J Brock was cool enough to tell me all about his journey to Clappin' it Up for innovators and tastemakers, in the heart of Los Angeles. Clap It Up is not only a conference or panel of speakers who have dedicated their time, efforts, and talent. It's a lifestyle dedicated to cultivation and networking. I mean, honestly, you just have to be there!
The next one is February 22nd, 2025 (2.22.25)
J Brock has created a reputation for himself that inspires others to 'be in the room'. What room? ANY room you can be in that encourages you to share your purpose with others who may think alike, or who you will learn a thing, or two, or three from. Just be there... as long as, and only as long as, you have good intentions for your life ahead.
A Clap It Up Panel is like a 90s backyard party with all the homies and honeys. You might do a little two-step with a plate in your hand from a cool vendor onsite, you might bump into your favorite producer, or even run into someone that's normally hard to reach, or you may even crip walk. But the panels are lit and full of game. The speakers are seasoned in their grinds and expertise, but more importantly, they moved past the fear of getting started and stayed consistent. THAT'S the inner g highlighted at Clap It Up events.
FUN FACT:
I hosted Clap It Up's 4th panel red carpet last year, and I'll be hosting the 5th panel next month and the conference in May!
REMINDER: 2.22.25
Without further ado, I'm now introducing JBrock to Pynn'd Poshyns... in interview form. lol
JBrock x Pynn'd Poshyns.
Written by Pynnderella, of course.
Pynnderella:
We are officially rollin'! So, tell me... Who is JBrock?
JBrock:
J. Brock is James Brock. A kid who grew up in South Central Los Angeles playing football with the L.A. Demos. I really discovered myself playing football.
However, who am I today?! I am a father, a husband, a creator, and founder of Clap It Up LA. I'm a businessman.
Pynnderella:
Wait, who are the L.A. Demos?
JBrock:
Man, the L.A. Demos... unfortunately, it's not the same. They are a very powerful and well-organized football organization and they dominated Pop Warner in the King Conference for a long time. It's not really around anymore, they can barely get 30 kids out there right now, but they are located on the Eastside of Los Angeles, Jefferson High School. That's who the L.A. Demos are.
Pynnderella:
Okay! And how did you discover yourself out on the field?
JBrock:
That's where I found out what I was good at in life. Football was my first love. I am who I am right now because of the sport. As a kid, you're not making money or thinking about money. You're just playing because you're passionate about the game.
In finding and discovering myself, I learned that whatever I was going to do in life, I was going to need to be just as passionate about it and have the same love I had for football. That's what helped me discover I was in the right place.
Pynnderella:
I love that. So, when Did you start Clappin' It Up?
JBrock:
Clap It Up actually came from football [laughs]. When it became my brand, it wasn't because of that [football] but it resonated like, 'Wait a minute, I've been hearing Clap It Up my whole life.' After every football practice, clap it up. Before football practice, clap it up. That was the thing, clap it up.
They wouldn't say clap your hands, it was clap it up!
So, that's a term I've been hearing since I was a kid.
Pynnderella:
So, Clap it up is in you, not on you. From football, you learned that how you do one thing is how you would do all things essentially, and ended up pursuing entrepreneurship?
JBrock:
I knew I wasn't meant to work for anybody. I knew I was meant to create something. I started two businesses before I started Clap It Up. Didn't work out.
I listened to two interviews, Nipsey Hussle and Tyler Perry. Tyler Perry, homeless. Nipsey Hussle, lost everything. When I would listen to people who were building something, there was always a common thing, "They all struggled for it. They all faced obstacles."
I didn't really understand that. I spent a lot of time wanting to create things and once it got too hard, I was like nah I don't want to do it. But I had this feeling, it woke me up in the morning, it kept me warm throughout the day, and it just wouldn't go away.
It was like a force. God was tellin' me it's time for you to do the things you're speaking about. You need to start acting on your ideas now. For a long time, I wouldn't do it because of low self-esteem, and insecurity, I didn't believe in myself, and I didn't believe anybody would mess with me, and always felt like if I did anything people would think it was stupid. But when I got this feeling, I just couldn't ignore it anymore.
Initially, I started doing skits. I started acting. Then, I came across a video and started making my own videos on Instagram and I was able to speak in front of football teams in inner-city classrooms.
