The media focused on him while he focused on the entire band. I like that.

It's almost as if he has an alter ego...He has a bold confidence when he performs and a quiet humility when he speaks...

"look at dat boy john" LMAOO MANN

Vanilla Funk= hard worker, humble, regular person just like the rest of us.......but DAYUM can he move WOOOO.

Legend has it his first meal out the womb was dab of hotsauce and potato salad

He's a humble individual, they're all great!! Young!! People!

Much respect to the fact that he acknowledges he wouldn't be the impressive drum major he is without his band. Love it!

Omg the fact that he just cares about the notoriety of the band and school 💕

I like that he acknowledged his band mates more than once and said "their" hard work has paid off with this.

This young man is the definition of "ONE BAND...ONE SOUND"....loling for the people who get where I got this phrase from🤭

He was raised right with love and respect.

Good job mom and dad you all have raised a very humbled person and that us what I admire. He's the shiznit. Yep, I said it. Gone baby do your thang.

He seems like a really nice young man. No big ego, respects his team and they all do one hell of a job.

White man can dance. I love everyone breaking the stereotypes. All of them from every people, every race, every country, and every gender.

He's a cutie pie on his way to a very Blessed n success ful life! 🎓🔰📚📔

He's now a Drum Major at ASU! Vanilla Funk is still doing his thing Congrats!

He's bout to get a full ride to JSU. Watch him be the head drum major of the Boom in a couple years

It's not how you look, it's what you can do that truly sets you apart.

I love how humble he is. I love that he doesn't sit back and take the credit but acknowledges the hard work of his band mates.

Justin is a great roll model and probably doesn't even know it ... he's loving what he's doing ... and it shows.

Notice he says “we”. Exactly what you hope to see in a leader. Wonderful skills, band, and obvious leadership from his teachers and parents.

There is one thing that is rarely talked about in the current disputes. This guy is joyfully sharing his identity with everyone else, as a student, as an American, and as a young man who wants to do something good and exciting. And the comrades are sharing back. They felt he is humble and serious. So yeah, this gives hope.

Came across this band by chance and I find the whole thing mesmerising, the athleticism stamina and dedication is simply amazing. I’ve watched a bunch of videos of this band and I find the whole thing so uplifting including the many positive comments posted. Love from France 👏👏👏

There is no color when you show you love what you do!!!!!!❤❤❤❤❤🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️he is good!!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

AND he's in Kappa league. Keep an eye on him. mad respect.

Love it. In these crazy times, I love to see racial barriers being broken. We are humans first. It is only skin. We all bleed red. Mad props to this brother.

What a cutie! I love this young man. He is humble and fair to his fellow band members and respected by all. He brings passion and virtuosity to his work, stands out in an all black college, but never lets his ethnic difference be a barrier of any kind. What a truly great human being! I hope Justin keeps his humility. When you are arrogant and narcissistic as so many people today are, you lose your ability to learn and grow. I admire and respect this young man. Great moves, Justin! By the way, I love watching the entire band. The other drum majors, the young women, the band musicians... their music and dance moves fill me with energy and joy. Way to go, Alabama! Greetings from California!

WE LOVE VANILLA FUNK!!! What a sweet, endearing name from his band mates. Love this...

Yeah he’s a cool dude, but so are those other three boys and that awesome Band!!! But I am sure a Vanilla Fan!!!!!!

This is the best story I've heard for the past 1 1/2 years!!!! Content of one's character -- One Race, the Human Race!!

He is good! There has been some soul food in this young man's life!

I love it. Great leadership & character. Great band. Great skills. He gives credit to entire band, pays homage to previous leaders, and remains humble... Again, I love it. God bless the school, the entire band, and the adults that influenced them.🙏🏾

I love watching him!

What a great young man. I love the energy and the union of the entire band. Justin seems to have his head on straight. I love how he makes sure the entire band is credited and honored.

WE...Is the key word. What a selfless and humbled young man who didnt make it about himself

I love how he stays humble 😇

He is Humbled and does recognize without his band mates he wouldn’t have this much attention….What a Great Young Man

What a solid kid. It's his work ethic and commitment to the whole band....outstanding!

I really do hope he gets accepted to Alamaba university where Janae is the dancer in the band and if he spices up the drum majors' rountines or moves there, my goodness, it'd be a power dual for the band!

I Love it!!! He just stepped right into his authority with all humbleness!!! He is using his God given talent and its Beautiful

Blue-Eyed Soul...Say what you want about black folks but we are the most accepting people in the world. If you feel us & can rock with us then come on then

TO THE SKY, JUSTIN!!! ❤️😭❤️😆❤️😭😆❤️😆😝😝❤️😆😝❤️❤️😝😆😆😭❤️😭 KEEP DOING YOU VANILLA FUNK!!!! ✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿

He’s fantastic! And so is the band! Love stories like this.

This Kid puts his Heart into performance.

Now that's how you tell a story good job!

I like the fact that is stated " without this band I wouldn't be this viral sensation" Humility at its best!!

When you put in all that work together ! You're one big family. Those outside see it in a different way than the kid's see it. They were all raised right, shout out to all of them band members and school staff.

Kudos to him for acknowledging that success takes a team

I came across him by accident watching KZfaq. Wow! Amazing.

Justin proved his worth!! He's a Team Player and hard worker.....made respect👍🏾...No Race made skills👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾💯

He's so sweet & humble ❤️ God bless you hunnie 🙏

Very talented. I hope he got into the school of his dreams and is the best there as well. I appreciated how he credited Afro Americans as well. We’re so creative and our culture is beautiful.

