McKinley Dixon

Last updated
McKinley Dixon
Birth nameMcKinley Dixon
Also known asMC Dixon
Born (1995-10-28) October 28, 1995 (age 28)
Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
Years active2015–present
Labels

McKinley Dixon (born October 28, 1995) is an American rapper and singer from Richmond, Virginia.

Contents

Background

Dixon was born on October 28, 1995, in Annapolis, Maryland. He attended Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. Around this time, he released two studio albums, his debut Who Taught You to Hate Yourself? in 2016 and his second album, The Importance of Self Belief.

On May 7, 2021, Dixon released his third studio album, For My Mama and Anyone Who Look like Her , which was met with critical acclaim. Lucy Shanker from Consequence gave the album an "A" rating calling the album "a work of art. It encompasses numerous genres; it's a jazz piece, it’s a marching band showcase, it's a spoken word performance, it's a rap album. It's a stunning exploration of the Black experience." [1] Kyle Kohner, writing for Exclaim! said the album is "compellingly verbose and, at times, boastful rapping style, but he also wields an impressive level of lyrical complexity. The emcee operates with a film director's eye, one that places himself in the actor's shoes, often offering multi-pronged characters that aim to make sense of himself and those who look like him." [2] On Beats Per Minute , Conor Lochrie described the album "an unfolding narrative which could be considered a thesis, Dixon emphasizes the commodification of Black art by White people: where Black art often seems like it has to have a greater point, a higher purpose – indulging in traumatic images of violence in racial horror, as in the above case – white people, contrastingly, get to make whatever art they wish." [3]

In 2022, Dixon appeared in Soul Glo's track "Spiritual Level of Gang Shit" on their studio album Diaspora Problems . On March 7, 2023, Dixon announced the album Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? and released the single "Run, Run, Run". The full album was released through City Slang on June 2, 2023, and attracted widespread critical acclaim. [4] Robin Murray of Clash noted that the album title is derived "from a phrase used by the novelist Toni Morrison", and identified the choice of title as a nod to the "literary flair" of Dixon's output. [5]

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MC Lyte</span> American rapper (born 1970)

Lana Michele Moorer, better known by her stage name MC Lyte, is an American rapper. Considered one of the pioneers of female rap, MC Lyte first gained fame in the late 1980s, becoming the first female rapper to release a full solo album with 1988's critically acclaimed Lyte as a Rock. The album spawned the singles "10% Dis" and "Paper Thin".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen Latifah</span> American rapper (born 1970)

Dana Elaine Owens, better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American rapper, singer, and actress. She has received various accolades, including a Grammy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two NAACP Image Awards, in addition to a nomination for an Academy Award. In 2006, she became the first hip hop artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauryn Hill</span> American rapper and singer (born 1975)

Lauryn Noelle Hill is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She is regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, as well as one of the most influential musicians of her generation. She is often credited for breaking barriers for female rappers, popularizing melodic rap, and pioneering neo soul for mainstream audiences. In addition to being named one of the 50 Great Voices by NPR, Hill was listed as one of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time by Rolling Stone. In 2015, she was ranked as the greatest female rapper by Billboard. Her other accolades include eight Grammy Awards—the most for any female rapper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coolio</span> American rapper (1963–2022)

Artis Leon Ivey Jr., known by his stage name Coolio, was an American rapper. He was best known for his single "Gangsta's Paradise" (1995), which won a Grammy Award, and was credited for changing the course of hip hop by bringing it to a wider audience. Other singles included "Fantastic Voyage" (1994), "1, 2, 3, 4 " (1996), and "C U When U Get There" (1997). He released nine albums, the first three of which achieved mainstream success: It Takes a Thief (1994), Gangsta's Paradise (1995), and My Soul (1997). Coolio first achieved recognition as a member of the gangsta rap group WC and the Maad Circle. Coolio sold 4.8 million albums in the U.S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erykah Badu</span> American singer (born 1971)

Erica Abi Wright, known professionally as Erykah Badu, is an American singer and songwriter. Influenced by R&B, soul, and hip hop, Badu rose to prominence in the late 1990s when her debut album Baduizm (1997), placed her at the forefront of the neo soul movement, earning her the nickname "Queen of Neo Soul" by music critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Foxx</span> American actor, singer, and comedian (born 1967)

Eric Marlon Bishop, known professionally as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, singer, and comedian. He received acclaim for his portrayal of Ray Charles in the film Ray (2004), winning the Academy Award, BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. That same year, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the crime film Collateral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neneh Cherry</span> Swedish singer and songwriter (born 1964)

Neneh Mariann Karlsson ; born 10 March 1964), better known as Neneh Cherry, is a Swedish singer, songwriter, rapper, occasional disc jockey and broadcaster. Her musical career started in London in the early 1980s, where she performed in a number of punk and post-punk bands in her youth, including the Slits and Rip Rig + Panic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jully Black</span> Canadian singer, songwriter and actress

Jully Black is a Canadian singer, songwriter and actress. She has released 4 studio albums, and 2 remix EPs. She has collaborated and written for many artists, including Nas, Saukrates, Choclair, Kardinal Offishall, Destiny's Child, and Sean Paul.

