends, honestly, because I am not girl, I'm not even allowed to follow like, my friends on social media and like family, I'm not even allowed to like follow my sister because my cousin once he got like a kick message saying like, tell me to follow me or I'll like, shoot you or something. I know where you go and stuff like that. And I was like, okay, that's kind of like crossing the line. Let me just like not follow any friends, any family. So um, so yeah, but um, yeah, I don't really like talk to like my friends on social media. I don't really like every like, I don't even stop my friends on social media. You're a guardian. Yeah, you're protecting the people. Yeah, protecting. Thank you for not following. Yeah, I do have like a private account where I follow like, friends. But I don't know. Oh, that doesn't exist. Yeah, that does not exist. It's not real. But you have millions of followers on social media, multiple platforms. You're big enough that social media has funded you. So you get to travel and like, yes, what is that about? Um, well, first of all, I hate traveling. My manager knows every time I have like, a trip, I always have to make it like, the shortest as I can. So if it's like a two day event, I will fly there the day of and fly the day that it ends. So I would fly there for two days because I hate traveling and I hate the mainland so much because like, the people are like very different from the people here. Like especially in LA where I've been countless of times, like people out there, they really not everyone, of course, but everyone thinks they're famous up there. And it's just a competition of like, who has more followers who has more money. It's like, dude, like we're all in the same level at the end of the day. We're all working through our phones. Like you're just just because you have seven million followers and someone doesn't does that does not make them less of a person than you. But do you feel that one day you'll ever be forced out of Hawaii like to pursue more opportunity? Oh my God, yes. Oh my gosh, I'm like constantly battling like, like my parents and my agency about like, because even my mom, she thinks like more money in the mainland. But I'm not happy there. Like even just being there for two days, I'm not happy. Like I always have like mental breakdown. There's no green and there's no blue. Yeah, exactly. So I mean, I, I mean, I get the fact that like that's where money is. But who needs money if you're like happy with like people that you're like, and like, people think like Hawaii is like expensive, but LA is expensive. Ver like, just talk about traffic. Yes, traffic. I, I like, I feel like the lanes in there are so like skinny. And I like driving big cars. I could never drive there because I would just like bang everyone. Like I would just like swipe everyone. Right. Yeah. I mean, that's not a bad thing. Yeah. And I like living here because everyone that already see me have seen me already. And like, I think I feel like I'm getting to a point where like everyone's kind of like getting over me already. So I like that because like before you can relax. I can relax now. Like I could like be less worried about like people freaking out about me because everyone knows I live in Apple Beach. Like I want to show off your shirt for a bit. Yes. I got this at Rasta headquarters. Shout out to my Rasta girls. In my pahu. In my pahu. Yes. So as a citizen of Apple Beach. Yes. Do you feel that there is some hostility in the community between between. I don't know. Apple Beach is a very interesting town. Honestly, because I feel like it's a little bit of everything. There is a lot of people to begin with, but there's like so many like there's like the hood side and then there's like the rich people side and then there's like middle class. It's just really weird. But in terms of things to do, it's mostly residential. Yeah. Do you feel that Apple Beach has shaped you in some way? Yes. Oh my god. Yes. Definitely. I feel like the people in Apple Beach are more lenient when it comes to like respecting like each other's stuff. Because I feel like I don't even ever lock my house. Right. Because I trust like Apple Beach. Like you can't trust them with mangoes though. People will go into your yard and steal your shit. Yes. I always I'm kind of like guilty for that because I always like my uncle made the stick that went through my neighbor's yard and we just picked out mangoes from them. Right. So I can't definitely relate but we've never like tried to like. Yeah. So. But we've never really tried to steal from them. But don't steal mangoes because we're gonna go on break. Yes. Aloha. This is your house to be a Trisk and Telmo. Come and join us every Friday at four o'clock on Perspectives of Global Justice. I'm Carol Mon Lee and I want to welcome you to our newest series called Education Matters. Well we will explore education related topics that touch everyone. Not just formal programs in K-12 and higher education but also broader issues and information that affect our community. Oh yeah. I was lied to you just now. But we're back. We are back. Thank you so much. So a lot of things have contributed to this persona that you portray on social media such as stealing of mangoes, the giness of a beach. A lot of things. And for those of you who are unfamiliar with Bretman Rock here's a quick clip to show you his charm. Yes. So what was your inspiration for that video? Well I actually