Jesse Boykins III

Jesse Boykins III, an alternative R&B vocalist equipped with a five-octave range, pulls inspiration from an expansive palette that runs from classic soul to forward-looking artists such as Björk and Bilal. Immersion in the sounds of multiple cultures, among them reggae and salsa, has shaped his perspective, yet his core remains R&B, shaded at times by unconventional electronic touches. Chicago-born, he passed several early years in Jamaica before his family established roots in Miami. Choir participation at his elementary school functioned as a launchpad, securing him a spot in the Grammy Jazz Ensemble. Enrollment at New School University in New York further refined his vocal technique while sharpening his command of songwriting, arranging, and production. The 2008 projects Dopamine: My Life on My Back and The Beauty Created positioned him near peer-level, non-mainstream R&B figures like Dwele, Eric Roberson, and Darien Brockington. A 2012 Ninja Tune full-length, Zulu Guru, documented his partnership with MeLo-X. Love Apparatus arrived in 2014, carrying productions credited to Travis Stewart, also known as Machine Drum. Bartholomew surfaced first on SoundCloud in 2016, then received wide digital distribution in late 2017 through Def Jam. Guest appearances have placed his voice on recordings by Chin Chin, the Foreign Exchange, Zo!, Theophilus London, Vic Mensa, TOKiMONSTA, and Logic.