Travis Lloyd

Travis Lloyd Smith (born December 28, 1983 in Redmond, Washington), better known by his stage name Travis Lloyd, is an American rapper, poet, youth advocate, and motivational speaker. Travis Lloyd is best known for his advocacy efforts and performances for teens in foster care. In 2007 he partnered with R&B singer, and friend, Dante Marcellous Means to form the entertainment company Band of Christians, L.L.C.. In 2008 Travis Lloyd released the elevate: Desire to Inspire CD after being contracted by the foster youth program Elevate (organization) to write for and produce the album in collaboration with producer Charles Means. The Elevate CD was the first full MusicAL album to showcase poetry, speaking, and singing from teens in foster care.

Advocacy Appearances

·2007 Reggie's Sleepout, Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa

·2007 It's My Life national foster youth conference, Atlanta, GA

·2007 Youth/Adult Partnership Academy, Ridgecrest, NC

·2007 Child Welfare League of America national conference, New Orleans, Louisiana

·2007 & 2008 American Dreams youth concert, Des Moines, IA

·2008 Desire to Inspire statewide youth conference, Des Moines, IA

·2008 Statewide Youth Conference, Las Vegas, NV

Discography

Travis Lloyd discography

Personal

Travis Lloyd's parents divorced when he was eight years old while living near Seattle, Washington. At the age of 10, he moved to Iowa with his mother and sister where he lived in multiple group homes due to an abusive home life. At 13, Travis moved in with his aunt and uncle. He wrestled and played baseball in high school. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Northern Iowa where he joined the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. During his college years he was known to stay up all night writing lyrics and still attend classes in the morning. After his first year of college he transferred to Allen College in Waterloo, Iowa where he graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing degree and became a Registered Nurse. He then began a career as an RN in an emergency room.

In 2007 Travis Lloyd was involved with the establishment of a statewide foster and adoptive youth program in Las Vegas, Nevada called FAAYT (Foster And Adoptive Youth Together). He also aided in the growth of the nationally recognized foster youth program Elevate (organization) by working as an Elevate chapter facilitator in Waterloo, Iowa and later performing for Elevate events. Travis Lloyd's work with foster youth inspired him to focus on creating positive and Christian-based music. He began writing motivational rap songs and poetry which he performs to motivate teens to become successful adults.

In 2008 his nephew moved in with him for eight months to help his sister become a stable parent. His father resides in Federal Way, Washington and his mother in Des Moines, Iowa. His bff Joe and his wife live in Iowa City. IA.

Travis Lloyd continues to perform for youth conferences, colleges, high schools, and churches while building the company Band of Christians, L.L.C. with business partner Dante' Marcellous Means.

Music samples