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 40) 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 talented singer, songwriter, and music producer from Chicago, Illinois. He is a Jamaican-American artist known for his unique "world soul" sound, which blends different music styles.

Jesse Boykins III's Musical Journey

Jesse Boykins III began his music journey at just nine years old. He joined his school choir and quickly fell in love with singing. He started auditioning and recording with local artists in Miami, where he lived for a while.

High School and Early Success

In high school, Jesse was invited to perform with the Grammy Jazz Ensemble. This was a big deal, and he even recorded an album with them! This experience helped him grow as a musician.

College and Developing Skills

After high school, Jesse went to The New School University in New York City. There, he really improved his skills as a writer, performer, arranger, and producer. He also learned a lot about singing from famous teachers like Kamal Scott and the artist Bilal.

Signing with a Major Label

In November 2017, Jesse Boykins III signed with Def Jam Recordings, a very well-known record label. His first album with them was Bartholomew, which he had already shared online.

Grammy Recognition

Jesse also received his first Grammy nomination! This was for helping to write the song "Playground" by Steve Lacy, which was on Steve's Apollo XXI album.

Music Albums and EPs

Jesse Boykins III in 2014

Jesse Boykins III has released several albums and EPs (Extended Plays). EPs are like mini-albums with fewer songs.

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)

Songs He Helped Write

• "Playground" - Steve Lacy (from the album Apollo XXI)

Guest Appearances on Other Artists' Songs

Jesse Boykins III has also appeared as a guest singer on many songs by other artists. This means he sang on their tracks, even though they were not his own songs. Here are a few examples:

• "Make Me a Fool" (2010) with The Foreign Exchange
• "Higher Times" (2013) with The Internet
• "Paradise" (2015) with Logic
• "Purple Tuesday" (2017) with Rejjie Snow and Joey Bada$$
• "Twogether" (2018) with Sango
• "INTELLIGENT DESIGN" (2022) with Kilo Kish