Nashville entrepreneur Markee Carter shares the origin story behind We Legit LLC, the We Legit 16: Stories & Hustle Podcast, and We Legit Hustle Media.
Long Beach taught Markee Carter how to survive. Building We Legit taught him how to turn that survival into ownership.
This episode is a raw origin story from the man behind We Legit before the clothing, before the podcast, before the media company. Markee traces the experiences that shaped his mindset, from growing up in a deeply mixed Long Beach community to navigating neighborhood politics, school uniforms, street pressure, family lessons, and the constant need to stay aware, adaptable, and disciplined.
Why growing up around multiple cultures changed the way he sees people, how Long Beach’s environment taught him to read situations fast, and why those early lessons became the foundation for everything he builds today. Markee also breaks down the first job that taught him professionalism, responsibility, and money management, plus the moment he realized working for somebody else and building something of his own are two very different mindsets.
He shares the early business ideas that pulled him toward entrepreneurship, including trades, contracting, laundromats, branding, and eventually the creation of We Legit LLC, the We Legit Hustle podcast, and the media company underneath it all. Along the way, he talks about the reality of starting from zero, the first 6 to 12 months of doubt, the importance of patience, and why setbacks, rest, and long-term thinking matter more than quick wins.
If you’re building a business, trying to stay focused, or learning how to turn where you came from into where you’re going, this one hits home. It’s a conversation about reputation, discipline, reinvention, and why the biggest companies usually start with nothing more than a vision.
Perfect for entrepreneurs, creators, and anyone trying to stay legit while building something real from the ground up.
Markee Carter is the host of We Legit 16: Stories & Hustle Podcast and the founder of We Legit LLC, where he’s built a clothing brand, podcast, and media company around the principle of legit hustles and long-term ownership.