FawrOutwas born in the fall of 2017 from a shared vision between founder Curtis “CJ” Barney and co-founder, the late Shane Richardson. What began as an idea rooted in music quickly grew into something much bigger — a movement centered on creativity, culture, and community.
Curtis and Shane bonded over their love for music and their belief that so much talent went unseen and unheard. Together, they envisioned a platform that would spotlight artists who stood out — those who were different, misunderstood, and unapologetically themselves. They called this vision FawrOut.
The two immersed themselves in the local Charlotte music scene, attending talent shows, connecting with artists, and tapping into a growing network of creatives they’d known since their high school years. Through these connections, they shared a mutual friend with an undeniable gift for storytelling and lyricism — Xavier Forney, known professionally in the battle rap world as ‘Zay’. With his talent, Zay would be invited to perform on major battle rap platforms including, URL, RBE & KOTD just to name a few. Zay would eventually take his talents to the international stage performing in Canada and London. While dominating the local battle rap circuit, Zay would cross paths with other local competitors and eventually team up to form a powerhouse in the Carolina’s battle rap scene under the FawrOut brand.
From the beginning, FawrOut stood for more than battle rap. It became a home for individuality, expression, and voices that refused to be boxed in — a brand built to uplift talent and celebrate those bold enough to stand apart.
FawrOut Perspectives is a podcast hosted by longtime friends Curt Architect & Wa2Timez! The pod focuses on taking flight into a truthful dialogue amongst peers in ALT Black culture. The duo prioritizes holding space for the talented, unique & misunderstood.
“We embody not being a monolith by platforming individuals or groups to share their subtle experiences growing up black. We are an anomaly building community through thoughtful conversations offering unique perspectives.” - Curt Architect
Meet Curtis
Founder, CEO
Curtis “CJ” Barney, known to most as Curt, founded FawrOut in 2017 from a place of self-discovery. Growing up between Erie, Pennsylvania and Charlotte, North Carolina, Curt often felt out of place—but instead of resisting it, he embraced it.
Those experiences shaped his confidence in being different and trusting his sense of self. FawrOut was created to encourage others to do the same: to be seen, to be heard, and to unapologetically be themselves.
“Growing up black but clearly African and a military brat as well. My perspective and experiences are shaped different from most. Not following social norms and taking risk with whatever it is I believe in at all cost!"
-Wa2Timez , Co-Host of FAWROUT Podcast
(insta: @Wa2Timez)
Meet the GANG
“I am a Charlotte native, lifestyle content creator, and small business owner (insta: @ebsnailedit). I love Drake, Wale, and J.Cole & to laugh. My mind twirls with ideas and always making plans to get what seems impossible or difficult obtainable. Never give up on your dreams, run your Marathon. 💙🏁”
-Eboné, Producer of FAWROUT Podcast
(insta: @naturalbeautyeb)