Jacques Slade On “Bear Witness, Take Action 3,” Songwriting, “Walk Hard,” Golf, Sneakers & More

YouTube Originals are award-winning series, specials and livestream events for YouTube’s 2 billion active monthly users that entertain, inspire, connect and educate audiences through authentic storytelling from YouTube creators, music artists and celebrities. By tapping into the platform’s growing global community, fan engagement product capabilities, and innovative content, YouTube Originals amplify the most popular and unique aspects of YouTube. Recently, YouTube Originals announced the lineup of YouTube creators, public figures, activists and influential voices for Bear Witness, Take Action 3, a 6-part special event series hosted by Common and Keke Palmer.

The Bear Witness, Take Action 3 episode titled “Sole Swap with Jacques Slade” is presented by Jacques Slade. Slade, one of the most well-known and respected voices in the world of sneakers — to name only one of his areas of expertise and career-related success — leaves his shoe collection behind to step into the (metaphorical) shoes of a very engaging personality. For this episode, he meets up with musical artist and burgeoning social activist Tinashe. Through the lens of this day-in-the-life experience, Slade finds out what it takes for Tinashe to keep creative control over her art, address her fears head on, and live her (best) life as a highly-visible advocate for global social justice.

On December 15, 2021, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jacques Slade via Zoom, as embedded below. Beyond Bear Witness, Take Action 3, we spoke about his background as writing hip-hop tracks for film and television, YouTube, and future projects. More on Slade can be found here, here and here.

SHARE ON FACEBOOK SHARE ON TWITTER

Tags: Bear Witness, community, Jacques Slade, Kustoo, Take Action 3, Tinashe, Walk Hard, Youtube

About the Author

Darren Paltrowitz Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident with over 20 years of entertainment industry experience. He began working around the music business as a teenager, interning for the manager of his then-favorite band Superdrag. Since then, he has worked with a wide array of artists including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham, Loudness, Rachael Yamagata, and Amanda Palmer. Darren's writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the New York Daily News, Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, and the Jewish Journal. Beyond being "Editor At Large" for The Hype Magazine, Darren is also the host of weekly "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" series, which airs on dozens on television and digital networks. He has also co-authored 2 published books, 2018's "Pocket Change: Your Happy Money" (Book Web Publishing) and 2019's "Good Advice From Professional Wrestling" (6623 Press), and co-hosts the world's only known podcast about David Lee Roth, "The DLR Cast."