Nicki Minaj fans flooded Enterprise Center Wednesday to catch the rapper/singer in action. One of the background dancers performing alongside the award-winning performer is a Vashon High School graduate. The St. Louis native is hoping to be an inspiration.
It was all eyes on Nicki Minaj Wednesday night and part of the crew is a man who knows St. Louis well.
"I love being on tour,” Jamal Green said.
The Barbie World performer has always been one of his favorite artists, but the 32-year-old has accompanied quite a few greats.
"I've worked with Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Kanye West, Chloe and Halle, Lil Nas X, Gwen Stefani,” he listed.
He wants others to know their worldview can expand, just as his did: "I didn't really know much more outside of just St. Louis."
Before taking the stage, Green went back to his former high school, giving away concert tickets and motivating students.
"It doesn't always have to end with college. If you want to be doing anything else in the world, even as far as arts or whatever, there are other ways you can go about living the life that you want to,” he said.
Getting here, took a village. "I had mentors and I had people who saw something in me at a very young age," he said.
Kode Redd Dance Company owner, Anthony Redd Williams was one them.
"What I remember about him the most is his passion to dance, like he would catch the bus. He would walk like, he never missed the class,” Williams recalls. Seeing his former student's success inspires even him. "That's the plan, for them to, you know, leave here if that's what they choose and go off to be as great, as they've actually worked and trained to be.
"You can really be able to achieve anything that you want and I really do believe I'm living
proof of that,” Green added.
The performer now lives in Los Angeles. He said that opened a lot of doors, but he credits his upbringing and training in St. Louis for helping him reach the national spotlight.
