We were lucky to catch up with Josh Bryant recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Josh, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Now this is a good one. To be honest, my life has always been shaped by music in one way or another. I started playing the drums when I was three and would often mess around with other instruments like the piano just for fun. Growing up in a family that loves music, I was constantly hearing songs from multiple eras — from 60’s/70’s Motown soul to 90’s/00’s R&B and 00’s/10’s hip-hop — and as I got older a lot of those artists became personal favorites including Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, The Notorious B.I.G., and many others, something I’m truly thankful for. I also loved watching shows like 106 & Park and music documentaries like the ones I enjoy from TV One’s Unsung. Those shows made me passionate about being a bridge to highlight other people’s stories.
Career-wise, I found my purpose mostly by chance. I saw an online ad for a radio opportunity during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 with Urban 95 (now Urban X) on Audilous and decided to take the risk, even though I had no prior experience. I had always wanted to do something related to music, and once I realized being an artist wasn’t the right path for me, I jumped into the media route. I won’t lie — I was nervous at first, putting myself out there in a completely new way with no safety net. But over time, things slowly fell into place, and people began to notice the passion, love, and intention I was moving with, even as I built from the ground up.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Currently, I work as the lead media personality and host of the platform I created, URBNVIEW (pronounced Urban View). It’s a digital brand grounded in sharing trending news, spotlighting established and emerging creatives, and telling impactful stories that are primarily centered around hip-hop, R&B, and Black culture as a whole.
Now I’m gonna be real here: as someone who doesn’t have kids, I’d like to think of this brand as my first child ever since its creation as a radio show back in 2021. From its early days on the radio to its full transition into a standalone digital brand, URBNVIEW has continued to evolve into a space that provides artists and creatives with new opportunities to connect with fans authentically.
Beyond URBNVIEW, I’ve been fortunate enough to gain experience in digital marketing through internships with SLANG Music and 740 Project, while also freelancing as a graphic designer for content for record labels like LVRN (Love Renaissance) and artists such as Elijah Blake. I’ve also been able to contribute as a media personality to other platforms like Culture Unfiltered, continuing to build my voice and presence within the culture.
What excites me most about URBNVIEW is that I’m still just scratching the surface of its potential. There are so many more stories to tell and so much more music to connect fans with — and as long as I can continue to do it, URBNVIEW will always be that bridge. Looking ahead, I’d love to expand the URBNVIEW team beyond myself to help take things to the next level, create meaningful in-person interview and performance experiences for the artists who’ve supported me since day one, and ultimately land a standalone TV show with a major media brand that continues to uplift the platform I’ve built so far.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Great question. I think the first quality that’s been most impactful in my journey is always being a student of the game. So many people reach a certain level and stop growing because they don’t keep asking the right questions or doing the research to stay informed. For me, I’ve always made it a priority to learn from incredible mentors like Carl Lamarre and others — to listen, apply their advice, and constantly sharpen my craft so I can be the best at what I do in my own work.
The second quality I’d choose is resilience. To be honest, a lot of people close to me — or who used to know me — have no idea what I’ve battled over the years. From quietly fighting depression on and off for the past few years to losing everything in a house fire this past February and being left homeless for the second time, there were countless moments when I could’ve quit. But I didn’t. My faith in God, and my grandfather’s favorite quote — “Just take things one day at a time” — helped me stay grounded and reminded me not to lose sight of the bigger picture: my purpose, and how walking in that purpose can bless others too.
The third and final quality that’s been most impactful is passion. Don’t get me wrong — being knowledgeable in your field is important — but knowledge alone can only take you so far. Many of the biggest doors that have opened for me came because people saw not just my knowledge of music, but my genuine love and passion for it. People always say, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life,” and I truly believe passion is the ingredient that makes that possible. It affects how you show up, how people connect with you, and the energy you put into your work.
If I had any advice for someone early in their journey, I’d say this: trust your intuition and your gut, even when things don’t go according to plan. I never got to attend the college of my dreams, and for a while, I thought my path would never grow beyond working at AMC Theatres or Best Buy. But by trusting my gut, doing the work, and keeping faith, God opened doors I couldn’t have imagined. So even if people don’t get it or doubt your path, keep trusting your intuition, stay consistent, and be ready when God blesses you with those open doors.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Yes! I’m always open to collaborating with passionate individuals who share my love for storytelling, music, and culture — particularly within hip-hop, R&B, and Black culture. Whether you’re an artist, media personality, or a brand aiming to amplify authentic voices, I would love to connect. URBNVIEW and I are still in the growth phase, so it’s definitely a priority to maximize visibility and reach new audiences at this current stage.
If you’re interested in collaborating, hit me up via email at [email protected] or send me a message on Instagram through either my main page @joshbryantofficial or URBNVIEW’s brand page @urbnview. I’m down to explore new ideas and see what we can do to bring them to life — interviews, hosting events, special long-term projects, or connecting unique content activations. As long as it aligns with my mission to tell meaningful stories that matter and uplift incredible talent in a way that’s real and impactful, I’m down for whatever, and let’s create something that leaves an impression.
Thank you for the time and opportunity to tell my story today. It’s always fun being on the other side of things. I appreciate you, and it’s truly been a pleasure.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshbryantofficial/ (main) and https://www.instagram.com/urbnview/ (URBNVIEW IG)
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-bryant1/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@urbnview
Image Credits
For the shot with me in a white polo, the photo was taken by Redline Photography (https://www.instagram.com/redlinephotography__/)
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