To the skyyy Justin....... Yessssss 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 keep up the good work

Justin, I wish you success and good luck in your life. I guess it wasn't easy to become a drum major. You did great! I'm your fan from Russia 🇷🇺 💯 👍

I hope he continues this in college because any college would be lucky to have him. Humble young man that puts his heart into his work

Very proud of him..he is doing something positive and enjoying it ..and with humility!👏👏

He is absolutely amazing

All the way from Florida!!! I’ve been watching this band and this young man for awhile !!!!! 💪🏾❤️❤️

Such an amazing story. My boy Justin got it going on. The whole band is just EXCELLENT 👍👍🏾🥁

A great drum major and humble. He will be a great leader.

I watched him for an hour last night. I had not seen him or anything like this before. I did see all of these kids were talented!

What makes Justin great is him thinking of his teammates first acknowledging those who came before him that taught him those skills. Keep it up stay humble beware of the media bc the have fork tongues . May God protection & Blessing be on you & your teammates ❤❤❤

Love this band and Justin.

Woow..I'm your biggest fan bro.. this is an amazing young man. He's unique in his style and leadership. He puts the band before himself. That is heart bro. God bless you Justin, and reach for the sky bro.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS VANILLA FUNK

I love this young white boy, he is a natural born leader....God, bless him

He does a great job.He is so natural.

Oh my! I am quite impressed. I just happened to run across the videos of you. I first saw you as a drum major for ASU. I wondered how did a short (compared to the other drum majors}, white man get to be a drum major of a predominantly black school? But after watching him, I knew exactly why. So, I wanted to know who this young man was. That's when I found him as head drum major for Jeff Davis High School. First thing I noticed was that he was white in a mostly black school; then his dancing; and finally, best of all, was his dedication , determination, and stamina. Fifty years ago, yes I said fifty, I was the first female drum major in my school's history. Back then we didn't march the way they do now. It has evolved for the better, that's for sure. But I know how hard it is to march for long periods. You have to be in shape, that's for sure. Justin never shows if he's tired. He keeps his form from beginning to end. It's hard people, especially the high knee marching style. I have no idea how much longer he has at ASU, but I plan to watch him as much as possible. Where will he go from here?

I absolutely LOVE this. What a cool young man. He'll definitely head his college marching band. I wouldn't be surprised if he was one of the college drum majors his freshman year. I also love the way he acknowledged the whole band. WELL DONE!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽❤️

I truly Love this kid... so humble

Anything that helps people get along is a good thing.

Well I can tell you one thing! He is one cutie patooty and does a wonderful job. I had watched the first video and so glad that I found this one! ❤ I live right next door in MS. and am so proud for him. The whole band is great! This video was in 2020 and I don't know what school accepted him.

He is a good drum major. The other drum majors are just as good and I hope they all succeed and get the same attention and rewards! Great job band!

Regardless... marching band is HARD AF. I’m glad he said “I wouldn’t be where I am without the whole band and I’m glad we’re getting recognition”. That’s right! Each and every member of that band has a critical role.

A true definition of a LEADER.

Just more proof that music and art can unite.

They were on America's Got Talent few months ago. Their from my city, really talented great folks. Makes you proud. Beautiful integration beautiful 💖also Vanilla Funk has a black girlfriend and they celebrated Loving Day ,when the first interracial marriage between a black woman and white man was allowed by law.

This brought tears yo my eyes. 😢

He is amazing. They definitely put on a show!!!

I love it!! A wonderful young man who has a great dance talent; he’s polite, respectful and full of humility. It doesn’t matter that he’s white. The only thing that matters is that there’s mutual respect and appreciation between everyone in the school. Wonderful video. 👍🏽

I love Justin! To the sky Justin ❤️👍

It’s all about how you do it. You go boy.❤️❤️❤️❤️👍🏼😇

Just can't stop watching this. The whole band is just Superior!!🥁

Thank you to all of those who are part of this program..... You have a fan in new in Connecticut

I like how he said humbly oh wow people are seeing the hard work that “WE” do

Forget his looks, the boy got skills! Do your thing!

This young man is soooo good... I just can not stop watching him March! I am so amazed! Many blessing to him in his future!

The humility is what I adore!!! Your humble-spirit will carry you far; keep going! Simply divine!!!

Omgawsh I just was watching Mardi gras parade here on KZfaq and saw this young man ! Amazing talent !

Cuteness there 😍😊🥰

Go my blue eyed soul brother. If God blessed you with rythmn and soul, flaunt it and share it.

Vanilla Funk is one cool dude and is a team player. He cares about his team mates and what he does.

He don't just talk the talk he walk the walk, don't worry about what some haters gonna say, you keep showing them you got what it take's to be drum major, knowing HBCU you got to bring it but from what I see my my man you got it.!!!🤠😉💪💯

The talent can't be denied.. it is what it is.. if you can kill it, then kill it.. Color dont matter to talent 👍🏾😎👍🏾

Vanilla Funk is the PERFECT name for him! He got this stanky funkiness about him that I LOVE!!!!

I've been watching him. Justin aka Vanilla Funk... I am definitely a fan.

I stumbled onto a video of him marching in a parade about a week ago and have been hooked ever since... He's awesome! He made me pay closer attention to other drum majors from other high schools and colleges, haven't seen any as good as him and his fellow drum majors yet (but I haven't been looking long). It's wonderful to see him march, he doesn't seem intimidated by his surroundings and can keep up with (and even exceeds) his fellow drum majors. Not taking anything away from the other drum majors, they're awesome too!

I love watching this band. Four drum majors all in sink, all in time, all good friends. The band...sounds fantastic and they dance! It's awesome to watch! Kids are great! Love them all!!❤

Thank you white folks for loving our soul, it's addictive!

Togetherness that’s all that matters! Such a humble kid! Some of the adults need to be more like him and his band! making music and dancing is a beautiful thing and it should be shared with the world on a positive level!