In Conversation with 16-year-old Richmond-based emcee Jayydon, a standout talent emerging from Kingmakers

KPFA - Hard Knock Radio

New Beginnings: 16-Year-Old Jayydon Debuts Bold, Reflective EP on Hard Knock Radio

A Rising Voice from Richmond
On this special edition of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sat down with 16-year-old Richmond-based emcee Jayydon, a standout talent emerging from the Kingmakers artist development program. With wisdom well beyond his years, Jayydon discussed his creative process, artistic inspiration, and his determination to carve out a lane grounded in authenticity—not stereotypes.

Debut EP ‘New Beginnings’ Drops Friday
Jayydon’s debut EP, New Beginnings, drops Friday, June 6 on Bandcamp, showcasing six tracks that combine lyrical introspection with a mission to uplift. The project is a product of Kingmakers Music and was engineered by Grammy-winner Kevin McCann at Cool Labs in West Oakland.

Not Just an Artist—A Whole Human
Jayydon’s growth as an artist is inseparable from his growth as a person. Guided by Kingmakers director Jahi, he’s been developing not just bars, but character. “We’re not trying to make the best rapper,” said Jahi, “we’re trying to develop better human beings.”

Their first collaboration was a track on environmental justice created with Hip Hop Public Health, tackling issues like climate change and community health through a Black cultural lens. “That was my first time recording,” Jayydon recalled, “and Jahi helped me build confidence from the jump.”

Music with Purpose, Not Posturing
Inspired by the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Lauryn Hill, and KRS-One, Jayydon rejects the pressure to produce songs about violence and materialism. “I just want to speak truth,” he said. “I never lived that street life, so I’m not going to fake it. This EP is me—my struggles, my growth, my healing.”

Tracks like Walls and Mirrors offer inner reflections about breaking mental barriers and silencing self-doubt. The closer, Gratitude, pays homage to the artists who paved the way without receiving their due, connecting today’s youth to Hip Hop’s deeper legacy.

Ownership and Integrity
In a moment that drew laughter and respect, Davey D jokingly offered Jayydon cash, cars, and contracts if he would pivot to rapping about pimping and violence. Jayydon’s firm response: “I’m not in it.” As Jahi noted, “He owns his masters, his publishing. We’re setting him up like Sam Cooke.”

Celebrating the Launch
The album release party will take place Friday from 6–8 PM at Cool Labs (1035 7th St, West Oakland), featuring live performances and the premiere of Jayydon’s new video for Walls, shot at Oakland Tech. Also on deck: the release of Kingmakers Beat Tape Vol. 1 showcasing fellow producers Dyson, Raymond, and Dice.

Jayydon is the Future
At a time when Black youth are often boxed into narrow narratives, Jayydon represents a bold countercurrent—artistic agency, lyrical depth, and cultural integrity. As Jahi puts it, “We’ll look back on this moment 10–20 years from now and say it started right here, in Oakland.”

Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.

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