FUBU Co-Founder J. Alexander Martin Tells His Life Story (Full Interview)

In this full-length interview, the co-founder of FUBA, J. Alexander Martin, sits down with DJ Vlad and talks about being adopted into a family that provided him with business goals and structure at a very young age. The legendary fashion designer also talks about growing up in Queens and meeting two of his future co-founders at FUBU (Daymond John and Carlton E. Brown) while they all attended middle school together and being introduced to the company's fourth member, Keith Perrin, years later when they were in high school. From there, Martin talks about practically being forced to join the military by his dad and the positive effect that the experience had on life before he was "medically discharged" due to an on-base car accident that left him half-paralyzed. Moving along, he talks about returning to New York, doing blue-collar work instead of hustling, enrolling in FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) for fashion, and reconnecting with Daymond John before laying the groundwork for their future company, FUBU. Martin explains that the developmental stages of the company started with his $6,000 investment into Daymond's signature tie-top hat designs.
As the conversation moves along, Martin talks about growing up with LL Cool j's brother, living with the co-founders while they were trying to launch their company, working nearly 24 hours a day, and finally seeing his hard work pay off. Martin goes on to talk about getting $300K worth of orders at a magic show before discussing why Samsung invested in FUBU and their iconic "GAP" commercial with LL Cool J in 1998, earning $350 million within 12 years, collaborating with "GAP," owing Universal Records money and more.

[@v.m.m.7729]

Fubu WAS expensive for me as a junior high student.. them football 05 jerseys for like $100 and jeans for $55 in 1998, crazy prices back then for single parent households

[@sunforrest896]

One of my favorite interviews..not all of us wanna be gangstas or rappers lol

[@strongsecurity7747]

AGREED !!!

[@codenlighten]

Blessing guys. Great talk. Much love.

[@executive8680]

I remember buying all my own clothes in 9th grade, had all Platinum Fubu.

[@cameron_fairchild]

He looks up the man's father. Constantly investigating people.

[@njjjjjjjjhhhs]

great industry behind the scene interview

[@sir3533]

J & Bmf Sosa are the only full length interviews I’ve ever watched 🥶

[@NicoleEshun]

An amazing interview, very motivational. What Clark was they talking about at the end; (1.04)The guy doing great things in Japan and works alone?

[@death4dollars349]

Karl Kani's CEO

[@RayNagin504]

Damon John was clearly the mastermind.

[@strongsecurity7747]

😂😂😂

[@marcusspain1032]

Vlad stop asking everyone if they had dope boy dreams

[@strongsecurity7747]

Was Vlad a drug dealer ? Or drug addict ?

[@ryanlifematters]

🔥🔥🔥

[@FredMaybe]

37.40 "we were in about 20 footlockers..?" huge presence thoughh

[@joeyjr4145]

Interview DJ Ghost NEXT Please 💯

[@Brooklynquietmoney]

Great interview Vlad 🔥🔥

[@undertheaffluence280]

More interviews like this Vlad. U have good content however imo disproportionately too much, drug dealers, gangsters, etc.. wash rinse repeat... . How about balancing out the content with more inspiring legitimate business people to elevate your audience

[@IceMontgomery]

46:56 let's go Charlotte getting hella luv!!

[@itspaulbrowntv2595]

Can it be FRESH to make decisions for the long term.

[@bighurt187]

Here 👋🏿

[@Tbowie13]

"Side Chics of Charlotte"! Lol...Everybody in this city has someone on the side...I can only imagine how this show will go! 🤣 Curious if I know anyone in it...lol.

[@strongsecurity7747]

Black Unity !!!

[@deezipickard]

When I think of FUBU, I think of Ali-G 😄

[@samuelblinne6040]

Awesome

[@samuelblinne6040]

Wow

[@space_dogg]

Fubu was fly but expensive back in the day, we had a little robbery fad going on with fubu jerseys. If you're hand game wasn't on point you were going home bare chested. and later avirex coats.... LL was the man at that time with the FUBU. And I'm from europe LOL

[@executive8680]

Willie D crying about the lil mermaid, cuh!😂 How you expect to be respected if you always crying about da white manez 😂

[@Mr.getrizzyagain]

GOD bless❤️🙏🏾

[@reneegilbert2544]

I was listening with admiration for his work ethic right up until "side chicks of Charlotte". The last thing society needs is more spotlight put on negative stereotypes of blk people. That ratchet behavior is nothing to be proud of and only perpetuates the negative treatment of blk people as a whole.

[@12degreesnowman11]

3:00 wisdom

[@BillKapri7]

played that shit like ten times

[@bustownbc2787]

Why would u buy a watch when u have a cell phone..and a clock in the car. Clocks at home... i dont need multiple times on my person or around me

[@limbanimkorongo1061]

The side chicks thing is corny, doesn't push us forward in anyway, if his time at the top in entertainment is up he should just let it go and do real estate or something.

[@8MoneyIzmyMission8]

Same thing I said. It's the one thing I didn't like hearing. Black people don't know how to push us forward to a higher level.

[@jonathanzamis4390]

People been wearing Dior decades before pop smoke vlad

[@v.m.m.7729]

Vlad thought 2pac was alive when Ether came out (2001). Can we really take his word seriously?

[@8MoneyIzmyMission8]

Not on the same scale though. Vlad LOVES designer shit, he would know. How many guys in the industry were wearing it?

[@jonathanzamis4390]

@@8MoneyIzmyMission8 Don't confuse with people rapping about it verses rappers wearing it. We tend to think that it doesn't become popular until we hear it in a song. people with money been wearing it for years

[@rikkidgermano9640]

He never was a co-founder but only helped finish the idea which already existed. He helped execute the idea, yes but that's all there is. Daymond John had the idea and since he was a friend, he helped. It does not make him a co-founder.

[@strongsecurity7747]

​@@marcusgreene7546 THANK YOU !!!

[@DUBSDADEVILL]

Yo ime your real brother I just need Two fitty.

[@bustownbc2787]

Fubu was awsome b4 it went 2 WALMART

[@tpa6laf]

Sounds like more trash tv to me

[@kd7100]

Like the gay porn and old westerns you can’t stop watching?

[@v.m.m.7729]

Ghetto people at work. Just slapping and sleeping with each other

[@str8drop1]

Rp55 ended fubu

[@davidcrosby1005]

Funbun