Clayt, born Clayton Duncan, is a Virginia native hailing from Newport News. Growing up downtown, an area usually associated with crime and poverty, he first discovered his sense of ambition from playing basketball. Although Clayt can recall singing Michael Jackson in his living room, and being a class clown as long as he can remember, a career in entertainment never crossed his mind. Hometown heroes such as Allen Iverson and Michael Vick influenced many kids like Clayt to pursue a similar career in sports, but as he grew older he found himself falling in love with the art of rhyme instead. It started with just wanting to recite lyrics from legendary wordsmiths such as Nas and Eminem, but before he knew it he started creating his own lines for others to know by heart. What was once a hobby eventually grew into a passion, an obsession even. As Clayt has continued to evolve into the artist he is today, he’s found that his mission has become to inspire people to believe in themselves, and focus on the highs rather than the lows. His overall goal is to encourage others to embrace their own passions, and establish an art culture in Virginia that he felt was missing in his youth. Clayt is not only rapper, but an inspirational figure and pioneer for his city.
