Daily Inspiration: Meet Jaumal Cade

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaumal Cade.

Hi Jaumal, 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?
My name is Jaumal T. Cade, also known as YNB JC. I’m a recording artist, audio engineer, writer, and youth mentor from Los Angeles. My story is really about identity, survival, growth, and learning how to turn pain into purpose.

I was adopted at two years old after experiencing severe abuse as an infant, but I did not fully learn or understand that part of my story until I got older. Growing up, I always felt different in ways I could not explain at the time. I was smart academically and placed in magnet programs early on, but I also struggled with anger, instability, and feeling misunderstood. A lot of my younger years were spent trying to understand who I was while also reacting to everything happening around me.

As a teenager, I became involved in the streets and started living from a survival mindset. At fourteen, I ran away and experienced homelessness for a short period around Hollywood. Later on, I faced juvenile incarceration, and that became one of the biggest turning points in my life because it forced me to slow down and really reflect on the direction my life was heading.

Music became one of the main things that helped me process life. What started as expression eventually became purpose. I began taking music seriously because it gave me a way to tell my story honestly and connect with people who may have experienced similar things in their own lives.

Another major turning point for me was working at The Marathon Clothing store. Being around that environment showed me something bigger than survival. It showed me ownership, leadership, discipline, culture, and the importance of building something meaningful for your community. Seeing the impact Nipsey Hussle had on people in real time expanded the way I saw my own future and made me think differently about legacy, growth, and purpose.

Over time, I started transitioning more into community work, mentorship, engineering, and public speaking. Today, I work with organizations and youth programs including Jail Guitar Doors, the CAPO Center, and other community based initiatives that support system impacted and formerly incarcerated youth through music, podcasting, mentorship, and creative expression.

Alongside my music career, I’m also developing my memoir series, Before I Knew My Name, which focuses on identity, survival, healing, and growth. Everything I do now comes from the same mission, showing people that where you start does not have to determine where you finish.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. A lot of the struggles in my life started early and followed me into different stages of my growth.

One of my biggest struggles was identity. Even before I fully understood my adoption story, I carried a feeling of disconnection and confusion about where I belonged. I dealt with anger at a young age and often reacted to life before I fully understood what I was feeling emotionally.

As a teenager, I went through a period where I became heavily influenced by my environment and the streets around me. I experienced instability at home, homelessness at fourteen, violence, multiple dangerous situations, and eventually juvenile incarceration. A lot of those experiences forced me to grow up quickly and constantly live in survival mode.

Another challenge was learning how to grow while coming from environments that do not always encourage growth. Sometimes people only know the older version of you and struggle to accept who you are becoming. Learning discipline, patience, consistency, and self awareness has been a major part of my journey.

Even creatively, the journey has not been easy. I started recording music on my phone using Apple earbuds hanging from a closet rack as a microphone while teaching myself through trial and error. Over time, I kept building, learning, and improving until I eventually became someone other artists came to for recording and engineering.

Looking back now, I think every struggle gave me perspective. The experiences I survived helped shape my purpose and helped me realize that life is bigger than just surviving. I learned that your experiences can either break you or become something that helps you grow and help others grow too.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a recording artist, audio engineer, writer, and youth mentor. A lot of my work centers around storytelling, creativity, healing, and helping people turn their experiences into purpose. Through music, mentorship, podcasting, engineering, and public speaking, I try to create spaces where people feel understood, inspired, and motivated to grow.

As an artist, one thing that sets me apart is my versatility and authenticity. I never wanted to limit myself to one type of music or one type of message. I enjoy creating music that feels human and honest, whether that is storytelling records, emotional records, motivational music, street records, faith based music, or music focused on personal growth and reflection. I always want my work to connect with people in a real way.

I’m also very proud of my journey in audio engineering because I truly started from almost nothing. I taught myself step by step and stayed committed to improving. Now I’m in a position where artists trust me to help shape their music, and I’m also able to teach youth the same creative skills that helped me find direction in my own life.

Working with youth has become one of the most meaningful parts of my journey. A lot of the young people I work with do not just see me as an artist. They see me as somebody they can relate to and talk to honestly because I come from similar experiences. Being able to inspire youth while continuing to grow myself is something I never take for granted.

Honestly, what I’m most proud of is the fact that I turned my life into something meaningful. The younger version of me dreamed about becoming an artist, writing books, speaking on stages, helping people, and creating impact through creativity. Now I’m living that reality step by step, and I’m grateful for every opportunity to keep growing and pouring back into others.

What’s next?
My plans for the future are much bigger than just building a music career. I want to continue growing as an artist, releasing more music, expanding my storytelling, and continuing my memoir series, but I also want to build platforms and opportunities that help other people grow too.

One of my biggest goals is to eventually create my own artist development focused record label. I do not want to build a label that simply profits off artists. I want to build something that genuinely invests into people and helps them become the best version of themselves creatively, professionally, and personally. I want to help artists develop their skills, confidence, discipline, and understanding of the industry while also protecting their individuality and purpose.

I also plan to eventually create my own nonprofit organization focused on mental health, healing, mentorship, and creative development for youth and system impacted individuals. A lot of the work I do now has shown me how powerful creativity, guidance, and community can be in changing someone’s life. I want to continue creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and supported.

At the core of everything, my plans for the future are really about giving to the future. I want my life, my music, my story, and my work to leave behind something meaningful that helps the next generation grow further than mine did.

Pricing:

• Recording Sessions Available Upon Inquiry
• Audio Engineering and Mixing Services Available
• Speaking Engagements and Youth Panels Available for Booking
• Artist Development and Creative Mentorship Available

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayceethagreat/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@jayceethagreat1?si=gO0RO8qHuQU0WUHz
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/ynbjc
• Other: https://songwhip.com/ynbjc

Image Credits
Images courtesy of Jaumal T. Cade (YNB JC). All photos used with permission.