Two years ago on Valentine’s Day, a 22-year-old in love, released an album that took off into something he did not expect. This Valentine’s Day weekend, he is performing in Atlanta, and he is not taking those requests.
“I do not want to talk about Dopamine. And if it’s off Dopamine, I am not gonna sing it,” he laughs but there is serious intent behind that. Now in 2010, 24-year-old Jesse Boykins III will talk about anything but his ex-girlfriend. The Miami native’s first album, Dopamine: My Life on My Back, was recorded in the spur of the moment and every track was about his ex. He’s since moved on to creating beauty through words and true instrumentation without her. Months later, The Beauty Created is his second album; a real piece that brings live music to the forefront of R&B. That’s exactly where Boykins wants to take it.
“I feel like soul and R&B is in transition and live music is coming back. Things change rapidly and as far as R&B, there’s always gonna be good and bad. I feel like good R&B, instrumentation, and live music is coming back. You see it now. Rappers have bands and R&B singers who’ve never had bands, have bands. It’s inevitable.”
Growing up in Miami, Chicago, and Jamaica, the young crooner could not play instruments like his cousins, so he made his way into the loop by singing. Here in the states, he attended music school in New York and soaked up everything he could that involved musicianship.
From gospel hymns to singing to girls in Subway, his talent is very genuine and charming. His former voice coach has helped him keep it that way. “I met Bilal when I was 18 in college. The biggest thing he taught me was to always stay true to your art and always acknowledge what you experience through your music,” the newcomer says. This is his 4th show with the Grammy award winner and he is still learning what he can from the headliner. “I learned from him that it’s okay to be different.”
He considers himself a soul singer, but knows his skill can take him through any genre. Being versatile is important because refuses to be put in a box. “When I say soul, I mean anything from the heart. As far as genres go, I’m pretty diverse. A true artist can portray themselves through any song, through any genre. With The Beauty Created: Remixed, he’s did just that. Boykins sent out his favorite songs off the sophomore album to his favorite producers. The result was a mini-remixed beauty.
“I figured I could give my favorite songs to producers and see what happens. It was a good look. It’s crazy when you hear your songs with just your voice and no instrumentation. When you get it back, you’re like ‘Whoa,’” he exclaimed. He gets that same response when many hear his voice. He’s been compared to Eric Roberson, D’Angelo, even as a collaboration of Raheem Devaughn and John Legend. Comparisons only go so far in his mind though. “Everyone that you’re compared to, ya’ll listen to the same people. You have the same inspirations. So when you take pieces from those artists, it’s transcribed in the music. That’s how we all get compared.”
Phonte Coleman from Foreign Exchange told him that The Beauty Created was ‘hotter than fish grease,’ which birthed the partnership between the Foreign Exchange Music family and Jesse. His collaboration for their Keys player and Detroit solo artist, Zo!, new album Sunstorm, is the title track, performed with Phonte and Yahzarah. The passion in this track will be amplified Friday at Centerstage.
“Expect it to be a memorable night. You will never forget my name after you see me perform. I do whatever it takes to put on a good show.” And since he doesn’t have a Valentine, like many in the crowd will not, he is going to make the night extremely special for them and himself.
Unfortunately, all the ‘Twitterheads’ are going to have to shut off their Twitter Friday night. It’s all about being there mentally and physically.
“I like to experience and I like to always be in the moment. I like to know what going on but you lose sense of treasuring things, when you’re always talking about it and not actually experiencing it. You can get caught up and instead of experiencing it, you want to see what everybody else doing and thinking,” Jesse ends. He admits that it can be distracting to his performance but for the crowd, he can only create the experience. You must plan on enjoying it.
Get at Jesse on his Official Website, MySpace, and Twitter! He's still trying to figure his Twittergame out so don't judge him just yet. =)
MSD Profiles - Creating Beauty from Dope Experiences
Two years ago on Valentine’s Day, a 22-year-old in love, released an album that took off into something he did not expect. This Valentine’s Day weekend, he is performing in Atlanta, and he is not taking those requests.
“I do not want to talk about Dopamine. And if it’s off Dopamine, I am not gonna sing it,” he laughs but there is serious intent behind that. Now in 2010, 24-year-old Jesse Boykins III will talk about anything but his ex-girlfriend. The Miami native’s first album, Dopamine: My Life on My Back, was recorded in the spur of the moment and every track was about his ex. He’s since moved on to creating beauty through words and true instrumentation without her. Months later, The Beauty Created is his second album; a real piece that brings live music to the forefront of R&B. That’s exactly where Boykins wants to take it.
“I feel like soul and R&B is in transition and live music is coming back. Things change rapidly and as far as R&B, there’s always gonna be good and bad. I feel like good R&B, instrumentation, and live music is coming back. You see it now. Rappers have bands and R&B singers who’ve never had bands, have bands. It’s inevitable.”
Growing up in Miami, Chicago, and Jamaica, the young crooner could not play instruments like his cousins, so he made his way into the loop by singing. Here in the states, he attended music school in New York and soaked up everything he could that involved musicianship.
From gospel hymns to singing to girls in Subway, his talent is very genuine and charming. His former voice coach has helped him keep it that way. “I met Bilal when I was 18 in college. The biggest thing he taught me was to always stay true to your art and always acknowledge what you experience through your music,” the newcomer says. This is his 4th show with the Grammy award winner and he is still learning what he can from the headliner. “I learned from him that it’s okay to be different.”
He considers himself a soul singer, but knows his skill can take him through any genre. Being versatile is important because refuses to be put in a box. “When I say soul, I mean anything from the heart. As far as genres go, I’m pretty diverse. A true artist can portray themselves through any song, through any genre. With The Beauty Created: Remixed, he’s did just that. Boykins sent out his favorite songs off the sophomore album to his favorite producers. The result was a mini-remixed beauty.
“I figured I could give my favorite songs to producers and see what happens. It was a good look. It’s crazy when you hear your songs with just your voice and no instrumentation. When you get it back, you’re like ‘Whoa,’” he exclaimed. He gets that same response when many hear his voice. He’s been compared to Eric Roberson, D’Angelo, even as a collaboration of Raheem Devaughn and John Legend. Comparisons only go so far in his mind though. “Everyone that you’re compared to, ya’ll listen to the same people. You have the same inspirations. So when you take pieces from those artists, it’s transcribed in the music. That’s how we all get compared.”
Phonte Coleman from Foreign Exchange told him that The Beauty Created was ‘hotter than fish grease,’ which birthed the partnership between the Foreign Exchange Music family and Jesse. His collaboration for their Keys player and Detroit solo artist, Zo!, new album Sunstorm, is the title track, performed with Phonte and Yahzarah. The passion in this track will be amplified Friday at Centerstage.
“Expect it to be a memorable night. You will never forget my name after you see me perform. I do whatever it takes to put on a good show.” And since he doesn’t have a Valentine, like many in the crowd will not, he is going to make the night extremely special for them and himself.
Unfortunately, all the ‘Twitterheads’ are going to have to shut off their Twitter Friday night. It’s all about being there mentally and physically.
“I like to experience and I like to always be in the moment. I like to know what going on but you lose sense of treasuring things, when you’re always talking about it and not actually experiencing it. You can get caught up and instead of experiencing it, you want to see what everybody else doing and thinking,” Jesse ends. He admits that it can be distracting to his performance but for the crowd, he can only create the experience. You must plan on enjoying it.
Get at Jesse on his Official Website, MySpace, and Twitter! He's still trying to figure his Twittergame out so don't judge him just yet. =)
