The beginning of a story is usually its most crucial part; it lays the foundation for everything to come and sets the stage for where the story might lead. Hip-Hop artist Alyst, born Jared Woodson, has always been destined to dominate that stage; from the very beginning, his story was linked with one of the most successful recording artists of all time. Known in childhood as the Recess Rapper, Jared Woodson grew up surrounded by music and quickly developed a deep passion for it. It was a passion that had been passed down to him by musically talented parents. Jared Woodson’s father, a gifted pianist, joined megastar Michael Jackson on tour in the early 1980s, when the superstar’s Thriller album found meteoric success.
That tour grossed over 75 million dollars and traveled the length of the United States and Canada; it also served as a backdrop for Jared Woodson’s childhood, a childhood in which he would discover a passion for the music industry. Jared’s upbringing was immersed in the world of music; not only did his father perform with megastar Michael Jackson, but his mother also worked as a professional singer. Jared shares that he began performing from a young age, and until the family moved to South Carolina when he was eleven years old, he was being raised in Nashville, one of the biggest music capitals in the world. Jared shares that his upbringing influenced his musical aspirations. He explains, “When you grow up in a household where music is nurtured and respected as deeply as it was in mine, you realize that a successful career in the music world is attainable, and you feel encouraged to pursue it.”
Before his success as a recording artist, Jared worked hard to establish himself within the New York music scene and signed with Oscar Sanchez’s label Affluent Records.
When you hear someone’s success story, discovering where it all started can give you enlightening insights into their accomplishments and the heights they have reached.
