Ever seen that bright orange moose on Nickelodeon? The one with the orange sweater and the blue hat named Tyrone? Yeah, that’s him. Well, sort of. Behind that voice is the same guy currently navigating the wild waters of New York City's social and political orbits. Jordan Coleman, the only son of Mayor Eric Adams, isn't just "the mayor's kid." He’s a guy who’s been in the spotlight since he was basically a toddler, building a resume that looks like three different people’s lives mashed into one.
Honestly, it’s a lot to keep track of. One minute he’s an actor, the next he’s making documentaries with Kobe Bryant, and now he’s an aspiring rapper named Jayoo performing in Albania. If you’ve been wondering who is Eric Adams son, you've gotta look past the City Hall press conferences. Jordan Coleman has spent his life trying to be a filmmaker while his dad was rising through the ranks of the NYPD and the State Senate.
The Voice of Tyrone and a 12-Year-Old Director
Most people don’t realize Jordan started out as a child star. Around age 11, he landed the role of Tyrone the Moose on the hit show The Backyardigans. He voiced the character for 35 or 36 episodes. That’s a big deal for a kid. But here’s the kicker: his mom, award-winning journalist Chrisena Coleman, didn’t let him just sit on that Nickelodeon money. She challenged him to do something useful with it.
So, at 12, Jordan used his earnings to fund his own documentary called Say It Loud!.
📖 Related: How Old Is Breanna Nix? What the American Idol Star Is Doing Now
He didn't just interview his friends at school. He went after the big guns. He talked to Kobe Bryant, Ludacris, and Michael Strahan about why education matters for Black youth. It’s pretty wild when you think about a middle-schooler having that kind of drive. He was later named one of the "25 Most Influential People in Our Children’s Lives" by Children’s Health magazine. He even won an award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.
Jayoo: The Rap Career and the Drill Music Debate
Fast forward a bit. Jordan graduated from American University with a degree in film and media arts in 2017. But instead of just staying behind the camera, he caught the rap bug. He goes by the stage name Jayoo. He’s released albums like JORDAN and SYNCED, and his style is kind of a mix between the "everyman" vibe of J. Cole and early Drake.
Things got awkward in 2022. Mayor Adams publicly called for a ban on drill rap music videos, saying they glorified violence. This sparked a huge national debate. It also created a weird dynamic at home. Jordan—who was working at Roc Nation at the time—openly disagreed with his dad. He told Complex that you simply "can't ban a genre of music."
👉 See also: Whitney Houston Wedding Dress: Why This 1992 Look Still Matters
- He acts as a bridge between the hip-hop scene and City Hall.
- He thinks the focus should be on social media companies, not the art itself.
- He’s performed on Kënga Magjike, which is basically Albania’s version of American Idol.
It’s definitely a "new school vs. old school" situation. Jordan has mentioned that while his dad’s version of hip-hop is different, they’re still a "team."
Family Ties and Living in New Jersey
Despite his dad being the face of New York City, Jordan has spent most of his life across the bridge in New Jersey. He grew up in Hackensack with his mom, Chrisena, and his stepfather, Roosevelt. During the 2021 mayoral campaign, there was this whole controversy about where Eric Adams actually lived. To prove he lived in a Bedford-Stuyvesant townhome, Adams gave reporters a tour, and Jordan was right there with him.
They even showed the fridge. People were confused because there was salmon in there, and the Mayor is famously vegan. Turns out, the salmon belonged to Jordan.
✨ Don't miss: Finding the Perfect Donny Osmond Birthday Card: What Fans Often Get Wrong
Life hasn't been all red carpets and Nickelodeon checks, though. Jordan has been open about his mother’s struggle with an aggressive form of dementia. He’s mentioned how bittersweet his recent successes feel because her illness has been progressing rapidly over the last couple of years. It’s a grounded, human side to a family that usually lives in the headlines.
The Influence of Connections
You can’t talk about Jordan Coleman without mentioning the perks of being Eric Adams' son. He’s worked for Jay-Z’s Roc Nation as a creative coordinator and has been spotted at events with figures like Winnie Greco. There’s been some scrutiny about his employment and his appearances at community events, but the Mayor’s stance is usually: "I don't get into my son's business, and he doesn't get into mine."
Jordan is pretty honest about it, too. He’s admitted to reaping the benefits of his father’s connections in nightlife and entertainment. He once jumped at a dinner invite his dad had with a Roc Nation exec, which eventually helped lead to a job. He’s aiming for a career like Mark Wahlberg or Will Smith—starting in music and transitioning into a powerhouse filmmaker.
What to Watch Next
If you want to see what Jordan is actually up to, check out his music videos under the name Jayoo or look up his 2011 film Payin' the Price, which won an HBO Best Feature award. He’s still heavily active on Instagram, documenting his journey from the voice of a moose to a guy trying to make his own name in the rap game while his dad runs the biggest city in the world.
The best way to keep track of his projects is to follow his production company, Mama Don't Play Productions, which he started with his family. He’s clearly not sitting around waiting for a handout; he’s been working since he was in elementary school.