Posted on 05/29/2008
The E.P. by local artist by way of Chicago, Jamaica and Miami, Jesse Boykins III is 23 minutes and 7 seconds of soul brilliance. This album entitled Dopamine: My Life On My Back is the sharing of a very personal experience. Jesse bears his soul in all its dualistic realities. The album is a paradox of being raw and polished…insightful and idiomatic…sweet and dirty…and I was left wanting more.

Jesse Boykins III is more than a great singer and songwriter, he produced, mixed and engineered all songs on the album which was put together seamlessly. His versatile voice transitions between butter smooth, grimy grit and flawless falsetto and his compositions are tight. The musicians that collaborated on this EP are phenomenal and compliment Jesse’s vocal arrangements perfectly. There are few albums I can listen to without skipping at least one track and this one has made that list. My favorite track is “Tabloids,” which is a mellow groove with a drum rhythm that rolls the hips unconsciously and showcases Jesse’s incredible vocal range and control.

Jesse’s lyrics highlight the correlation between love and addiction. The EP takes you on a journey of love and love lost and inspires you to close your eyes and let the grooves naturally sway you. Featured on the EP are New Jersey Hip Hop artist J.A.M.E.S Watts and Washington D.C. Spoken Word artist Jade Foster, who increase the intensity of the album with their emblematic messages and captivating deliveries.

Jesse Boykins III is often compared to artists like Bilal, Musiq Soulchild and Eric Roberson, although his sound and style are all his own. This album is staying in my rotation and my only disappointment was the brief nature of an EP cause I really couldn’t get enough…luckily Jesse has his full length album My Notebook and I ready and waiting for eager ears.

- Sabrina C.