The feeling I got after I spoke to those kids was the same feeling I got when I played football. And that's when I knew I found my purpose in life. Nothing else made me feel me this accomplished.
And after that, I would make videos and run to the camera and clap.
I didn't think anything of it until my friends would see me out and start clapping.
Long story short, I watched a video talking about branding yourself, and I was coming up with all kinds of names and nothing was sticking. In the midst of my doing all this, my Godbrother called me and was like, I'ma call you Clap-O-Barry. I started laughing and when I got off the phone, I thought 'That might be my brand'.
I went to sleep on it and had a dream that I was homeless. At that time, I would have rather been homeless than working that job. I felt stuck in a box. So anyway, I'm homeless on Sunset Blvd. I remember myself running, jumping under cars, and all kinds of stuff. And God touched me and told me I had everything I needed, I just need to go for it. The next morning, I woke up and made Clap It Up La.
I paid the guy to make my shirts and everything.
Pynnderella:
Now, that Clap It Up was born, what was it like to put together your first panel?
JBrock:
The first panel I put together was last year [2023]. My birthday is February 21st, so I wanted to have a birthday party, so I was thinking about what I could do and I came up with my first panel. My whole brand is about inspiration, motivation, and learning from other people. I felt a panel was the greatest way to do that.
And that's how my panels started.
Pynnderella:
What is it like getting people on the panel?
Do you have a list of people that you want, then you just reach out or do you hit up people you connect with?
JBrock:
It's a little bit of everything- I reach out, I might connect with somebody and if it makes sense, it makes sense. Other times, people refer people to me. If I trust that person enough, I'll reach out to whoever they referred.
I will say, though, I don't make every shot I take with this. Some people have left me on seen. I've been told no. I've been ignored.
Pynnderella:
Who do you want on the panel that you haven't had yet?
JBrock:
My goals right now are Van Lathan, Elliot Wilson,
Big Boi, Rosecrans Vick, Jason Cash, man... the list can go on with that.
Pynnderella:
How do you feel about consistency? You can be here today, and L.A. can grow you tomorrow.
JBrock:
I've struggled with consistency as an adult because I've been trying to find myself. Now that God has blessed me to find myself, I've been able to maintain consistency.
I want people who are successful, but who can share their stories, and be vulnerable for those who want to be where they are.
Pynnderella:
What was the conversation like getting LaRussel on the panel?
JBrock:
Man, he's just coming off of a tour with T-pain, doing some work with Juive.. his run is crazy right now. After I interviewed him, I don't think he was clear that I wanted him on the panel, yet, but once I started organizing everything, I knew I needed to have him up there.
It was just me reaching out and figuring out what I needed to do on my behalf and we locked in.
Pynnderella:
In terms of networking, I always see you outside, how often do you feel like you need to be on the scene to get your brand across?
JBrock:
A LOT! I still have to build relationships and connect with people so being out on the scene is super important. That's really how people get a feel for you.
I just recently met Hitboy on a Rosecrans Vic video shoot, I'd like him on the panel one day, and maybe that will happen with the energy being present.
So, you gotta pop out!
Pynnderella:
As a husband, father, and
JBrock:
I am a provider. I am blessed to be able to make the money to support my family. My wife works her job but when it comes to something we need, I need to be able to take care of that, and I'm blessed to be able to do that.
We had a rough period, financially I was putting all my money into what Clap It Up La was becoming and I was coming home broke and that was frustrating for my wife. I pray we don't go through that again.
The best feeling in the world is being able to take care of my family, they know I got it.
Pynnderella:
I love that. Where do you see JBrock next?
JBrock:
I see myself turning Clap It Up into an entire conference, like Revolt. I see myself continuing these panels, continuing to provide a safe space for experts, in whatever industry they're in.
I don't like sit-down interviews. I'm not into that right now. I want the conversation, in real time, in real life. And that's my interview.
Pynnderella:
After this interview, I was truly looking at things differently. Suddenly there was much more to clap up than what I'd been thinking.
Thanks to Jbrock for creating such a platform.
For more Jbrock content and inspo from Clap It Up follow him at
@JBrockCIU x @ClapItUpLa
Be sure to get your tickets to the next panel 2.22
or the conference in May!!
Stay Inspired,
Pynnderella.
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