Jesse Boykins on His Natural Hair and Music

prepared by Weusi for CurlyNikki.com

Thanks to a hook from CurlyNikki, I had the chance to speak with one of the most talked about up and coming artists in the WORLD! Yes … I said the WORLD! This brother is making an impact from continent to continent. I looked at his show listing the other day and I saw him booked for shows in 3 different CONTINENTS. AND … As popular as his music is, his hair has also garnished a certain level of fame itself!

His collaborations with artist like The Foreign Exchange, Theophilus London, MeLo-X, Machine Drum and Phantom Lover have the streets and studios buzzing. In 2010, he was recognized by BET as “One to Watch” and became a major component in their MUSIC MATTERS campaign. in 2011 he was also tapped as a guest participant and lecturer for the esteemed RED BULL MUSIC ACADEMY, which took him all over the world! You don’t believe me do you!?!

Here he is just the other day on 106 & Park speaking about it …

SO … if you didn’t know about him or his hair before… I introduce you to…

JESSE BOYKINS III and this is his hairstory!

Q: Let’s talk a little about the hair. What inspired it?

I wore braids for a long time. They were the style back then. A lot of people were wearing them. I guess there were kind of a lot of singers out there with them too. Because of that, I was put in an artistic box. I wanted to be free. Me wearing my hear out is symbolic of being alive. Getting out of that box. Being free.

Q: So how do you care for it?

I usually keep it in French braids and, while it’s out, I treat my scalp and brush it. I sometimes wear it in a bun also. I try to tend to it every week and a half. As far as the wash goes, I wash it with peppermint shampoo. My hair stylist, DeeDee, makes a garlic conditioner for me and I use olive oil on it. I’m pretty simple

Q: But your style is special. I know that you were influenced by your early upbringing in Jamaica, Miami and New York. How did that impact your ideas of and around aesthetics and style?

It just made me aware of the different cultures I’ve been blessed to experience. To witness the importance of culture and tradition and the symbolism in certain style permeated into my lifestyle. Everywhere I went I was influenced. In terms of fashion and style, it is really all about energy.

Q: Many people speak about “energy” as something that is only for the “creative/hippie/artsy.” You seem to use it as a very practical reference in your everyday life. How do you define it? How does it influence your everyday life?

We are all made up of energy. We are all connected. It is how we find common ground with friends. It’s how we find the love of our lives and how we co-exist. It all depends on the kind of energy you receive from someone or something. Sensitivity and awareness teaches and helps you grow.

Q: Who were some of the people/celebrities that you saw as beautiful growing up?

Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Andre 3000, Michael Jackson, Prince, Stevie Wonder

Q: These are all heavy hitters … musically and in style. This a great segue to talk about music.

Cool. I love music. I’ve been around music all my life. You can say that I’ve been doing music all my life. I have a musically inclined family that has always supported me creatively. I got serious about music when I went to college at the New School University. I was 17 and I thought there was nothing cooler than being creative and being around music and inspiration. I decided that was how I wanted to live my life.

Q: What are you listening to now to be influenced?

I’m working on my new album right now. It’s called called, “Love Apparatus.” So I’m listening to a lot of the artist that I’m working with now. The Romantic Movement – MoRuf, Mara Hruby, Chris Turner & MeLo-X. These are (a few) artist that I am collaborating with on various projects. They keep progressive energy around me.

Q: Your crew keeps banging out great product! I’m digging the new single “B4 the Night is Thru” and the video!

Thank you. It was done by my man Dr Woo hooked it up.

Q: In closing … can you share a guilty pleasure?

My guilty pleasure is movie hopping. I love cinema and the feeling I get when I am in the theaters and watching something for the 1st time.

Q: I don’t want to take too much of your time … plus your music really speaks for itself, so I’m gonna direct people to your site www.JBiiiMusic.com where they can get all the past albums (Dopamine: My Life On My Back & The Beauty Created) and keep up with all news that is JESSE BOYKINS III.

I hope that you enjoyed this, I did. JESSE BOYKINS III is really a good dude that not only has incredible hair, he understands the process, beauty, work, role of art in our lives and community. PLUS, he is an independent artist, so PLEASE support him!