Today we’d like to introduce you to Kamal Wilson.
Hi Kamal, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The younger sibling of two, I grew up observant, inquisitive and tenacious, always ready to compete. Sports were my outlet for this drive for 14 straight years until injuries forced me off the court and field and in that time I realized not only that I loved competition more than I loved any game, but my burning passion was music. Music was ever-present — I had gotten a pair of Beats headphones for my 14th birthday and it was as if they were glued to my head, even during class. I wrote my first rap at 11, trying to be like my older brother who I would always freestyle back and forth with. On Sundays while cleaning, mainly jazz and r&b permeated within the walls of wherever we called home, my parents were also more into the pro-black era of 90s rap so I would have to sneak to listen to the gaudy, ungodly rap of the time.
I’m from Orange County, California, a place most young black men would probably not be in a rush to “claim”, out of fear of judgment or seeming inherently corny or weak. What’s crazy is I used to just say I was from all over California because I did move 9 times in my childhood and I did live in Northern California for a couple of years here and Long Beach for a stint there but the overwhelming majority of my rearing was spent between 6 cities in Orange County. That hesitancy to live my truth and blatant disregard for the countless hours spent hustling my parents endured to afford me what they didn’t have, was me being exactly what I sought so hard to avoid—insecure, weak and corny.
I moved to LA at 19, washing cars and cleaning air bnbs to try to keep my head above water. After struggling through that, I then began working in the motion picture industry as a set lighting technician, and that has given me the breathing room to immerse myself in my art more.
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?
My road has been nothing short of a perfect storm. Every tribulation and trial has lead me to exactly where I need to be, and for that I am grateful, but that doesn’t necessarily make it easy in the moment though.
Without the physical trials and tribulations, I went through in sports, I probably would have never made the transition into music.
Without washing cars and AirBnBs I wouldn’t have met my core friend and collaborator group that I am still presently a part of.
Without the relationship that consumed so much of my time and energy when I moved to LA (and it ending), I wouldn’t have had the experience to speak on the topic from an adult perspective.
Dealing with my older brother having mental health struggles and being incarcerated multiple times over the last ten years has forced me to mature faster than I probably would have otherwise. It also caused me to stop following and form my own identity when I started seeing things I had no desire to emulate.
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 specialize as a rapper, singer, songwriter and producer, but I also delve into the acting and modeling world pretty regularly. I am easily most proud of the amount of work, time and commitment I put into my craft and the fact that I have no desire in the “quick route”— I will live and succeed as Kamal Wilson, and that is also what sets me apart from others. The amount of different viewpoints and ideas I am able to convey successfully is very rare. I genuinely believe I can thrive in any world because I’ve lived in most of them!
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I firmly believe in building genuine connections because they are more fruitful and more long-lasting. Knowing the difference between who you would consider a friend and who you would consider an associate is also very important. Finding meaningful, symbiotic, mutually beneficial and fruitful connections stem from you presenting as your genuine self and letting whoever actually gravitates to you do that. It may not always be what you expected or were looking for but it will be solidly founded and often times longer lasting and better for you. In this day and age there is more success and access than ever, so finding your lane is also much more feasible. Lastly, I don’t believe in aligning with people strictly because of their success because you will more often than not be able to maintain the relationship if it has no solid foundation. Most fallouts are not friendly and becoming enemies with people more successful than you is the exact opposite of networking.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/kamalknows?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/kamalknows_
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCYErSj4xQoSjRrYyhWbYB-w
- SoundCloud: https://m.soundcloud.com/kamalknows
Image Credits
Chauntice Green, Macy Bryant, Jon Carter, Anthony Freeman,
