Jamila Woods facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jamila Woods
Background information
Born	(1989-10-06) October 6, 1989 (age 35) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	R&B neo soul soul hip hop
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter dancer poet

Jamila Woods (born October 6, 1989) is a talented American singer, songwriter, and poet from Chicago. She creates music and poetry that often explores themes of self-love and what it means to be Black. Jamila studied at Brown University, where she learned about African American history and theater.

Jamila Woods' Career

Jamila Woods has a diverse career, sharing her creativity through poetry, helping young people, and making music.

Her Poetry

In 2012, Jamila Woods published her first collection of poems called The Truth About Dolls. Her poems have also appeared in other books, including The Breakbeat Poets: New American Poetry in the Age of Hip-Hop (2015). She is inspired by famous writers and artists like Lucille Clifton, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Frida Kahlo.

Jamila also helped edit The Breakbeat Poets Volume II, which was titled Black Girl Magic. This book, published in 2018, features poems by Black women today. These poems explore ideas about beauty, Black identity, and self-definition. Jamila is also part of a group called the Dark Noise Poetry Collective with other creative artists.

Helping Young People

Jamila Woods used to be a leader at Young Chicago Authors (YCA). This organization in Chicago helps young people share their voices through art, education, and mentorship. Through YCA, Jamila helps organize Louder Than a Bomb. This is the world's largest poetry slam festival for young people. She also teaches poetry workshops and creates lessons for schools in Chicago.

Her Music Journey

After college, Jamila Woods and her friend Owen Hill started a band called Milo and Otis (M&O). They released two albums: The Joy in 2012 and Almost Us in 2014. Their first album even featured Chance the Rapper on a song called "Lift Up." The band later broke up in 2014.

Jamila is well-known for her collaborations with other artists. She worked with Chance the Rapper on his popular songs "Sunday Candy" and "Blessings." She also featured on the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis song "White Privilege II."

In 2016, Jamila Woods signed with an independent hip-hop record label called Closed Sessions. That same year, she released her first solo album, Heavn, which received great reviews. This album included collaborations with artists like Chance the Rapper, Noname, and Saba. Heavn was even named one of the best albums of 2016 by Pitchfork.

In 2019, Jamila released her second album, Legacy! Legacy!. Each song on this album is named after an important Black creator. The album features collaborations with artists like Nitty Scott and Saba. Songs like "Eartha" from this album help show the history and stories of people who are often forgotten.

In 2020, Jamila Woods opened for R&B singer Raphael Saadiq on his tour. She also worked with R&B singer rum.gold on a song called Waiting For.

Jamila Woods' Music

Studio Albums

Singles

• "Blk Girl Soldier" (2016)
• "Holy" (2017)
• "Giovanni" (2018)
• "Zora" (2019)
• "Eartha" (2019)
• "Baldwin" (2019)
• "Zora" [Live] (2020)
• "Sula" [Hardcover] (2020)
• "Sula" [Paperback] (2020)
• "Tiny Garden" featuring Duendita (2023) – No. 29 Adult Alternative Airplay

Music Videos

• "Blk Girl Soldier" (2016)
• "Holy" (2017)
• "Giovanni" (2018)
• "Zora" (2019)
• "Eartha" (2019)
• "Baldwin" (2019)
• "Sula (Hardcover)" (2020)
• "Tiny Garden" featuring Duendita (2023)