From Hollywood High School to Happy Valley, Cameron Jordan (@KidStampede) has come a long way in his music career. Starting in the ninth grade simply “to get girls,” Cameron began taking his rapping as a much more legitimate hobby by the time he came to Penn State.

“In high school, I started writing rhymes here and there, but I didn’t really start taking it seriously until my freshman year when I got my first MacBook,” Jordan said. “That’s when I started making my own beats.”

Now, this senior, majoring in media studies, is trying to make music that relates to everybody.  It must be working because he is nominated for six Penn State Music Awards, including Artist of the Year, Best Rapper, and Best Music Video for “Fading Light.”

Not only does Cameron make his own beats and lyrics, but he also collaborates and helps produce music for other artists, including Penn State’s Marc-jean, Cooley Black, and Tony P. He even has a musical collective back in Los Angeles called Rogve Skuad, comprised of his brother and a few friends from home who are also rappers.

Since 2009, Cameron has released seven mixtapes, including his award nominated Hiroshima. He has also played shows in State College at Rotelli’s, the Phyrst, and the Nittany Block Party, as well as in Los Angeles at the Airliner, 2nd Street Jazz, and El Rey. Some of his upcoming shows include the Penn State Music Awards on February 28 and a performance with Tony P at the Brewery, which is still TBA.

Cameron’s musical influence is very similar to his brand of hip-hop: He doesn’t confine himself to just one genre. He listens to Eminem, Wu Tang Clan, and Jay-Z, but will also listen to bands like Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, and Rage Against the Machine.

As for his style of music, Cameron can be serious at times, but he also enjoys making laid-back or even comical music. The point of his music is to rap about his experiences, as well as the experiences of others.

“I would say that my music is about living your life. Nobody wants to be bounded by ‘what ifs,'” he said. “It’s about saying what you want to say, but meaning it with conviction.”

Listen for yourself on his SoundCloud here!