Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Webb.
Hi Jordan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Funny enough, I actually started my musical journey back in middle school writing poetry. Growing up, I was enthralled by the way poets used so few words to create entire worlds and how those words could capture the attention of someone even as chatty and scattered as my childhood self. This interest led me to try my hand at poetry by imitating my favorite authors, such as Kahlil Gibran, though my results varied quite a bit the following few years until high school. During this time, I was still being raised in a fairly strict Christian household so my exposure to music was pretty much limited to gospel and R&B, with the occasional late 80s or early 90s Rap hit ringing off on the kitchen radio. Around the middle of my freshman year in high school, I was first introduced to rap music through Lil Wayne’s Drought mixtape series. One of the mixtapes, I believe it was ‘Tha Drought 4’, turned me into the headiest of hip-hop heads almost overnight. I began tearing through internet forums and Datpiff releases to listen to as many songs from the best new and old rappers as I could. Something about hip-hop’s hold on me was infectious and soon rap music dominated every playlist on my iPod nano.
Shortly after starting my sophomore year, I noticed that writing poems as raps helped widen my audience a bit and was also more fun for me creatively. However, I was still too afraid to take the leap into rapping and started claiming that I would ‘settle for being a songwriter’. Fast forward a few years past that very obvious lie and you’ll find freshly graduated me, proudly coming to terms with my desire to be a rap artist and leaving the fear behind me after a standing ovation from the audience at my senior year talent show, which admittedly seemed like the world at the time.
After graduating high school, I quickly enrolled in Belmont University in Nashville, which was fairly well known for its prominence in the music industry (or at least thats what it said on the brochure, lol). After a year or so of college life, I noticed that not being able to focus on my artistry was causing me to miss quite a few assignments in school and, at the same time, certain lab or class times began interfering with sessions and shows. Thankfully, I met one of Belmont’s best and most down-to-Earth advisors, shoutout to Dave Tough, who very bluntly told me that dropping out maybe in my best interest.
Needless to say, I followed his advice and hit the road almost immediately after dropping out, playing shows in and around Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. I later joined and left several art collectives around Nashville, all in an attempt to build a platform with a reliable team. Even though none of the collective experiences panned out, I learned many valuable lessons and realized that there was much more beyond the dirt roads and slow lifestyles I had grown accustomed to in Nashville.
A few years after dropping out and dozens of shows later, I was faced with another decision. Should I stay in Nashville and try to build a rap career in a city designed to actively oppress Black music or accept a new job in the Bay Area and use it to jumpstart my rap career on the West coast?
Well, as you can see, I clearly chose the latter option, moving to the Bay Area just a few months after the decision was made. Whilst living in Oakland, I was dealing with work pressure at this new job from a racist manager, all the while struggling to establish musical roots in the city. Lo and behold, a few months into the job, that same manager’s very obvious attempt to set me up to be fired backfired and allowed me to start making preparations to depart that toxic work environment and get back to my passion. A week after leaving the company, I hit open mics all over the East Bay in an attempt to expand back into my musical career ambitions and was met with nothing but love, warmth and respect.
Thanks to all of the amazing people I met and spaces I traversed, I grew to love the West Coast culture and all of the Black and People of Culture locals (who deserve far more love, funding and recognition than they get credit for). And I was even able to get in touch with my musical roots through Oakland’s heavy emphasis on Black poetic culture.
Since living in LA, I’ve been completely honed in on my musical artistry, with occasional life breaks to build other facets of my entertainment career such as modeling and acting. Each day I’m able to write songs, whether for myself, clients or a publication, and create in spaces with people who truly love what they do in masterful ways. It’s only been a little over a year, but I’ve already written three albums worth of music to be released in 2022 and am in the midst of working on my debut solo album. As you can probably tell, my journey is far from over.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’m no stranger to the rough roads of life, that’s for sure. Along my path, I’ve faced and conquered homelessness, overcome health challenges from surgery complications, narrowly dodged lovers trying to lock me down with a child (per their own words), stood my ground against a racist company in a lawsuit, had extremely difficult and formative discussions with family members and friends, performed in front of all-white audiences, performed in front of an empty room (several times haha), lost opportunities due to my own stubbornness or lack of perspective, chased after people who never even loved themselves, got my heart broken repeatedly while still keeping the capacity to love, and have reconnected with the side of my family that I hadn’t known since my birth.
None of these challenges was easier to face than any other one and I firmly believe that my life, music and business acumen would be nowhere close to this refined without having faced these obstacles.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Rap artist and songwriter of ten years, as well as an actor and model of 14 years. I specialize in making quality music and lacing my entertainment work with relatability and authenticity. I’m pretty well known for writing verses with a quick turnaround time and being myself no matter the circumstance, which for me usually translates to a more precise and down to earth vibe that retains an air of light and laughter.
As far as what sets me apart from others? That’d have to be my voice and songwriting abilities. My voice often takes on a life of its own, especially in my newer songs, while my songwriting abilities are really what I’d call my best attempt to channel and reflect the Divine.
I’d also like to add that I’m a firm believer in the genuine nature of my positive outlook helping set me apart from the rest. I love to inspire those around me and am blessed to be frequently meeting incredible and dedicated artists who I can be inspired by and believe in on more than just a musical level.
Any big plans?
I know it’s a bit cliche but the future is really looking brighter than ever! I’m releasing a new single and music video with Inglewood rapper & producer Nick Bison in about a month. I also have a few feature verses releasing on some friend’s albums so definitely keep an eye on artists like Adoni, Vny. and Namir Blade!
Looking ahead to 2022, I have two projects slated to release, including a collaboration album with Texas-based producer and animator SPELLWRKS. Additionally, I’m planning to release several music videos, as well as a solo-EP which will be arriving later in the year, also with its own accompanying set of unique visuals. I’m really looking forward to being able to show you all the music and visuals that I’ve been working on for the last year or so!
Pricing:
- Verses $400
- Modeling $75/hr
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: linktr.ee/reallyjordanwebb
- Instagram: instagram.com/reallyjordanwebb
- Twitter: twitter.com/itsjordanwebb
- SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/reallyjordanwebb
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4OxllqZ9ZBTS6ppofkdsIC?si=Ws4m3dq2T3GnuL85LOFPbg&dl_branch=1
Image Credits:
Jose Chepe (in-studio shots), Laiken Joy (outdoor shots), Joel Davis (performance shots)
