Joseph Patel
Oscar-winning filmmaker, producer, and journalist Joseph Patel joins Jeffrey Sledge for a deep, honest, and inspiring conversation about music, media, and finding your true voice.
Patel shares his journey from growing up in the Bay Area to becoming a key part of the college radio and underground hip-hop scenes at UC Davis—where he connected with legends like DJ Shadow and Blackalicious. He opens up about his rise through the industry, from early music journalism to producing groundbreaking content at MTV, including the acclaimed My Block series.
Joseph also talks about teaming up with Questlove to create Summer of Soul, the award-winning documentary that unearthed the lost history of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival—and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
Now, he's turning his lens toward the next chapter: directing a documentary on the legendary J Dilla.
🎧 This one’s for the culture, the creators, and anyone chasing the real.
