Today, I have the distinct pleasure and honor of hosting GRAMMY award-winning artist, Julian Alexander whose work has been a cornerstone of hip hop and rap for three decades. He’s the creator behind iconic logos & album artwork that you undoubtedly recognize (artists including Jennifer Lopez, 50 Cent, Eminem, Destiny’s Child, the iconic Mile Davis, and more). He’s the founder of Slang Inc., a Brooklyn-based studio whose clients include the world’s top agencies & brands. And also serves on the board of my charity, A Better Life Foundation. We go way beyond resumé in this conversation and dig deep into the intricately thoughtful layers of his art.  I ask him about the work he creates to survive—not for money, for meaning. You'll hear him share about the Supremacy Project, a profound art instillation brought to life during 2020’s historical Black Lives Matter protests. Julian collaborated with our friend Steven Irby (aka Steve Sweatpants) and the powerful Khadijat Oseni. “I had so much to say and so few options,” he says when speaking to the anger of the moment. “I had to do this for my sanity and survival.” Join us as we talk about art as a force for political change, dialogue, and expression on all sides. And how expression yields empowerment, especially in critical times, like the ones we’re in today.   WORKS: - Supremacy Project, description: “Addressing the systematic oppression and violence our communities are fighting to end through art. #whoprotectsmefromyou” - Fit The Description—”a series of conversations between Black male officers and civillians.” - founder, Slang Inc.-  GRAMMY® Award for The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions by Miles Davis for Best Boxed or Special Edition Package- previously, Design Director for Sony Music- previously, Executive Creative Director of Guild, where Julian led creative teams on experiential projects for Nike, Target, and Stella Artois- TEDx Talk “Good Design Makes People Feel Heard, a Part of Something”   TOOLS:- Inspiration to expose injustice through art- A thoughtful viewpoint on what art’s purpose is in the world-  Permission to practice  creative expression as activism- Confirmation & affirmation when it comes to allowing yourself to transmute anger into art- Wisdom and advice on how to keep some of life private- Reflections on the difference between solitude & loneliness  - Tools to witness your own good fortune- Stories that showcase how to create work that matters to a mission- A sense of humility with a dose of permission to allow your art to be its own entity in the world- Insight into how to enable meaningful dialogue through your creations   LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
BETTER is recorded on the unceded and ancestral territory of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh speaking peoples, the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, and has been stewarded by them since time immemorial.  BETTER with Mark Brand is produced by Pamela Rothenberg of I HEAR YOU STUDIOS and Adam Karch with Orbyt Media

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