My style is not specific to the antebellum South, but it's heavily inspired by the Jim Crow era. Jidenna antebellumcrowera Change image and share on social
In Brooklyn, all the kids call me the 'Willy Wonka of the Hood.' Jidenna brooklyncallhood Change image and share on social
For me, I wear a suit because I need to remember what's happened before me. Jidenna happenremembersuit Change image and share on social
Even if the production doesn't feel African, the vocal delivery - singing through your nose. Specifically, Highlife music from Nigeria. That was the first music I ever heard as a child. So singing through my nose is something I do often, and that's directly rooted in my heritage. Jidenna africanchilddelivery share on social
Willy Wonka had his chocolate factory; I have my Fear & Fancy Parlor. Jidenna chocolatefactoryfancy Change image and share on social
I think it's important to not just think about what you want but what's needed in the world. Jidenna importantneedworld Change image and share on social
I thought I had everything going for me. I wasn't listening to nobody. And my dad was like, 'Uh-uh, you can't make money from music. You have to be a doctor, a lawyer, engineer. Something that's going to do something for this world. Music doesn't do anything.' And I had to fight that, his passion, and fight the society that I was from. Jidenna daddoctorengineer share on social
There are always pluses and minus to commercialization. It broadcasts something to the masses. So that's the plus. The minus is it may lose some of its meaning if you dilute it. Jidenna broadcastcommercializationdilute Change image and share on social
The most important thing for me is the thing I strive for. But I also hope when I play my songs for people - adult, children, mostly children - that they feel mighty, they feel noble, they feel like warriors. And they feel like they can do anything in the world because that's how I feel. Jidenna adultchildfeel share on social
I feel like we haven't dealt with the ghosts of America's past, and the way to deal with it is to confront it, so every time people see me, I want them to be reminded and to confront that ghost. Jidenna americaconfrontdeal Change image and share on social