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Jidenna
Jidenna performing in 2015
Jidenna performing in 2015
Background information
Birth nameJidenna Theodore Mobisson
Born (1985-05-04) May 4, 1985 (age 39)
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
DiscographyJidenna discography
Years active2015–present
Labels
  • Fear & Fancy
  • Wondaland
  • Epic
Websitejidenna.com

Jidenna Theodore Mobisson (born May 4, 1985), known mononymously as Jidenna, is an American rapper, singer and songwriter.[1] He signed with Janelle Monáe's record label Wondaland Arts Society, an imprint of Epic Records to release his debut single, "Classic Man" (featuring Roman GianArthur or Kendrick Lamar) in 2015. The song peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and was followed up with the single "Yoga" (with Janelle Monáe) that same year. Both of which preceded the release of Wondaland's debut compilation project, The Eephus (2015).[2] Jidenna's debut studio album, The Chief (2017) peaked at number 38 on the Billboard 200.[3] His second album, 85 to Africa (2019) explored the afro fusion musical style.[4][5]

"Classic Man" received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap/Sung Performance, while Jidenna won in four categories at the 2015 Soul Train Music Awards.

Early life and education

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Jidenna Theodore Mobisson was born on May 4, 1985, in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin,[6][7][8] to Tama Mobisson, a White American accountant, and Oliver Mobisson, a Nigerian Igbo academic. Mobisson grew up partially in Nigeria, where his father was working as a professor of computer science at Enugu State University.[9] When Mobisson was six years old, the family moved back to the United States due to a failed kidnapping attempt.[9] In 1995, the family moved to Norwood, Massachusetts, and then to Milton in 2000.[10] His father died in 2010.[9]

In high school he became a co-founder of the rap group Black Spadez, and began producing, arranging and writing. Mobisson released his first album with Black Spadez as their final project at Milton Academy, where Mobisson graduated in 2003.[11] In 2008, after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity from Stanford University,[12][13] he pursued his music career while working full-time as a teacher, moving between Los Angeles, Oakland, Brooklyn and Atlanta, before signing a deal with recording artist Janelle Monáe's Wondaland Records.[14]

Career

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Jidenna performing in Seattle

Jidenna is signed to Janelle Monáe's Wondaland Records label and distributed through Epic Records.[15][16] He has collaborated with a number of artists that are signed to this label; including Roman GianArthur, St. Beauty, Deep Cotton and Janelle Monáe herself, and then began recording a five-song compilation of its label's first extended play (EP), titled The Eephus.[17] In February 2015, Jidenna released his first official single, called "Classic Man"[18] featuring GianArthur. The song was in heavy rotation throughout the United States,[19] and debuted at number 49 on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.[20]

On March 31, 2015, the second single from the EP was released – "Yoga" by Janelle Monáe and Jidenna.[21] His song "Classic Man" was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 58th Grammy Awards.[22] In June of the same year, Jidenna performed the song with Monáe at the BET Awards.[11] Jidenna also received an award for best new artist at the 2015 Soul Train Music Awards in November.[23]

Jidenna is a founding member of Fear & Fancy, a social club that began in California in 2006.[9] The society, reminiscent of the social aid and pleasure clubs of New Orleans, is an international collective of entrepreneurs, activists, educators, scientists, and artists who host soirees, dinner parties, and demonstrations.[24]

In June 2016 he released the single "Chief Don't Run".[25] On February 17, 2017, Jidenna released The Chief, his first studio album.[26] The album cover pays homage to Boz Scaggs' Middle Man album. The lead singles "Sufi Woman" and "Tribe" were released on July 26, 2019, and will appear on his second studio album 85 to Africa.

In 2019 Jidenna released his second album, 85 to Africa.[27]

In 2021, Jidenna co-wrote "Woman" from rapper Doja Cat's album Planet Her. The single became a sleeper hit, charting in the top 10 of numerous international markets (United States, Denmark, France, Switzerland, Portugal, New Zealand, Greece) more than a year after release.

