Jordan McCann, a former gang member from Salford, has turned his life around through rap music and boxing. The 28-year-old, who spent years in and out of prison for violent crimes, drug dealing and armed robbery, now uses his experiences to fuel a music career that began behind bars.
McCann's first major track, 'Lifestyle', was released while he was incarcerated. He recalls a listening party in his cell that led to a lockdown after guards found them barricaded inside. Despite the trouble, hearing his song on Unity Radio from prison was a surreal moment that gave him goosebumps.
The same song landed him back in jail. While on probation, he played it for his parole officers, but lyrics like 'coming out of jail doing shootings on licence' alarmed them. He was arrested by an armed police unit and returned to HMP Manchester. McCann now admits he deserved it, given his criminal history.
Growing up on the Amblecote Estate in Little Hulton, McCann normalised violence, including shootings and stabbings. He says his childhood was 'amazing' but he couldn't see beyond his area, driven by a need to sell the most drugs and be the main person. After multiple sentences, including a six-and-a-half-year stint at 19, he realised the gangster life was a 'trap' that led nowhere.
Now focused on rap and boxing, McCann has left crime behind. He wants a normal life: a house, credit, a car, a baby, and a dog. His story is one of redemption, using his past to create a better future through music and sport.
