Yung Joc’s Journey: Hip-Hop, Entrepreneurship, Radio

TIB: Do you feel like you have to compete with anybody in the Atlanta radio market, or do you prefer to do things your own way?

Yung Joc: Competition is prevalent. You have to adjust as you go. You have to be steadfast in whatever your plan is. Things change, evolve. In my time, I’ve watched every show around me change its format, approach, segments, the way they market. Not saying because of me, but I do believe that our station had a lot to do with it. Competition is definitely a real thing in these challenging times. I gotta work like people have never heard my show. That’s what being competitive is about. You got to be way ahead of the ball sometimes.

Beyond the Music: Yung Joc’s Journey of Personal Evolution and Authenticity

TIB: What was it like to be on a morning show with no experience?

Yung Joc: It was hard. You never want to feel defeated. I knew it could be big for me. I just couldn’t let the thought of how big it could be die. It was challenging, man. I had to record pre-record to get the timing right. The biggest fear was knowing people were listening.

It took me a good year and a half, almost two years, to feel like I could do this. But I saw a future in it. I don’t want to be a rapper when I’m 50. I want to be able to entertain – do movies, TV, radio, podcasts, commercials.

TIB: What do you attribute your success to? Who helped guide you through the process?

Yung Joc: First and foremost, I have to say, Steve Hegwood. He gave me the opportunity. Working with my team, having a co-host like Milkweed who had radio experience, helped me. And my best friend and co-host, we influenced each other. We built the team. Here we are, six, going on seven years later.

TIB: How does being syndicated affect the show?

Yung Joc: The impact is real. When I’m on the streets, it just opens our eyes to how many people truly appreciate you, your tribe. You get a sense of how many people you impact.

We may not have a million markets, but the impact is real. It’s amazing because it helps in other business realms too. People trust me enough to talk on the radio in the morning with women and children in the cars.

From Rap to Radio: Yung Joc’s Path to Multi-Dimensional Success

TIB: You’ve got the attention of radio stations around the country. How would you sell your show to them?

Yung Joc: I’m for the people. People don’t just know me from that platform. People feel like they know me. When people get a chance to connect with me, it’s hard for them to let go. I’m not a shock jock. I try to be as respectful and aware as possible. I try to be as solid as I can be in this space.

TIB: What is it like to be syndicated? Are you making appearances in other markets?

Yung Joc: Yes, I do appearances in other markets. It’s interesting because people really listen to the radio. When you feed those interests properly, you gain fans, supporters, allies. Some days I wake up and wonder, why me? What did I do so special to deserve these blessings? The syndication has been great, different, amazing.

Yung Joc On Having Faith and Seizing the Moment

TIB: I wanted to mention that you’ve described the feeling of getting up each day excited about what you do. I’ve experienced that too. Do you realize most people will never experience that?

YJ: A lot of people will never get that opportunity. They just don’t see life the same way. Sometimes you stand in the middle of a blessing and don’t even know it. But when you don’t know, uncertainty and doubt take over. Faith is important. You must believe whether you can see it, smell it, taste it, feel it, hear it or not. A lot of people won’t ever get the opportunity to understand that.

TIB: Thanks for the interview. It’s been one of the best interviews we’ve had.