Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to James “Jay III” Manning. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

James, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

The Brand started as YBC ENT. ( Young Black Culture Entertainment.). A. Rhodes and myself were in his garage brainstorming on a way to expand and be more inclusive with the brand. We Realized that while showcasing, embracing and expanding the Young Black Culture that we all love, The name could give the impression that we’re tending to one demographic when the entire goal is to give everyone an insight and expand people’s mind while entertaining. This lead to me saying “All I can think of is when we expand the culture, then it becomes Elevated.” We then decided Elevated Culture was the best name for us to be inclusive to all cultures.

James, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My passion for entertainment stems all the way back to when I started playing the saxophone in elementary school. Throughout my teenage years, I realized the excitement I experienced from making small video skits and having friends laughing, to putting on a field show performance in marching band in front of huge crowds, that my purpose was to entertain. This proceeded through college where I studied business marketing with a minor in film which lead to my best friend, A. Rhodes, and I starting a multimedia brand, YBC ENT., later becoming Elevated Culture.

Elevated Culture provides a wide range of entertainment from music, videography, to photography. We’ve successfully grown our Youtube platform to over 13,000+ subscribers. Our content ranges from music & current event reactions, vlogs, films as well as live events going on within the culture. We also have started our “In & Outta Pocket Podcast” where we’ve featured artist as well as business owners in the community.

What sets us apart from others is our constant ability to adapt and stay relevant within the culture. Business is a constant roller coaster and trends will change in an instant. Staying consistent and always thinking of new ways to stay relevant fuels the passion to continue.

I’m most proud that this entire brand started as an idea. Literal thoughts and desires of ways we wanted to entertain people which turned into what it has today. Our Youtube Videos have been viewed and recognized by Bhad Bhabie, Yung Miami, Diddy & Omeretta to name a few while also generating a following in the UK, Korea & South Africa. Aside from our growth on the platform, us creating one of our most recent films, “Cake”, was an accomplishment I was extremely proud of and reassured me that I am moving in my purpose and we can accomplish anything we sincerely put our mind to.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is capturing a moment, creating my version of it, and the consumer enjoying the product. Also, having my work inspire someone else to realize that they can create and follow their dreams is what it’s all for.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/JayiiiProductions
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/Blowmy_sax
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/jayiii

Image Credits
@_ithinkitstime @STKSidd