Wikipedia

Karriem Riggins

Karriem Rigginsis an Americanjazz drummer,record producer,DJand songwriter fromDetroit,Michigan. He met Chicago rapperCommonand fellow Detroit musicianJ Dillaboth in 1996, and served as an extensive contributor for releases by both artists. He produced for Common's 1997 albumOne Day It'll All Make Sense,did so on much of his further projects, and formed the musical trioAugust Greenewith the rapper alongside fellow jazz instrumentalistRobert Glasperin 2018. Furthermore, he formed the Jahari Massamba Unit withMadlibin 2020, and has also worked with prominent music industry artists includingPaul McCartney,Kanye West,Denzel Curry,Earl Sweatshirt,andNorah Jones,among others.

Karriem Riggins
Riggins in 2014
Riggins in 2014
Background information
Born(1975-08-25)August 25, 1975(age 49)
OriginDetroit,Michigan,U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • disc jockey
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Drums
  • percussion
Years active1990s–present
LabelsStones Throw
Member of
Websitekarriemriggins.com

Biography

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Riggins was born inDetroit,Michigan,son of keyboardist Emmanuel Riggins. As a child, he often watched his father perform with acts includungGrant GreenandMarcus Belgrave.He joined the Kennedy Elementary school band in the sixth grade as a trumpeter, studying with Belgrave, where he played for two years in addition to drums before switching to drums full-time in the eighth grade.

Riggins was a DJ, producing hip-hop and performing in three different school bands atSouthfield High Schoolbefore leaving school in the eleventh grade. He joinedBetty Carter's Jazz Ahead band soon after at age 17 and moved to New York in 1994,[1]later joining theMulgrew Millertrio. He also performed in bands withSteven ScottandBenny Greenbefore joiningRoy Hargrove's band in the middle of 1995.

After three years with Hargrove, Riggins joined the trio of famed bassistRay Brown.After leaving Brown's band, he began producing hip-hop extensively and serving as the bandleader for rapperCommon's band, A Black Girl Named Becky. Riggins had met Common in 1996, and began spending time with the rapper during visits with notable hip-hop producers. He also metJ Dilla,a fellowDetroitnative, that same year. He then formed a close friendship with Dilla until his death; Riggins has cited Dilla as a primary influence in helping him overcome multiple creative ruts throughout his career. Riggins produced a song on Dilla's albumWelcome 2 Detroit(2001) and two songs on his album,The Shining(2006).[2]He credits Dilla for purchasing the first production he ever sold, for "The Clapper" on Welcome 2 Detroit.

As a drummer, Riggins has also recorded or performed withDonald Byrd,Hank Jones,Milt Jackson,Oscar Peterson,Norah Jones,Cedar Walton,Roy Hargrove,Esperanza SpaldingandBobby Hutcherson.[3]In 2011, he collaborated withPaul McCartneyofthe Beatlesin concert and on his albumKisses on the Bottom—McCartney's first studio release in five years. Apart from jazz, Riggins has produced for hip hop artists includingSlum Village,Erykah Badu,Common,J Dilla,The Roots,Kanye West,Talib Kweli,Kaytranada,Earl Sweatshirt,Phat Kat,ConsequenceandDwele.[4]He has collaborated with hip hopmulti-instrumentalistMadlibon his 2007 albumYesterdays Universe,they formed the musical outfits Supreme Team and The Jahari Massamba Unit.[5]

Riggins released his debut full-length album, the instrumental double-LPAlone TogetherthroughStones Throw Recordson October 23, 2012. Prior to its release, Stones Throw released the two halves of the album separately on vinyl as well as digitally exclusively through their website.Alonewas released on July 30 andTogetherfollowed on October 2.[6]He extensively worked on Common's highly acclaimed 2016 albumBlack America Again,which featuredStevie Wonderon the titular song and included a performance at theWhite Houseas part ofNPR's "Tiny Desk Concerts"series. On February 24, 2017, Riggins released his second album on Stones Throw,Headnod Suite.[7]

Along with Common andRobert Glasper,Riggins received the award forOutstanding Original Music & Lyricsat the69th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awardsfor Common's song "Letter to the Free,"which appeared inAva DuVernay'sNetflix documentary"13th".[8]

Personal life

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As of 2007, he resides inLos Angeles,California.[9]

Discography

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Albums

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Production credits

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withCommon

withJ Dilla

with others

Awards and honors

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References

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  1. ^Burrell, Jalylah."What You Feel".Portland Mercury.
  2. ^"The Diary: Karriem Riggins Speaks on J Dilla".YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on December 21, 2021.
  3. ^Jazz, All About."Karriem Riggins @ All About Jazz".Allaboutjazz.com.
  4. ^"Karriem Riggins | Credits".AllMusic.
  5. ^"Karriem Riggins: True Virtuoso by Dale Coachman".Archived from the original on October 15, 2007.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ^"KARRIEM RIGGINS – TOGETHER LP".Stones Throw Records.RetrievedSeptember 14,2017.
  7. ^Bromwich, Jonah."Karriem Riggins: Headnod Suite Album Review".Pitchfork.RetrievedSeptember 15,2017.
  8. ^Swartz, Tracy."Common wins Emmy to move closer to EGOT honor".Chicago Tribune.RetrievedSeptember 14,2017.
  9. ^"Karriem Riggins: True Virtuoso by Dale Coachman".Archived from the original on October 15, 2007.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ^"Stones Throw Podcast 74: Karriem Riggins Produced That".Stones Throw.June 21, 2012.RetrievedJune 21,2012.
  11. ^Lindert, Hattie (December 14, 2023)."Madlib and Karriem Riggins Announce New Jahari Massamba Unit Album, Share Song: Listen".Pitchfork.RetrievedDecember 14,2023.
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