Former Motown Records recording artists Clarence KD McNair Gives Insightful Message at Mayor Brandon M. Scott Youth Summit

On July 28, 2022, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott hosted his second annual Youth Summit to connect youth with local entrepreneurs and provide skills for their entrepreneurship or career journey. Getting to the Bag: The Pathways to Business, Entrepreneurship, and Career Development in Baltimore had interactive breakout sessions, panel discussions, professional development activities, and more. Panelists included Deputy Mayor Ted Carter, Marc Broady, and Clarence "KD" McNair. "It was an honor to receive the invitation from the Mayor's office to give encouraging words to our youth," McNair said. "It was important for me to discuss how to overcome the challenges in business and  life." McNair is a Baltimore, Maryland native who began his career as a recording artist and producer in his early teenage years. He landed a music contract with his mother's help at Motown Records. KD was a part of Prophet Jones. Prophet Jones was an hip-hop\R&B group from Washington, D.C. that consisted of Patrick “P” Rowe, Kevin “K.D.” Jackson, Tony “Hollywood” Dumas and Jerome “Goldee” Lattisaw (who is also known as the brother of R&B singer Stacy Lattisaw). This opportunity led his music group to work with Grammy-awarded music producers. In November 2019, McNair released his first book "Give It One More Try," to shed light on the importance of mental fitness. He shares the depths of his early traumatic experiences and how he found ways to push for the life he has now. "Most of our challenges sometimes start at home," McNair said. "Maybe you want to change your family's future, but there are so many challenges seeking to influence self-doubt. Remember to find value in what's worth the challenges to stay motivated to achieve your goals." McNair continued his message by expressing the power of mentorship. He believes that if he realized the value of mentorship as a recording artist, he could have better maximized his opportunities during his career. Today, he is a successful brand architect and author who advocates for programs that help the youth "get ready for obstacles in the world." Many of his teachings focus on mental health and positive solutions for minorities.