Jesse Boykins III on ushering in New Growth

The New Exchange with Ken Grand-Pierre

It comes up pretty early on in this podcast: but Jesse Boykins III is the kind of person that people smile about when they hear his name. I’ve seen it happen numerous times throughout the years, both across the US and abroad. Sure, much of that has to do with how celebrated Jesse is as an artist, but so much of that love also has to do with how Jesse exudes generosity, candor, and affection towards the world. From Grammy nominations to collaborating with Vic Mensa, Steve Lacey Calvin Harris, and more…Jesse’s done a lot. But his latest offering is the most important step forward in his career: New Growth. Its Jesse’s fifth album, his most realized and honest depiction of who he is, where he’s been, and where he’s hoping to go. It’s an R&B album that reminds you that the limits of the genre are boundless, and the ways Jesse incorporates sounds like West African Folk, Brazilian Samba, and electronica are just incredible. That’s the sonic component of the album, lyrically New Growth traverses the nuances of being a human being. The good, the bad, the inspiring, the embarrassing; it’s a body of work that aims to encapsulate and convey so much of what makes us….well, us. We chat about all of that on today’s podcast, along with Jesse’s focus on creating safe spaces for creatives to evolve.