The Story of Function Philly | How Robb & JB Built Their Brand S1. Ep 11

In this episode of Beyond the Brand, Mejire Arijaje sits down with Robb and JB — the creative minds behind Function Philly, one of the most disruptive and culturally impactful event collectives shaping the future of Philly nightlife. Known for blending music, visual art, and intentional community-building, Rob and JB are two full-time creatives who turned a DIY party concept into a full-blown movement — partnering with brands like Bacardi, selling out venues like TLA, and redefining what it means to “curate a vibe.”

Robb and JB open up about how Function started from a backyard with no budget and no blueprint — just energy, trust, and a shared vision. They talk about their early days building the Function brand from scratch, why they value safe spaces over hype, and the mindset shift that helped them scale from one-night events to citywide collaborations.

They dive into the struggles of navigating Philly’s nightlife ecosystem, including venue politics, minimum spend requirements, and access barriers that make it hard for Black creators to thrive. They also speak on why social media virality isn’t their priority — and how the real value lies in consistent energy, real-world presence, and community-first experiences.

From curating lighting, sound, visuals, and full activations — to battling burnout and finding alignment as business partners — Robb and JB break down what it really takes to run a creative platform with integrity. They speak candidly about the moments they wanted to quit, the challenges of fair pay in creative work, and why “knowing your worth” is more than just a hashtag.

Robb shares how his background in DJing and brand visuals shaped Function’s aesthetic identity, while JB discusses his transition from freelance to full-time community builder, and the learning curve of managing team dynamics while growing fast.

They also discuss:

How they landed brand deals with Bacardi

Scaling from Ulana to TLA with no industry connections

The difference between throwing a party and building an ecosystem

Creating memorable experiences without relying on algorithms

The role Philly plays in both limiting and inspiring creativity

What’s coming next for Function in the summer and beyond

This episode is packed with game — not just about nightlife or events, but about creative ownership, partnership, mental health, and scaling your vision without selling your soul.

If you're building something from the ground up and want to understand how to blend culture, community, and brand integrity — this is one conversation you don’t want to miss.

#BeyondTheBrand #FunctionPhilly #PhillyEvents #CreativeBusiness #BlackOwned #CultureCurators #PhillyNightlife #BrandBuilding

🎟️ Follow Function Philly:

Follow Robb Here   / robblim  
Follow John here   / johnalexanderbrown  
Follow The Function PHL   / functionphl   for more events
Watch The Episode Here    • The Story of Function Philly | How Robb & ...  

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About Beyond the Brand:
Beyond the Brand is a sit-down interview series hosted by entrepreneur and creative strategist Mejire Arijaje. Each week, Mejire connects with entrepreneurs, artists, and brand builders who are making an impact in culture and community — offering deep-dive conversations on identity, purpose, growth, and doing business your own way.

Subscribe now and never miss a conversation that might change the way you see your brand — and yourself.


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