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Google PlayWhat is a culture critic? A phrase not yet solidified in the dictionary, but according to Wikipedia, it’s a person who critiques a given culture. Media magnate Jason Lee refers to himself as such, so much so that he says he trademarked the tagline.
If there’s any more indication of Lee’s eminent impact on current culture, it would be his placement on our Hip Hop Media Power Ranking list. Coming in at No. 11, Lee has solidified himself as a top contender when it comes to dishing out exclusive celebrity content the public wants. And his rise has been strategic.
“What I love about coming to Complex is that when you talk about my story, it doesn’t start with Love & Hip Hop,” Lee says. “That’s when the world became familiar with who I was because it was such a huge show. And I have this love-and-hate relationship with that. Because yes, I was put in front of millions of people every week, and I was able to launch a business and grow a $50 million brand from Instagram and a reality show. But when you look at what I’ve accomplished, and when you look at all the different rooms I’ve been in or tables that I’ve built for people who have the culture to eat at and share with me, it’s almost in a way to discredit the contribution to the culture that I’ve given.”
In the current media world, attention is a commodity; being able to keep the public watching is a gift, and Lee has shown us his talent for the sport for nearly a decade. And now, in partnership with REVOLT TV, The Jason Lee Show debuted in January, marking a new chapter for the Hollywood Unlocked CEO. With the first guest being his close friend Cardi B, Lee has consistently delivered viral content with interviews from Blac Chyna, Remy Ma, NLE Choppa, and more.
The public has had a front-row seat watching Lee turn his dreams of being a media mogul into reality. In a world where viewers want to know everything about their favorite creators, he adheres perfectly to that, putting his journey on display and transforming it into exciting content for public consumption.
“Once you get consumers to invest in you as a brand and spend their hard-earned money, you have an obligation to be transparent with them,” he tells Complex. “And you know, people want the money and fame, but they don’t want the pressure. Sometimes it comes with that. I don’t care. I want it all.”
Jason Lee pulled up to our Manhattan office to discuss what viewers can expect from his new show, his close bond with Cardi B and Rihanna, what went down with Queen Elizabeth, working for Kanye, and more.
The interview below is lightly edited for clarity.