<i>Things Fall Apart</i> (album) 1999 studio album by the Roots

Things Fall Apart is the fourth studio album by American hip hop band the Roots, released on February 23, 1999, by MCA Records. Recording sessions for the album took place at Electric Lady during 1997 to 1998, coinciding with recording for other projects of the Soulquarians collective, including D'Angelo's Voodoo (2000), Erykah Badu's Mama's Gun (2000), and Common's Like Water for Chocolate (2000). According to Spin magazine, the album became a landmark moment for the Roots and the collective, as it "swelled the Roots clique into a movement-style posse".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dear Mama</span> 1995 single by Tupac Shakur

"Dear Mama" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his third studio album, Me Against the World (1995). It was released on February 21, 1995, as the lead single from the album. The song is a tribute to his mother, Afeni Shakur. In the song, Shakur details his childhood poverty and his mother's addiction to crack cocaine, but argues that his love and deep respect for his mother supersede bad memories. The song became his first top ten on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number nine. It also topped the Hot Rap Singles chart for five weeks. As of March 2021, the song is certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA.

Run Run Run may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melina Soochan</span> Musical artist

Melina Soochan is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Montreal, Quebec.

<i>"Awaken, My Love!"</i> 2016 studio album by Childish Gambino

"Awaken, My Love!" is the third studio album by American rapper Donald Glover, under his stage name Childish Gambino. It was released by Glassnote Records on December 2, 2016. Consisting of tracks being sung rather than rapped, its fusion of psychedelic soul, funk and R&B influences was considered a bold departure from the predominantly hip hop style of his prior work. The album was produced by Glover and his longtime collaborator, Ludwig Göransson.

The lack of respect that black women received in the music industry gave rise to hip hop feminism, as singers such as Monie Love brought attention to the differences in acknowledgment that existed even for equal talent. The movement tackles problems arising from deindustrialization, racial wealth disparities, and conservative backlash. It was molded by the social environment of the 1980s and 1990s. Meshell Ndegeocello, an American rapper, singer and bassist and Angie Stone, a singer, are two artists that have shaped the conversation. Hip-hop feminism goes beyond gender issues to support the rights of women, African Americans, and LGBTQ+ people. Queen Latifah, a prominent figure in the genre, used "the politics of respectability" to promote women's rights and racial empowerment. Ndegeocello is one of the rising queer feminists of color who brings a nuanced viewpoint to problems like abortion and unjust beauty standards. Changes in perspectives are reflected in the transition from male-dominated hip hop music to women-centered hip hop soul, which allows for a diversity of narratives within black communities. The Grammy-winning song "U.N.I.T.Y." by Queen Latifah was a historic moment that validated the powerful voice of black women in a male-dominated field and sparked discussions about domestic abuse and the commodification of black women's sexuality. In the United States, the introduction of new styles of music came during the Transatlantic Slave Trade era. The genres of music include, but are not limited to, blues, rock, gospel music, jazz, bluegrass, and Hip-hop. African American women in the music industry have made significant contributions over the years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anjimile</span> American folk musician

Anjimile Chithambo, better known under the mononym Anjimile, is an American folk musician from Boston, Massachusetts.

<i>I Lie Here Buried with My Rings and My Dresses</i> 2021 studio album by Backxwash

I Lie Here Buried with My Rings and My Dresses is the third studio album by Zambian-Canadian rapper and producer Backxwash. The album was self released on June 20, 2021, through Ugly Hag Records. The album features guest appearances with artists such as Ada Rook, Censored Dialogue, Sad13 and features extra production from NOWHERE2RUN, Will Owen Bennett, and clipping. The first single of the album, titled "I Lie Here Buried With My Rings and My Dresses", was released on May 6, 2021.

<i>Whats Tonight to Eternity?</i> 2020 studio album by Cindy Lee

What's Tonight to Eternity? is the fifth studio album from Canadian music project Cindy Lee, headed by Patrick Flegel. Released in early 2020 through W.25th, the album was thematically influenced by the life of musician Karen Carpenter, which Flegel related to deeply on a personal level. The stylistically eclectic album was preceded by the release of 2 singles, and received highly positive reviews from critics who have described it as provocative, eerie and haunting. It was notably longlisted for the 2020 Polaris Music Prize.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 in Canadian music</span> Overview of the events of 2022 in Canadian music

The following musical events and releases that happened in 2022 in Canada.

<i>Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?</i> 2023 studio album by McKinley Dixon

Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? is the fourth studio album from American musician McKinley Dixon. Released on June 2, 2023, it is a jazz rap and conscious hip hop album.

<i>For My Mama and Anyone Who Look like Her</i> 2021 album by McKinley Dixon

For My Mama and Anyone Who Look like Her is the third studio album from American hip-hop musician McKinley Dixon. Released on May 7, 2021, it is a jazz rap and conscious hip hop album.

References

  1. Shanker, Lucy (May 7, 2021). "McKinley Dixon Deftly Navigates Grief and Healing on For My Mama and Anyone Who Look Like Her: Review". Consequence . Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  2. Kohner, Kyle (May 3, 2021). "McKinley Dixon Delivers Impressive Hip-Hop Storytelling on 'For My Mama and Anyone Who Look Like Her'". Exclaim! . Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  3. Lochrie, Conor (May 17, 2021). "Album Review: McKinley Dixon – for My Mama and Anyone Who Look Like Her". Beats Per Minute . Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  4. "Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? by McKinley Dixon". Metacritic . Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  5. Murray, Robin (March 8, 2023). "McKinley Dixon Announces New Album 'Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?'". Clash . Retrieved March 20, 2023.