Life deals everyone a different hand, and it is not always a pleasant one – some individuals have had to overcome challenging circumstances on their journey to success. Kick 5000 is one of such people and, having found success in music, now works to help others like him overcome their obstacles.
Born in Bronx, New York, Jamaal Jackson, better known by his stage name, “Kick 5000,” is a Jamaican American artist, songwriter, and the CEO of Goonsville Entertainment LLC – an independent record label based in Miami, Florida. He is known for his intense and untamed style, coupled with the lyrical fluidity he brings to the music scene.
Kick 5000’s family had migrated to Miami while he was still an infant, and the 38-year-old artist had a very troubled and challenging childhood. His father died when he was two years old, and things began spiraling from then onwards. By the time he was 13, his older brother had ended up on the wrong side of the law and was sentenced to jail for life. Seeming unable to catch a break, at 15, he lost his mum as well and with no immediate family available to assume responsibility for him, Kick 5000 and his siblings were taken into custody by the state.
Despite all he was going through, Kick 5000 somehow avoided being drowned by his experiences. He quickly learned to develop a tough exterior and an unrelenting drive that would serve him well throughout the years. However, it would be a couple more years before he ‘stumbled’ into his love affair with music.
According to the artist, his music journey began with a rather unorthodox approach. About the time he turned 17, he had a friend he regularly made fun of for being a member of a rap group. As a result, kick 5000 would parody the group’s rhymes and verses at every opportunity until the day he was told by the group, “Why don’t you try it since you think it is so easy?” This otherwise superficial challenge became the turning point in his life. He began trying his hand at writing verses in a book just for leisure until he ran into an A&R who acknowledged his talent but pointed out that his lyrics needed to be more refined. Kick 5000 took this as a sign and a wake-up call and set out to tighten his game.
Now furnished with a new-found purpose, Kick 5000 launched full tilt into music – spending countless hours listening to tons of music catalogs, honing his skills and perfecting his melodies on his own. He found his home in Hip Hop, R&B, Rap, and Reggae and has been significantly influenced by the great artists of said genres. Ironically, he eventually joined a rap group known as “The Goons” out of Carol City, Florida.
Leveraging on all his experiences, Kick 5000 started his company Goonsville Entertainment with four of his childhood friends to share his passion for rap, help other independent artists like himself, share their stories with the world, and create music that people can relate to.
“I came from a family history that has stories to tell. My life is a story – a crazy one, and to have the willpower to push through these obstacles is amazing.”
Away from music, he also has interests in art and fashion and has begun laying the groundwork to incorporate it all under one brand.
In the coming years, Kick 5000 aims to grow Goonsville Entertainment into one of the industry’s premier record labels and become a household name in the Rap and Hip Hop space.
Learn more about Kick 5000 and by visiting Instagram or his website. His music can be found on YouTube and all major music streaming platforms.
