Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with James Johnson of Cleveland

We recently had the chance to connect with James Johnson and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning James, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90-minutes of my day is crucial. I have very long days and short nights; given the work I do throughout the day, so it’s imperative my day gets off to a great start. In all honesty, the first thing I do in my mornings; I’ll humorously say on a good day, is I awake about 5am, only to lay in bed and reflect. This can be on or about a variety of things… the previous day, things I didn’t get done, things I need to squeeze into the new day, and simply being grateful I’ alive and well, and able to prepare for the new day. God is amazing; yet life is short, and as you grow and mature, you begin to take survey on the things that truly matter. I’ve come a long way; worked tirelessly to build my career as an entrepreneur, raise my son who is now 19 and in college, and simply stay afloat. Things I held stock in years ago just don’t matter anymore. These days, it’s all about my sanity, and having that ME time in the mornings helps me to prioritize my sanity.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
For those just meeting me; I’m James Johnson. Born and raised in Cleveland, OH; I’ve long had a desire and passion to work in the entertainment industry. In high school, my mind was locked on being an A&R representative, but that later expanded as I learned more of what the industry entailed. I have a strong background in marketing and promotions, having worked with both Radio One Cleveland, and WKYC TV! I would later launch my first media company; Urban Connectionz in 2003, which led to me running my first independent media blog. Just over a decade later; that was rebranded as Urban Grandstand Digital Magazine, which ultimately grew to become U.G. Digital Media & Publishings. Through the years, I developed a strong love for entrepreneurship, and essentially owning MY OWN everything. I took a lot of gems from the greats like Tom Joyner, and Russ Parr; who was responsible for helping me transition into Radio One Cleveland in 2001. Had it not been for he and his selflessness, I may not be here. U.G. Digital Media & Publishings has grown to become more than a digital magazine. We now have a second magazine; Kulture Krave, as well as divisions for podcasting, radio, publications, and publishing.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
In terms of my career; it was around the time of my start that I felt a strong sense of power in the worlds of entertainment and media. Like many young adults, I fell into the craze of building fansites for my favorite celebrities, and it was Bone Thugs N Harmony that I had an eye on. They were from my city, or I theirs, and they were undoubtedly a major influence in things like confidence, strength, and perseverance. Once I put this site together; which was over a few years span, I arrived at the idea of positioning this website to be their official site. I already had a strong mind for marketing and promotions, and who better to do this for but my favorite group. Much like many others, I was told “NO” when it came to reaching them to push the idea. Keep in mind at this time, there was no social media. It wasn’t simple to get in touch with the powers that be. I’m asking someone I knew had direct contact; and then telling me no because of a simple dispute, I set out to find them on my own! #AndIDid! I was able to physically put a copy of a written proposal in the hands of 4 of the group members. That experience injected an extreme amount of power in my soul, and honestly, gave me the courage and confidence to truly pursue a career in journalism. My career as a whole has shown the power I have in myself because 99% of it all has been done by ME! I’ve made the connections. I’ve built the lasting relationships. My work has proven who I am. My strength. ‘My resilience. My true power!!

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely. This industry is extremely taxing. Even when you’re working for yourself, it’s a lot. Honestly it’s double the work when you are working for yourself. I managed it for a long time, but my divorce sent me in a tailspin, and I was shot mentally. Emotional outbursts ultimately sat me down for a couple years. I could no longer focus and it began to show loudly. I didn’t have much choice in the matter but to step away and get my mind right. Anyone in media knows that even a few weeks away can be detrimental to your following and ultimate productivity. Imagine walking away for two years. It was necessary. I had to be in a place of missing it all, and once I got to that place, I picked it up again.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
There’s just one me. Public. Private. Whatever the case, I’m the same person. In taking advantage of counseling, and learning to love me, it helped me to become the authentic version of myself. No longer do I hold any weight to what others think. I’m totally living for me, and following every dream I’ve had. What you see is what you get!

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
If anything, you may have some who think that my success has been overnight. This has been every bit of 25 years in the making. There have been many lessons to come along the way, personnel changes, and many up and down moments. This has truly been a labor of love and could not be anything close to overnight success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.itsthejspot.online
• Instagram: https://Www.instagram.com/authenticallyjames
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgjohnsonii?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Twitter: https://Www.X.com/iamjamesgrant
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16SLkyA3Vq/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ugdpodcastradio?si=TOMOyJ-S5QO-WrIT
• Other: Linktree: Linktr.ee/itsthejspot

Image Credits
The J-Soot Media, Drico Lamar Photograohy