His whole journey began with OpenMike.
His first experiences, back when OpenMike nights were presented at the Harold Washington Library in downtown Chicago, he was just an observer, unfamiliar with the event or the format. He went to gauge what it was about, as he was starting to dabble in music and comedy, with his friends encouraging him to check it out and even perform.
Then he found himself at a very special OpenMike back in June of 2018. This milestone show was led by Chance the Rapper and featured a very special guest in Childish Gambino. Several OpenMike alums confirm the same story about this night. When Childish walked onto the stage, an expected if not acceptable level of pandemonium ensued; a rush of bodies to the front of the stage, with tunnel vision fans hurdling chairs and leapfrogging people. The takeaway from this special event, also echoed by multiple OpenMike regulars, was the inspiration this then 16-year-old felt to be a part of it all. Not just to observe, but to get involved, both as a performer at OpenMike and a contributor to the SocialWorks mission.
Randell Watts Jr, who goes by Rae to close friends, and RoseJordan in his creative endeavors, has performed at 13 OpenMike showcases since his journey began six years ago. And what a journey for Watts it has been, complete with surprises, twists and turns, the highest highs and lowest lows. As he shares his timeline of his last half-decade-plus, it is impossible not to become completely enthralled with the young man. His story is inspiring, but not so much because of what has happened to him, but how he dealt with it. He maintains a tone of optimism and gratitude, as well as his sense of humor, even as he speaks to periods of his life when he really struggled, like getting a life-altering diagnosis, or sleeping on trains.
As Rae works through his story, he often reiterates his first point, wanting to give credit where credit is due while inspiring the next wave of artists looking to cut their teeth.
“It all started with OpenMike”, he says. “But it took me a few shows to put myself out there. I wanted to find a unique angle to bring to it before I got up on stage. My first performance was in December of 2018, but actually, I didn’t have anything prepared. I did a song, but it wasn’t anything wrote ahead of time. I showed up with a beat and a mindset”.
That was enough for Watts. He caught the incredibly contagious performance bug from there, and the bug was not without its side effects. He wasn’t just focused on becoming the best artist he could be, but the best person, and he bought into everything SocialWorks was doing for the community and its people.
“Within two months of meeting Justin (Cunningham, Executive Director of SocialWorks), I became an intern. I just felt great being a part of it. I felt inspired, and that inspiration encouraged and changed me.”
Watts looks back at all of these changes in the last several years. He describes himself in those early days working with SocialWorks.
“Man, back when I started with them, I was a giant ball of immature energy. Bouncing off the walls. I’ve learned so much since then, from the SocialWorks crew as well as from my own growth. I’m still a ball of energy. I’ve just grown a bit. I try to put the energy to good use now through creativity, uniqueness, and wisdom from my learnings.”
Despite the room for growth in his early days with the organization, SocialWorks became endeared to Rae, appreciating his enthusiasm and commitment to showing up. This led to some opportunities that he never thought he would have. In January of 2020, he was selected for an amazing experience – a 3 month expenses paid trip to Los Angeles, through the organization Creative Futures, to learn more about the entertainment business and further develop his budding skills.
“That was wild. I found out on a really bad day. I quit my job and was headed to OpenMike, in a full suit from work. I got there and just didn’t have the mental capacity to perform, to be “on”, which bummed me out even more. So I left, head low, and got on the train. On that train ride, I got a call from Justin, and he said that SocialWorks put me up for this internship opportunity, and he was thrilled to tell me I was accepted. I would have the internship, plus shows booked for me at Laugh Factory and Comedy Store (Rae is also a comedian), and I’d be working with Travis Barker and his production team. Man, I was so excited”.
Then covid hit, and as such, there was a big change in plans.
“I was very sad about it. Just really bad luck. I tried to keep my head up during it all, even though I was pretty disappointed. I still took part in Zoom workshops, and in August I was finally able to head out there. But by then, all of the other components of it were no longer happening. I got to have a great experience, but I at the time kept thinking of all that could have been”.
The bad news continued to pile on from there.
“My health was really struggling then. I was diagnosed with diabetes and that was really hard to accept. I was worried, until I found someone special to help me through it. One of the executives at CreativeFutures…her name was Francine, and she also had diabetes. We talked, and she told me not to be worried and that she was going to help me through understanding and managing it. I started to feel better. Then, pretty much immediately after we first spoke, she passed”.
As he shares this, a cloud casts a shadow over his otherwise sunny disposition. Throughout the long conversation, his story jumps back and forth from hardships to overcoming them, from self-doubt to optimism, from disappointment to growth. Ultimately, the growth is where the story to date ends up. Which just seems so “Rae”.
Like the great musicians and comedians before him, Rae has learned to harness all of the ups and downs into his art. He sees his creativity as a means of dealing with the harder points of his past, while celebrating life and expressing gratitude.
“I really am inspired. I’ve been focused on my music, and I’ve been writing like crazy. I don’t have equipment. I’ve never stepped foot in a studio. I just record however I can, and sometimes that means I have to get creative with the methods. I don’t mind one bit, and in fact, I like the challenge that comes with the DIY spirit”.
As for what’s next, Rae is still taking advantage of every opportunity that presents itself, with his creative endeavors as well as with work and life experiences. He recently left his life-long home of Chicago to live in St. Louis and continue to work on himself with a focus on growth, continuing to be that great ball of energy but with added focus.
“At the end of the day, I have learned that I just have to be me. I take that seriously. I don’t know that I have an identity yet, but I know I like to stray from what’s popular or any of the trends in the music industry. I am still searching for my own voice, and I may always be doing so. I’m comfortable in that journey even if there isn’t an end.”
For Rae, it has in fact been quite the journey already. And he’ll never forget where it all started.
Check out the latest music from Randell Watts Jr, aka RoseJordan. His latest album, released September 2024, is available on spotify:
