Josiah Bruny shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Josiah, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me always starts with grounding myself. I dedicate my first hour to meditation and exercise; it’s my way of clearing my mind, centering my spirit, and energizing my body before the day really begins. That quiet time allows me to set the tone and focus on gratitude and intention. After that, I dive into my work by breaking things down into small, manageable goals. Whether it’s advancing Music Changing Lives, developing partnerships, or mapping out new projects, I’ve learned that tackling consistent, smaller goals each day is what leads to major breakthroughs over time.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Josiah Bruny, an Altadena native who was raised by my single mother, Granada Crawford, while she was still finishing her senior year at USC. Growing up, I had the blessing of being placed in GATE classes, but I also quickly realized how deeply the wealth gap was tied to skin tone and opportunity. That awareness, mixed with the environment around me, led me down a path into gang life. By the 6th grade, I had been expelled from all of Los Angeles County schools, and my life spiraled downhill through my teenage years.
Everything shifted when I turned 18 and became a father. The birth of my son, Messiah, gave me the clarity and determination to change my ways and create a better future. That journey of transformation eventually led me to found Music Changing Lives, a nonprofit that uses music, art, and entrepreneurship to inspire youth and uplift communities. What makes us unique is that we don’t just teach skills; we help people rewrite their stories, just like I had to rewrite mine. Today, we’re not only creating safe spaces for young people to thrive but also building community gardens, murals, and initiatives that close the gaps I experienced firsthand.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Around the age of 16, I stepped into a new phase of my life as a promoter for Priority Records. I became one of the youngest in the industry and had the privilege of working on projects for legends like Ice Cube, Master P, and so many others. At that point, I felt unstoppable. A few years in, though, a childhood friend asked me to help manage his career and promote his record. My gut told me to walk away, but I ignored it, and that decision changed everything.
I ended up in Solano County Jail, falsely accused of stealing a girl’s purse. I was completely innocent, but I still had to fight for my freedom for seven long months. During that time, I lost my credibility, my connections and had to start from scratch. In maximum security, locked down 23 hours a day with one hour for recreation and phone calls, I would sit in my cell listening to trains pass by and praying for a second chance.
In that solitude, I had a life-changing epiphany. It felt like God was speaking directly to me, telling me I had a choice: either follow Him and use my life to teach and do good, or keep living for myself and be violently uprooted. I spoke back to Him as if He was sitting right there, telling Him what I wanted, to be resourceful, to change my community, and yes, to still shine while doing it. The only thing that saved me from a “three strikes” sentence was the video evidence showing me selling CDs at a gas pump, then stepping in to stop the real culprit and calm the situation.
That moment reset the course of my life. Fast forward 26 years, and the rest is history. I owe everything to the Most High for showing me that I am enough, not a monster, but a man made in His image, with the power to shape my destiny. That realization still guides every step I take.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me patience and faith in a way success never could. My grandmother, Odette Leon, rest her soul, used to tell us, “One day for me, one day for you.” She reminded me never to be discouraged, because if something is truly meant for you, it will come in due time.
When you’re going through hard times, you learn resilience, humility, and how to keep moving forward even when nothing seems to be going your way. Success is rewarding, but it can make you forget the grind and the lessons that come from struggle. Suffering forced me to lean into my faith, to trust timing, and to understand that setbacks are often setups for something greater. That wisdom continues to carry me, reminding me that everything I’m working toward will unfold exactly when it’s supposed to.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
The cultural value I protect at all costs is community. For me, community means lifting as we climb, creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and supported, no matter their background. I grew up understanding what it felt like to be left out or written off, and I promised myself I’d never let the people around me feel that way if I could help it.
In everything I do, whether through Music Changing Lives, our gardens, murals, or youth programs, I protect the value of togetherness, love, and collective growth. It’s not just about individual success; it’s about building something that the whole community can stand on and be proud of. That value is non-negotiable for me, and it’s what guides how I live and lead. And always reminding myself we are our ancestors’ wildest dreams.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m doing what I was born to do. For a long time, I followed what the streets, the industry, and even survival told me to do. But through struggle, setbacks, and God’s voice in my life, I realized my purpose was much bigger than chasing what others expected of me.
I was born to create, to uplift, and to use music, art, and entrepreneurship as tools to transform lives, including my own. What I do today through Music Changing Lives isn’t just a career; it’s my calling. Every program, every mural, every youth we work with is proof that I’m walking in what I was designed to do, not what the world tried to box me into.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.musicchanginglives.org
- Instagram: @musicchanginglives
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josiahbruny/
- Twitter: @musicchanging
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MusicChangingLivesIE/
- Youtube: [email protected]
- Soundcloud: [email protected]
Image Credits
Josiah Bruny Music Changing Lives CEO