got the dose of what I went to LA. I got it as a joke to get for my mom for her birthday because I was going to put it in her bag but I wanted to keep it because it's like because it has a suction thingy and like it's like the right girth and I was like wow it's perfect. I just kept it. It's very cute. Thank you it is. I still have it around. I never like use it for what it's intended for. I feel like just like you the dildo has a wide skill set and because of the suction cup and the portability when you're traveling you could bring it with you. You can throw it onto the wall. I'm not to mention like the pleasure that it gives people. I feel like I give the same pleasure. Just like you the dildo it doesn't have to be used for its intended purpose. Viewers just see it and they get a sense of joy within them and I think it's really admirable. I could actually see myself as a dildo now like if I had like a second life and the heaven and goddess like what should want to be I'd be like a dildo for my second life please. Yeah I see that. Yeah so I would say it's like my spirit animal I guess. So there's many alternative realities that are going on for you or that could go on for you. So I mentioned earlier that so as a makeup artist personal solution media there's sort of expectancy for you to act a certain way and I don't mean that by refraining from saying certain words or saying offensive things but there's definitely that expectancy for you to be entertaining and all the time. It's kind of I don't know I it's it's kind of stressful in a way sometimes like when people like shove a camera in your face and it's on record they expect you to be like and all that but sometimes I'm not in the mood and I'm like girl I'm like a human being like girl if I'm sick I'm not going to be like in your camera like taking pictures all the time but I really feel like people just need to realize that the people that they see on their phones and in their TV screens are people too they have their good days and their bad and just like you of course but I feel like you just need to just understand them as human beings and not as superstores or like not as your fan. So because of that do you ever feel disconnected from yourself? Like is the line between you and me? Yes I always feel like I'm playing a character almost I always kind of like and you feel trapped sometimes like especially when you're like in events where like you just want to like sit down and like enjoy yourself but like there's cameras everywhere and like every beauty guru wants a picture and I'm like girl I know damn well you're going to face soon that before you upload it where we don't look like that like it's just I don't know it's always feel like I'm playing a character. So is the line between who you are and who you need to be dissolved or do you try to keep it separate? I'm really trying and I feel like my viewers know that I'm really trying because especially this past month I've been like having a social media detox where I post less and I want to focus more on school because I kind of like value school a lot like I always say you don't die with like your followers and money you die with the education that you have so I really like advocate like going to school but besides that like yeah I'm just like Jenin. How does your family play into your whole social media thing? I guess that's kind of like a reason why I want to stay here again like my family and like the people because like they keep me grounded and they keep me like I feel like if I went in LA I would just turn crazy into another like low-class budget like Kardashian and if I stay here I'd just be able to like help my family and like just enjoy life and like away from like the real real world which is the main line. So I know you've had like threats sent to your cousin for being involved with you. Threats towards me as well. Towards you but I noticed also like your sister directly has gained quite a bit of followers from your association. Yes. So as a sibling and you growing in social media has she gotten less or more irritating? Well she moved out recently so I would say she's gotten less irritating but with social media like she's been helping me with it and stuff. So it's brought you closer? I guess it really did because I have a makeup page that she runs and all the profit from that I'm not gonna lie and be like they all go to her but some goes to me. But a part of the profit from Redmond's vanity goes to my sister and her baby. So you're a newborn uncle? Yes I'm a newborn uncle. Yes it's been fun very stressful but they grow so fast I'm like chilling. And do you feel that making friends has changed at all? I feel like my standards for like making friends have definitely like been stepped up or not. Like I feel like I was more friendlier before but now I'm just like really picky and choosy with like my friends because I'm not gonna I'm not saying like everyone's like after me and like my money but you have to be careful sometimes and like I've had friends that were not friends but like I've had people like who associated with them with me for the intentions of like like using me for like searching stuff. Like a ladder. Like a ladder yes. So how many people actually get to know you or do you feel you meet someone and they just act like they already do? I really strongly believe in like like horoscopes and stuff. What's your time? I'm a Leo and like I really like look like I feel like