Uptown XO, born Jamaal Walton, is an American emcee who currently resides in Washington D.C.. He was born in the uptown section of the city, at Howard University Hospital in '85, to two musical parents. His father toured with Gil Scott-Heron, while his mother played with Richard Smallwood. XO is also closely related to singing legend David Ruffin, adding to his musical inheritance & repertoire. As a youth, growing up poor in a single parent household, getting evicted and moving from place to place, XO began expressing himself naturally thru music. In his early years he played piano and trumpet. .