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
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 BillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.[20]
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.
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]
Appearances in popular media
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]
^"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.
