Adrian Younge is a rare force in the music world, a self-taught multi-instrumentalist and Emmy Award-winning composer whose artistry transcends boundaries and defies the digital tide.
Younge’s music has left an indelible mark on the hip-hop landscape. His seminal album, Something About April, became a treasure trove for artists like Jay-Z, whose sampling of Younge’s work helped solidify his role as a transformative voice in contemporary music. Yet, Adrian’s impact isn’t confined to the studio; it thrives on the stage through Jazz Is Dead (JID), a revolutionary multimedia platform he co-founded with Ali Shaheed Muhammad.
Together, they’ve reimagined the essence of collaboration, producing albums with legends like Roy Ayers, Lonnie Liston Smith, Tony Allen, and Brazilian icons such as João Donato, Hyldon, Marcos Valle, and Azymuth. Adrian’s latest release, São Paulo, illuminates the profound influence of Brazilian music on his work, paving the way for his awaited conclusion to the Something About April trilogy (Something About April III), composed entirely in Portuguese.
Adrian Younge is not merely a musician but a preservationist of analog humanity. In an era defined by convenience and speed, he stands as a visionary unafraid to swim against the current, crafting a legacy that echoes the soul of a bygone era while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in contemporary music. At the helm of Linear Labs and Jazz Is Dead, Adrian continues to chart an unparalleled artistic course, redefining what it means to create with a human touch, depth, and authenticity