Every entrepreneur has his or her ups and downs. Go to any seminar across the country and you will hear one individual lament on the hardships taken to get to a certain perch. In the case of Victor Bernal, or as he is better known in Houston - DJ Prolyfic, the battle to get to a certain position occurred on two fronts, personal and professional.

“My abuelo moved to Houston from Mexico for work,” Prolyfic said. “He came here and had to leave my abuela and my dad behind temporarily while he set up here. So he sets up here with a solid job. Where you ask? Well he found work at a mechanic shop on none other than 75th Street.”

There on 75th Street, in Southeast Houston did Prolyfic establish roots. His grandfather moved his family to the Southeast and eventually moved down to a house, where Pro’s mother and father eventually became neighbors as children. Fast-forward a few years and not only did Prolyfic’s grandfather plant the seeds for a community to succeed for generations, he helped establish the next in-line; a chain of events that led to Prolyfic giving back in his own way. Surrounded by taquerias and other mom and pop stores currently, his 75th & Canal Co. St clothing label gets its name from those very streets that helped raised him along with his family. In particular, the snow cone stand Prolyfic would visit as a kid. Always finding a center within the community closest to him, Prolyfic set up 75th & Canal Co. with one goal in mind, to showcase not only his strong upbringing but his attention to detail in regards to street wear.

Three years in, 75th & Canal Co. is booming, albeit with some personal setbacks. Although Prolyfic’s third anniversary pop up resulted in sold out sales. As busy as Prolyfic was with the apparel and cherishing the success on one end, he believed he was neglecting the very people who had helped inspire him in the first place.

“January 15. 24 hours following the pop up my Abuela fell into a coma. She was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer late last year,” he said. To put some perspective, I visited my abuelos weekly. Two … three times a week at  times but for sure every Sunday.”

He continued, “January 15 was a Sunday, the first Sunday I can remember that I didn’t visit. My abeula fell into a coma on the 15th and I was never able to have a conversation with her again. Fast-forward to March 25. My Abuela could never be apart from my Abuelo for too long so she called him to join her in heaven.”

Losing both of his grandparents in such a short time only clicked something within Prolyfic. He recalled the last conversation he had with his grandmother, a word in regards to getting healthy and gaining control of his life. He didn’t heed her words initially but the message took. Not being able to fit the clothes he had designed for the third anniversary reveal of 75th & Canal Co. along with his grandmother’s words, he made a promise. He would cut down 20 pounds; he would deny himself a haircut until he had lost the 20 pounds and lastly, 75th & Canal Co. wouldn’t produce any new pieces until he could fit into a 2X. In less than a month, he’s kept up to his promise.

“I’m down 14 pounds so I guess the haircut is coming soon,” he said with a laugh. “But I got tired of wearing pants that covered up my sneakers and having to make special sizes of 75th & Canal Co items just so I could fit them. I needed to change.”

Getting his health in order and more, Prolyfic plans for the next collection of 75th & Canal Co. items to pay tribute to his late grandmother via roses, all part of what he calls his “debut album.”

“Every piece has a story or major reason behind it. It’s not just being trendy. This is my life expressed through clothing,” he said.