I attract like certain signs and like yes I and Geminis and Scorpios like other alphas and stuff. So yeah I really like kind of like just pick my friends from like it's kind of bad but like I kind of like pick my friends from me. Have you ever like disliked someone and then avoided them and told them it was because of their sign? Um no but I usually like dislike them after like like I would realize someone's like Aquarius and then I'd be like okay I'm gonna give you a shot and I was like oh that's why I gave you oh whatever. How many people actually know that you can whistle? I actually tell everyone this that I went to a whistling competition in second grade and that's why I whistle so good but yeah I didn't win of course but I went into whistling contest and that's how we met we met at chocolate beach whistling to Mariah Carey. Do you think there could have been an alternate reality where because of your personality you still became big on solution media but instead of whistling you were like a whistling guru. Honestly I've thought about like coming out as a whistler but not yet. I feel like it's very tough in this day and age to come out as a whistler. Yeah it's kind of like yodeling like no one really makes it out anymore. Actually do you yodel? I yodel so it's funny that you do it. Do you want to do a collab? We can. Come back at the next time we'll do a collab. A song. Do you know any future? Next episode we'll do a collab. Do you know any producers? For yodlers? I really don't know but we can contact like MTV and they're very first like boy and girl group yodlers. So there's definitely a change in times. Yeah I really feel like we're the ones that would kind of like bring it back like yodeling on whistling. We should close the show so you yodel to Mariah Carey and I would say to Mariah Carey. Is there a particular song that yodel worthy? What can you think of? What matches the season? Honey. Honey. I don't know that song. Is that a real song? I don't know okay back to the interview. Back to the interview. Is there any other questions? Okay let me ask you some questions. Alright. So why did you choose like that you wanted to do like multimedia? Like why do you want to host? So I can do this and tell you to not ask me that. True. Because as a host. As a host I have the authority to deny your questions. Wow so would you ever after this interview would you ever like consider working for social media or doing social media as a job or a career? I definitely want to stay off the radar but at the same time if you have like a really bad home project you want done I will come through for you with a camera and like really bad props and I can help you make. I will hit you up. I really need help on like my YouTube so as you can see like did you see my YouTube videos they all suck the editing sucks. Do you edit it yourself? I don't anymore. I actually I made my I hired my cousin I made him like do all these research. His name is Mark Pesca. Mark Pesca is your cousin. Mark Pesca is my cousin. I remember when he first came to the U.S. Yes so yeah Mark Pesca is my cousin and he edits my videos and I just pay him like $200-$300 per video. Because it's so hard I can't sit there and like listen to my voice for like two hours and like it's horrible. So how much of like the process do you do yourself? Is it like very solo? I used to be more solo and then like I was like I'm making enough money where like I could hire or help like get help from my cousins or some people so I just kind of like utilize like my friends and my friends and family to work for me. Like yeah so yeah. Do you ever see Clio in the future as like a potential assistant? Not assistant but I would like train her like I would be her like guardian to like social media if she wants to do it but I'm not gonna like feed her into social media because I don't think you can raise someone through social media. I feel like it would be so bad but again it's a new generation and like. Why would it be bad? I don't know like imagine being one and being exposed to like social media your whole life and I'm sure Clio is already exposed to it but I don't ever want her to think that social media is all she has. Right so as you can see now in current events you may have noticed DJ Khaled has been has an Instagram account for his son. Yeah and it's very very immersive for his son I believe. I feel so too. Always posting I don't know how he's very skilled for his age. Yes. He missed his father and flew on a private jet to go meet him in the studio and he's already in the studio so there's definitely that risk of instead of baptizing your baby into this world kind of put them under and like keep them there. And it's different for him because he's always on DJ Khaled Snapchat and they see him so often. I feel like I try to feature Clio as least as I can so people like don't like because like even with just that one video where I posted Clio with her neck like that. People were threatening me to call like human child services and I'm like girl it's like she's fine like her neck is intact but whatever. I believe you on the neck and I just wanted to say thank you for showing up I mean. Thank you for having me. No one has ever came through for me like you have a knock. I feel that you know I would bring you back to the province. That's how I feel. Thank you so much. Yes. And to end the show let's whistle and yodel for a bit. What are we whistling and yodeling to?