Who is 19 Keys?
Brought up in the largest city in the Bay Area, Oakland, California, !9 Keys knew from a young age that he was destined for greatness.
Children today are pretty different from our days as children. While technology seems to even have babies in a chokehold these days, our generation was more engrossed with the latest informercial toy, or the newest album from a popular artist.
A child’s most pressing issues back then may have been getting their hands on a pair of Heely’s sneakers or a special edition Bratz Doll.
But 19 Keys contemplated other things. Non-material things that didn’t revolve around worldly possessions but revolved around the social and economical advancement of black people.
“There is no other reality for us. The most honorable Elijah Muhammad teaches us that the American so-called ‘negro’ must be completely remade or he is unfit for himself,” says a young 19 Keys during one of his first speeches.
His adolescent body confidently walks on to the stage decked out in a full suit with a bowtie and that adorable lisp (you know that one) that most children have.
But there’s nothing juvenile about his message. He has the voice of a child but his words strike the audience with the same vigor as some of our greatest civil rights leaders.
Many are aware of Oakland’s rich history surrounding civil rights. From Black Panther Party founders Huey Newton and Bobby Seale to social activists Hettie B. Tilghman and Angela Davis, Oakland is one of the biggest social justice capitols in America.
All of these leaders possessed a gift. A gift that allowed them to not only touch generations of people with their words in a powerful way but also allowed them to evoke change.
Growing up in a city that has bred so many prominent black leaders, one could argue that 19 Keys was bound to live a similar life but he is certain that the gift has always been in him. He was simply born with it.
“I remembered this inner voice that came over me and it told me, very clearly, that I was destined to do something great and change the world before I even knew what the world was.”
And that’s exactly what he’s doing. Since that life changing moment, 19 Keys has committed to developing financial, social and cultural prosperity throughout the black community.
Starting with his coaching program Block World Order, which focuses on providing members with the necessary tools to empower themselves and people around them. His podcast High Level Conversations opens the floor to discuss ways for black people to invest in their community, and his Holistic health & wellness brand Golde Water promotes natural remedies that are sure to have you feeling like the best version of yourself.
His crown collection Crownz Society is inspired by his spirituality and admiration for the traditional Kufi hat, which you may have seen on notable Muslim figures including The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and Influencers like Neelam and Marquis Hakeem.
19 Keys (middle) modeling his Crownz line.
Netflix’s newest rom-com You People stars Lauren London and Jonah Hill where they play an interracial couple trying their best to blend their two very different families together. Eddie Murphy, who plays Lauren London’s father, dons a black Kufi during a family dinner scene. He explains the importance behind the headwear and mentions it was a gift from Farrakhan his self.
We spoke with 19 Keys about Crownz Society, where his spiritual journey began, how his love for numerology inspired his name, and more. You can watch our interview here.