Style

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Jidenna stated that his major influences include KRS-One and Big Daddy Kane,[28] as well as the Nigerian Highlife music genre.[29]

Over the years, the singer developed his personal style in college, where he learned about the power of fashion from his psychology professor Philip Zimbardo. However, he would not adopt his signature dandy style until the death of his father in 2010.[11] Jidenna describes his look as "heavily inspired by the Harlem Renaissance with hints of traditional West African design," and a "marriage of European and African aesthetics."[30] Jidenna currently resides in East Flatbush, Brooklyn.[31]

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In September 2016, Jidenna was featured in an episode of the Netflix original series Luke Cage. Season 1 episode 5, "Just to Get a Rep", opens with Jidenna performing "Long Live the Chief" at the fictitious Harlem's Paradise. He performed "Long Live the Chief" and "Little Bit More" with a full band on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah in October 2016.[32] Jidenna guest starred on Insecure in the episodes "Thirsty as Fuck," and "Shady as Fuck," which aired in November 2016.[33]

A chopped and screwed version of "Classic Man" featured in the Academy Award winning 2016 film Moonlight.

Discography

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Main article: Jidenna discography

Awards and nominations

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Grammy Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2016[38] "Classic Man" (featuring Roman GianArthur) Best Rap/Sung Collaboration Nominated
2022[39] Planet Her (Deluxe) Grammy Award for Album of the Year Nominated

ASFA Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2016[40] Crossing Borders with Fashion Continental (Africa) Nominated

BMI Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards[41] "Classic Man" Most Performed Songs Won
2016 BMI London Pop Awards[42] "Classic Man" Most Performed Songs Won
2023 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards[43] "Woman" Most Performed Songs Won
2023 BMI London Awards[44][45] "Woman" Song Of The Year Won
2023 BMI London Awards[45] "Woman" Most Performed Songs Won
2023 BMI Pop Awards[46] "Woman" Most Performed Songs Won

Soul Train Music Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015[23] Himself Best New Artist Won
"Classic Man" (featuring Roman GianArthur) Song of the Year Nominated
Video of the Year Nominated
"Yoga" (with Janelle Monáe) Best Dance Performance Nominated

