Wes Jackson: The Man Behind the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival & BRIC Arts Media: My Friends Are Better Than Yours

In this episode, BIG CED sits down with Wes—someone he’s known longer than anyone else featured on the series—for a deep dive into friendship, media, culture, and the unseen infrastructure that has shaped hip-hop, independent voices, and community storytelling in New York City.⏱️ Timestamps0:00 – IntroBIG CED sets the tone, introduces the series, and explains why this episode is personal.1:27 – Meet Wes JacksonWes introduces himself and breaks down BRIC Arts Media and its mission in Brooklyn.2:50 – What Wes Is Focused on NowDiscussion shifts to current passions and why public media matters more than ever.3:32 – The Op-Ed ExplainedWes explains his Brooklyn Magazine op-ed: “The Existential Threat Facing New York Public Media.”4:06 – How Public Access Is FundedA clear breakdown of cable franchise fees and how community media centers survive.5:40 – Cutting the Cord vs. Streaming RealityWhy streaming didn’t remove the cables—and why funding is disappearing anyway.6:55 – Why Public Media Is More Important Than EverFrom podcasts to YouTube roots, Wes explains the original role of public access.8:27 – Political Support & LegislationWho’s backing community media and the Community Media Reinvestment Act?10:10 – Media Consolidation & Free SpeechWhy shrinking media ownership threatens diverse voices.11:08 – Video Music Box & Hip-Hop HistoryWhy public access helped build hip-hop when mainstream media wouldn’t.13:40 – What a BRIC President Actually DoesWes explains his real role behind the title—leadership, funding, and support.16:14 – Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival OriginsHow and why Wes helped create one of hip-hop’s most important festivals.18:48 – The First Festival & Why It WorkedFrom a YMCA idea to a cultural institution.19:50 – Legends & Breakout ArtistsQ-Tip, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar’s first NYC festival, and more.21:17 – How They Booked Major Artists Early OnIndustry relationships, credibility, and trust.24:24 – Bronx vs. Brooklyn (Friendly Fire)Wes explains how a Bronx kid ended up representing Brooklyn so well.27:49 – Why Brooklyn’s Creative Energy MatteredA love letter to 90s Brooklyn culture and community.29:34 – BIG CED’s Video Music Box StoryBehind the scenes of the MC Lyte “Paper Thin" video and becoming “Sam.”33:40 – How One Video Changed EverythingWhy music videos were movies—and why representation mattered.37:52 – Shoutout to MC LyteCelebrating her legacy and new music.39:25 – BRIC JazzFest Announcement10th Anniversary details + curator Brandee Younger.41:37 – How to Follow BRIC & Get InvolvedSocial media, programs, and access to equipment and classes.43:07 – Why BRIC ExistsGiving people the tools to tell their own stories.45:13 – Final Thoughts & OutroFriendship, legacy, and why community media still matters.📲 Follow BRIC: @BRICBrooklyn📲 Follow Wes Jackson: @WestMartinJacksonWes Jackson has been giving back to the community in admirable ways. He has over 25 years of experience as a leader, entrepreneur, innovator, creative, and executive in entertainment and academia. He's currently president at BRIC Arts, located in Brooklyn, NY, and has been in this position since July 2022.Wes has been leading BRIC, a pioneering, multi-disciplinary arts and media institution anchored in downtown Brooklyn with programs that include the free, summer-long BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! festival, whose 44th season is currently underway; the New York Emmy Award-winning BRIC TV, whose programming includes acclaimed original scripted series, a live daily show, and hyper-local news stories and documentaries; Brooklyn Free Speech TV, a leading public access TV network; a major contemporary art exhibition program; BRIC JazzFest, which brings global legends and emerging artists in jazz to Brooklyn each October; the weekly Stoop Series of free public conversations at BRIC House with artists, authors and filmmakers; family programs; and more.