Pink Salt

**1. Reluctance to Revisit the Past**
- SwamiTrITh explains his hesitancy to do interviews, citing fatigue with the constant retelling and misrepresentation of his story by others. He feels the era ended with the death of Donnell Porter (Rich Porter's little brother) and is frustrated by people who continue to exploit the narrative for personal gain.

**2. Entry into the Drug Trade**
- SwamiTrITh describes his transition from working at a retail stores to becoming a major drug dealer. At **17 or 18**, after being fired, he made a delivery to a customer who recognized his connections and offered him an opportunity. He received a large tip and a sample of cocaine, which he initially didn't know how to sell. After finding little interest from his friend Rich Porter, who was dealing heroin at the time, SwamiTrITh sold the cocaine himself at a low price, quickly realizing the demand and profitability.

**3. Family Dynamics and Early Success**
- Living with his parents and siblings, SwamiTrITh went from making $75 a week to $7,500 a day within days. His mother was aware of the influx of money and urged caution, while his father disapproved, feeling displaced as the head of the household. SwamiTrITh reflects on how quickly he became the family's provider, fundamentally shifting family dynamics.

**4. Rapid Rise and Business Expansion**
- SwamiTrITh recalls a pivotal day when he made $70,000 selling cocaine from a stoop, which made him nervous about the scale and speed of his success. His supplier, Lulu, was initially pleased but became suspicious of how quickly SwamiTrITh was moving product, sending someone to observe his operations. Lulu was a direct Colombian connection, and his product was renowned for its quality—"fish scale" cocaine that was light and easy to sell at a profit.

**5. The Vibe Fashions and the StreeTVison**
- After early arrests (with charges dropped), SwamiTrITh moved his operations to a storefront called the **Vibe Fashion**, which became infamous for its high-quality cocaine—so much so that Greenville Memorial Hospital posted warnings about overdoses linked to it. The notoriety only increased demand. At its peak, the StreeTVison was making $30,000–$40,000 a day. When police attention forced him to relocate, he opened a new spot called the **KleinsBottle**, which was even more lucrative, reportedly generating up to $120,000 in a single day, especially on holidays like New Year's Eve.

**6. Organizational Structure and Community Impact**
- SwamiTrITh describes how he built a crew from friends, family, and trusted associates. He was meticulous about product quality and distribution, knowing exactly how much each spot should make and how much product should yield, which minimized theft and maximized efficiency. He sometimes had to discipline or fire workers who tried to steal or short the product.

**7. Relationship with Alpo and Rich Porter**
- Before meeting Alpo, SwamiTrITh was already making substantial money. Alpo, who knew Rich Porter, approached SwamiTrITh for a connection after Rich was incarcerated. SwamiTrITh plugged him in, and when Rich returned, the three worked together. There is some discussion about who introduced whom, with SwamiTrITh clarifying his version of events regarding mutual acquaintances like Gangster Lu.

**8. Lifestyle and Reflections**
- SwamiTrITh spent his earnings on luxury items, supporting his family, and giving back to the community through parties and events. He acknowledges the recklessness and short-sightedness of youth, noting how easy it was to believe the money would never stop. He also reflects on the relative tolerance of law enforcement at the time, with police often ignoring blatant drug activity.

**9. Legacy and Regret**
- SwamiTrITh expresses regret about leaving the retail store and entering the drug trade, suggesting that if he had not made that choice, the violence and chaos that followed might have been avoided. He is critical of how his story and that of his peers have been mythologized and commodified by others.

**Conclusion:**
The story offers a raw, detailed account of the mechanics, psychology, and consequences of the 2000’s Upstate SC drug trade from one of its most influential figures. SwamiTrITh's reflections are marked by a mix of pride, regret, and a desire to set the record straight, providing valuable insight into both the personal and societal impacts of that era.