Jesse Boykins III facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jesse Boykins III
Jesse Boykins III performing in May 2009
Background information
Birth name	Jesse Boykins III
Also known as	JBIII JB3
Born	(1985-02-20) February 20, 1985 (age 39) Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres	World soul neo soul R&B electronic reggae spoken word hip hop
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter record producer
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1994–present
Labels	Ninja Tune Def Jam
Associated acts	The Grammy Jazz Ensemble Steve Lacy Willow Smith Logic Mac Miller Chance the Rapper The Internet Noname

Jesse Boykins III (born February 20, 1985) is a Jamaican-American singer, songwriter, and record producer from Chicago, Illinois.

Career

Boykins is a world soul artist originally from Jamaica, later relocating to Miami and finally Brooklyn. His first EP, Dopamine: My Life On My Back EP was released February 14, 2008 and his follow up The Beauty Created LP was released November 25, 2008 through NomaDic MuSic.

His career in music began at the age of nine when he joined his school choir. He soon began auditioning around Miami and found himself recording with various local Miami artists. In high school Boykins was invited to perform in the Grammy Jazz Ensemble and recorded an album with them.

After high school he was recruited to The New School University in New York City. At The New School, he perfected his skills as a writer, performer, arranger and producer and as a vocalist. He also studied with classical trainer Kamal Scott and Universal recording artist Bilal.

In November 2017, Boykins revealed that he was signed to Def Jam Recordings. His first album under his major label deal was a physical release of his mixtape Bartholomew, which was previously released for streaming on SoundCloud in 2016. Jesse received his first Grammy nomination for co-writing Steve Lacy's lead single Playground from his ApolloXXI album.

Discography

Boykins in 2014

Studio albums

• The Beauty Created (2008)
• Zulu Guru (2012)
• Love Apparatus (2014)
• Bartholomew (2017)
• New Growth (2023)

Extended plays

• Dopamine: My Life on My Back (2008)
• Way of a Wayfarer (2011)

Writing credits

• Apollo XXI: Playground - Steve Lacy

Guest appearances