References

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  1. ^ Akan, Joey. "Jidenna: Why is US singer such a big deal in Nigeria?". Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  2. ^ Brown, Harley (July 1, 2015). "Jidenna: The Classic Man With a (Semi-Secret) Plan". SPIN. Archived from the original on November 13, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  3. ^ "Jidenna Presents Debut Album at L.A. Listening Party". Rap-Up. Archived from the original on September 26, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  4. ^ "Listen to Jidenna's upbeat new single 'Feng Shui'". OkayAfrica. April 24, 2020. Archived from the original on April 29, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  5. ^ Will, Ill (July 7, 2023). "Jidenna Afro fusion album ready to go". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  6. ^ "Jidenna's Journey to Finding Himself From 85 to Africa and Back Again". November 14, 2019. Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  7. ^ Forgenie, Cacy (March 20, 2015). "A Star Is Found: Jidenna Mobisson: A "Classic Man"". Flavorpill. Flavorpill Media. Archived from the original on April 24, 2015. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  8. ^ Amaya Mendizabal, "Tomorrow's Hits: Jidenna, Ashley Clark & Jasmine Thompson" Archived September 20, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Billboard, May 15, 2015: "Born in Wisconsin, and raised for a period in Nigeria, the nomadic singer has since resided in several stateside cities and is currently based in Brooklyn."
  9. ^ a b c d Fitzmaurice, Larry (March 17, 2017). "Hail to the Chief: Jidenna will be performing at the University of Minnesota-Duluth on April 29th. GO DOGS! Jidenna's Incredible, Globe-Spanning Journey". Noisey. Archived from the original on March 18, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  10. ^ Drake, David (March 1, 2015). "Bout to Blow: 10 Dope Songs You Should Be Hearing Everywhere Soon". Complex. Archived from the original on March 4, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  11. ^ a b c Murray, Nick. "'Classic Man' Singer Jidenna on How His Father's Death Inspired His Dandy Style: 'It Was My Way of Grieving' Archived June 12, 2020, at the Wayback Machine" January 16, 2016. Billboard Vol 128.1
  12. ^ "Happy Birthday Jidenna". People Magazine. April 5, 2016. Archived from the original on February 28, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  13. ^ "20th Anniversary: Fall 2016". Stanford University Center for Comparative Studies in Race & Ethnicity. Archived from the original on February 28, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
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  15. ^ Aswad, Jem (February 13, 2015). "Janelle Monáe Becomes a Mini-Mogul With Her Revamped Label". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  16. ^ Diaz, Evelyn (February 21, 2015). "Janelle Monáe Appears in Classic Man by Jidenna". BET. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  17. ^ "Janelle Monáe: I Come in Peace, But I Mean Business". BET. March 26, 2015. Archived from the original on March 31, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  18. ^ "Classic Man feat Roman GianArthur". Soul Central Magazine. Archived from the original on February 17, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  19. ^ "Hot New Music! Jidenna – Classic Man". WJMN Jam'n 94.5. February 10, 2015. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  20. ^ Trust, Gary (March 23, 2015). "Chart Highlights: Madonna's Ghosttown Debuts on Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 28, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  21. ^ Blistein, Jon (March 31, 2015). "Janelle Monae Flows Through New Song 'Yoga'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  22. ^ "Grammy Nominations 2016: See the Full List of Nominees". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 7, 2015. Archived from the original on July 18, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  23. ^ a b Mitchell, Gail (November 29, 2015). "The Weeknd, 'Uptown Funk' and Jidenna Big Winners at 2015 Soul Train Awards". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  24. ^ "The Door That Opens You: Why Whippa Wiley Brings You Magic, Fear and Fancy". Afropunk. November 10, 2014. Archived from the original on April 16, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  25. ^ Spanos, Brittany (June 28, 2016). "Hear Jidenna's Confident New Song 'Chief Don't Run'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  26. ^ Feig, Zakk (February 3, 2017). "Jidenna Announces Release Date For Debut Album "The Chief"". HNHH. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  27. ^ Dan-O (November 13, 2019). "My Favorite Album of 2019". Free Music Empire. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  28. ^ DJ Vlad (July 3, 2015). "Jidenna Details His Choice to Wear Tailored Suits as a Rapper". YouTube. VladTV. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  29. ^ Weiner, Natalie (September 11, 2015). "Jidenna Talks Classic Men and How He's Influenced by Nigerian Music". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  30. ^ "Fashion Bomber of the Day: Jidenna from Brooklyn". Fashion Bomb Daily. The Fashion Bomb LLC. April 17, 2015. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  31. ^ Coleman, C. Vernon (February 21, 2015). "Watch Jidenna and Roman GianArthur's 'Classic Man' Video". XXL Mag. Archived from the original on February 22, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  32. ^ "Music from Marvel's Luke Cage S1E05". Tunefind. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  33. ^ Ray-Harris, Ashley (October 31, 2016). "Issa loses momentum in a stagnant Insecure". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on August 19, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  34. ^ "Review: Jidenna Snaps Back To Form With "Boomerang" EP". HipHopDX. November 13, 2017. Archived from the original on September 3, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  35. ^ "Jidenna drops surprise EP, Boomerang: Stream/download". Consequence of Sound. November 10, 2017. Archived from the original on September 3, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  36. ^ Boomerang – EP by Jidenna, November 10, 2017, archived from the original on August 17, 2019, retrieved September 3, 2019
  37. ^ "Jidenna Returns With New Album "ME YOU & GOD"". HNHH. May 7, 2023. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  38. ^ "Grammy Nominees 2016: The Full List". December 7, 2013. Archived from the original on December 7, 2014. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  39. ^ "BMI Celebrates its 2022 GRAMMY Nominees". BMI.com. November 23, 2021. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  40. ^ BigEyeUg3 (December 10, 2016). "Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards 2016: Here's the complete list of winners". BigEye.UG. Archived from the original on August 13, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  41. ^ "BMI Honors Toni Braxton With President's Award at 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards". BMI.com. September 2, 2016. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  42. ^ "Sting and Top Songwriters Honored at 2016 BMI London Awards". BMI.com. October 10, 2016. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  43. ^ "2023 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards". BMI.com. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  44. ^ "Gary Kemp Honoured With The BMI Icon Award at the 2023 BMI London Awards | Press". BMI.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  45. ^ a b "2023 BMI London Awards". BMI.com. Archived from the original on October 10, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  46. ^ "2023 BMI Pop Music Awards". BMI.com. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
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