Kendu 718 – Survival, Redemption & “The Sermon”
In an era where image often outweighs substance, Kendu 718 stands as a reminder that Hip Hop was built on truth, pain, survival, and testimony. The New York independent artist is not chasing trends, manufactured personas, or viral moments. Instead, he delivers something far more powerful — reality.
With the upcoming release of his EP From God’s Mouth to Y’all Ears: The Sermon, Kendu 718 opens the door to one of the most personal and spiritually driven chapters of his life and career. The project is not simply music; it is reflection, redemption, and raw testimony from a man who survived addiction, crime, incarceration, trauma, and the darkness of street life to become a voice of hope for others.
Raised in an environment filled with addiction, abuse, poverty, and violence, Kendu’s early years were shaped by pain and instability. Like many who grow up surrounded by trauma, he eventually turned to drugs and alcohol as an escape, leading him into over 25 years of addiction and destructive living. But behind the music and street tales is a deeper purpose that many listeners may initially overlook.
“Most people hear my music and think I’m glorifying street life,” Kendu explains. “But I’m really telling my story — everything I lived through. I use those experiences to get people’s attention so I can minister to them and let them know how God changed my life.”
That transformation began on July 1st, 2009, after Kendu was arrested in Suffolk County, Long Island, facing serious robbery charges that could have sent him away for years. While incarcerated at Riverhead Correctional Facility, he began attending 12-step meetings and reading the Bible daily. Alone in a jail cell, he surrendered his life to God and made a promise that if he was given another chance, he would abandon the life that was destroying him.
That moment became the foundation for everything that followed.
His charges were eventually reduced, and after serving time and being placed on probation, Kendu committed himself fully to recovery. Today, nearly 17 years later, he remains clean and abstinent from drugs and alcohol — a milestone he credits entirely to God’s grace and mercy.
But Kendu’s story did not stop at survival.
Instead of allowing his past to define him, he rebuilt his life completely. Outside of music, Kendu is deeply involved in helping others recover from substance abuse and rebuild their own lives. He is a professional program director at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, holds three college degrees in human services — including a Master’s degree in addiction counseling and human services — and owns a men’s recovery house in Pennsylvania with his wife called Justin’s House.
The recovery house serves as a safe place for men battling addiction to regain stability, rebuild themselves, and begin again.
“My whole life is bigger than just rap,” he says. “My story is about serving people and helping others recover. Everybody deserves a second chance.”
That sense of authenticity carries directly into his music.
Tracks like “Gritty,” “Brooklyn Juxxxx,” and the upcoming title single “The Sermon” capture the essence of raw New York Hip Hop while remaining grounded in lived experience rather than performance. There are no gimmicks in Kendu’s delivery — just vivid storytelling, sharp lyricism, and honest reflection.
Having grown up during Hip Hop’s golden era, Kendu’s connection to the culture runs deep. From legendary New York venues like Roseland, The Tunnel, Studio 54, The Limelight, and Sound Factory to the streets that shaped him, he witnessed the evolution of Hip Hop firsthand.
“This isn’t a trend to me,” he says. “I grew up in the culture. I lived it.”
That authenticity is also reflected in his collaborations with Juxx Diamondz and Back Block Music Group. Together, they focus on preserving the roots of true street Hip Hop — emphasizing lyrics, presence, delivery, and substance over industry gimmicks.
Their latest visual releases, “Gritty” and “Brooklyn Juxxxx,” showcase cinematic yet grounded storytelling, giving audiences an unfiltered look into Kendu’s world. The visuals feel authentic because they are authentic.
“Kendu is a real person,” he explains. “Not a created image.”
While The Sermon explores painful realities including addiction, incarceration, street survival, and personal transformation, the project also represents growth, faith, and redemption. Kendu hopes listeners walk away understanding that no matter how dark someone’s circumstances may seem, change is possible.
“Your current circumstance doesn’t have to be your conclusion,” he says. “People can rebuild healthy lives if they truly want to. I’m living proof.”
That message may ultimately be what separates Kendu 718 from many artists in today’s music landscape. His music is not built on fantasy — it is built on testimony. Every verse carries the weight of someone who survived the jungle and came back with purpose.
With The Sermon arriving June 1st alongside new visuals and future installments already planned, Kendu 718 continues to carve out his own lane — one rooted in faith, resilience, and truth.
And perhaps that truth is his greatest strength of all.
