Today we’d like to introduce you to J. Sparks.
Hi J., so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Justice “J. Sparks” – The Vision Behind 730 Entertainment & Publishing
My journey began with a deep appreciation for hip-hop culture and the storytelling that lives within it. What started as a personal passion for mixtapes evolved into a lifelong mission to preserve and celebrate the creative forces who shaped the sound of the streets. Through 730 Entertainment & Publishing, I built a platform that honors the DJs, artists, and visionaries who defined an era.
Today, that vision continues through projects like B.T.M. – Behind The Mixtape, a book that captures the legacy, spirit, and innovation of mixtape culture. Each chapter represents years of dedication to documenting the evolution of hip-hop from the underground to the mainstream. My goal has always been to ensure our stories are archived, respected, and shared with the world in an authentic way.
I’ve always been driven by creativity and culture. Growing up, I was surrounded by music, fashion, and storytelling all the elements that define hip-hop. I started out writing, promoting events, and working behind the scenes, learning every angle of the business. Over time, I realized I didn’t just want to participate in the culture I wanted to help preserve it. That mindset pushed me to create 730 Entertainment & Publishing, a home for projects that blend music, media, and entrepreneurship.
Every move since then has been about turning ideas into something tangible from books to merch to creative campaigns. I didn’t have investors or a big team; I built everything from the ground up, one idea at a time. That’s how I got here through consistency, learning as I went, and believing that what I had to say mattered.
I wanted ownership. Early on, I saw how many creative people didn’t control their own work they had the talent, but not the structure. I didn’t want to depend on anyone else to tell our stories or control how they were told. So, I built 730 Entertainment & Publishing as a way to create without limits.
The name itself represents independence, integrity, and a little bit of that bold, fearless energy that comes from growing up in the mix of real culture. It’s about standing firm, doing things the right way, and creating platforms that outlast trends.
The biggest challenge was balancing creativity with discipline. Passion gets you started, but structure keeps you moving. Once I learned how to organize my ideas and turn vision into execution, everything started to click.Everything. From funding to time management to learning every side of production. I’ve had to wear every hat publisher, designer, marketer, and sometimes even delivery driver. There were moments I questioned if it was all worth it, but I kept going because I knew nobody was coming to hand me the opportunity.
I’m proud of the foundation I’ve built not just the projects themselves, but the independence behind them. I take pride in knowing everything under the 730 Publishing umbrella came from hard work, consistency, and creativity, not shortcuts.
I’m proud of seeing my ideas turn into real products, seeing my name attached to work that reflects my standards, and inspiring others to realize that they can do the same. That’s the legacy I’m building.
My style is raw, authentic, and rooted in the culture. I represent the creators who come from the grind the ones who didn’t have access but made it happen anyway. The people who built their dreams with what they had, not what they were given.
I speak to entrepreneurs, artists, and dreamers who are carving their own lane. The community I represent values loyalty, creativity, and hustle it’s a reflection of the real world that shaped me.
A lot of people see the finished product but don’t know the grind behind it. Before all this, I was working solo, driving a 26-foot box truck on weekends, using that money to fund my creative projects. I’ve done manual labor, long nights, and countless revisions to make things happen.
That experience gave me humility and perspective. It taught me that no matter where you start, you can build something lasting if you stay focused and disciplined.
Right now, I’m focused on expanding everything under 730 Entertainment & Publishing from books and apparel to film, media, and community events. I want to create opportunities for other creatives to tell their stories and collaborate on something bigger.
I’m also working on new projects that bridge culture, education, and entertainment things that inspire people while giving back to the same community that raised me.
Music and travel are my two biggest inspirations I like being around real energy studios, block parties, open mics, creative spaces where people are just being themselves. I also like quiet moments, just zoning out, planning the next move.
For me, inspiration comes from everyday life conversations, street art, the rhythm of the city. I take all of that in and use it to keep creating.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Everything. From funding to time management to learning every side of production. I’ve had to wear every hat publisher, designer, marketer, and sometimes even delivery driver. There were moments I questioned if it was all worth it, but I kept going because I knew nobody was coming to hand me the opportunity.
The biggest challenge was balancing creativity with discipline. Passion gets you started, but structure keeps you moving. Once I learned how to organize my ideas and turn vision into execution, everything started to click.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m the founder and creative director of 730 Entertainment & Publishing, a company built to document, develop, and distribute culture. My work lives at the intersection of music, storytelling, and design. I create platforms that preserve hip hop history while also pushing it forward through books, media, fashion, and film.
I specialize in creative direction, publishing, and brand building. Everything I do revolves around capturing authenticity whether it’s through visuals, written work, or curated experiences. I’m known for creating projects that feel real, that represent the people and energy that built hip hop from the ground up.
What sets my work apart is the attention to detail and the authenticity behind every project. I approach each idea with the mindset of an artist and the discipline of a publisher. I don’t chase trends; I focus on legacy. My work is designed to last, to be studied, collected, and remembered years from now.
I’m most proud of creating something from nothing building a company and a brand entirely independent, funded by my own grind and belief in the vision. I’ve turned ideas into products, products into movements, and movements into platforms. That independence, that authenticity, and that connection to the real culture are what make my work stand out.
At the end of the day, I create to inspire. I want the next generation of creators, DJs, writers, and entrepreneurs to see that you can build something meaningful on your own terms with consistency, creativity, and heart.
How do you define success?
For me, success isn’t about money or followers it’s about freedom and impact. Success means having the freedom to create what I want, when I want, without compromising who I am or what I stand for. It’s being able to wake up every day and build something that comes from my own ideas, not someone else’s blueprint.
I define success by the lives I touch and the legacy I leave behind. When someone reads my work, wears my brand, or feels inspired to start their own movement because of something I created that’s success.
It’s also about peace of mind. Being able to take care of your family, live with purpose, and stay true to yourself in a world that’s constantly changing that’s real success.
Every time I turn a vision into something tangible and do it with integrity, I know I’m moving in the right direction. That’s the kind of success I’m chasing long lasting, meaningful, and built from the ground up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.730publishing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/730publishing?igsh=MWV2aW1xdWtiYzZnMw==
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@730Publishing
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/730entertainment&Publishing
- Other: https://730publishing.gumroad.com/l/wgtokz?utm_source=new-book-project&utm_medium=story&utm_campaign=new-book&utm_term=behind-the-mixtape
