Jneiro Jarel Explained

Jneiro Jarel
Birth Name:Omar Jarel Gilyard
Birth Place:Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Genre:Hip hop
Years Active:1989-present
Past Member Of:JJ Doom

Omar Jarel Gilyard, known by his stage name Jneiro Jarel, is an American recording artist, music producer, composer and DJ. Recognized for his versatile, abstract, and often experimental style,[1] he is also known for his beat-making alias Dr. Who Dat? and his groups Willie Isz, JJ Doom and Shape of Broad Minds.[2] He has collaborated with artists such as Damon Albarn, Count Bass D, Massive Attack, TV on the Radio and Kimbra among others.[3] [4] [5]

History

Jarel was born in Brooklyn. He spent several years of his life living in Maryland, Arizona, Atlanta and Houston, before eventually moving back to New York City. It was in New York that he started his own label, Orienj Recordings (now Label Who?), and released his first EP as a solo artist.[6]

In 2003 he signed to indie record label Kindred Spirits,[7] and was the sole representative from New York to participate in and perform at Red Bull Music Academy in Cape Town, South Africa.[8]

In 2004 Jneiro moved to Philadelphia and, through his success in the indie music scene, was able to work with some of the city's most influential artists King Britt and Rich Medina.[9] [10]

He signed a multi-album record deal with Lex Records in 2006.[6] [11]

Career

2000–2005: Early career

Following the 2000 release of his Section A EP,[12] Jneiro also released his first full-length album, Timeless Volume 1 in 2004, via Label Who?[13] Over the next year he made a number of guest appearances and contributions on various projects, and release several promo singles and DJ mixes,[14] before jointly releasing his Three Piece Puzzle LP on, both, Kindred Spirits and Ropeadope Records in 2005.[6] The album was universally met with positive reception.[15] [16] [17]

2006–2011: Lex Records and mainstream recognition

2006 marked the beginning of Jarel's relationship with Lex Records, and saw the release of his critically acclaimed instrumental project, Beat Journey, under his Dr. Who Dat? alias.[18] [19] [20] The album cover art was designed by the UK based graphic artists collective, and frequent Lex Records collaborators, Ehquestionmark,[21] [22] best known for their previous work on The Mouse and the Mask and Ghetto Pop Life. The aesthetic approach featured in Beat Journeys art design would become a staple in Jneiro's future releases.[23] [24]

He followed up Beat Journey with his 2007 Lex release, Craft of the Lost Art, under the group name Shape of Broad Minds.[25] Like many of his previous works, Craft of the Lost Art saw Jarel incorporating several of his aliases on to the album, although this was the first time they would all converge in one place.[26] In addition to fellow group member and emcee Jawwaad Taylor, the project also included a number of features from MF Doom, Count Bass D, Stacy Epps and John Robinson.[25] Craft of the Lost Art widely received positive reviews,[27] [28] and saw Jneiro teaming with Ehquestionmark once more, for an artwork design that included a limited edition, glow-in-the-dark LP, as well as an EP, single and mixtape download.[24]

In early 2009 he revisited his Dr. Who Dat? alter ego for the digital-only release of Beyond 2morrow.[29] This instrumental EP would showcase the more experimental approach to production that was previously, but briefly, explored in some of Jneiro's earlier work.[30] Having been fully realized and embraced on this project, it would also help in solidifying his place among a growing musical genre that would later become popular in the Low End Theory and L.A. beat scene.[31]

That same year Jneiro teamed with Goodie Mob's Khujo Goodie to form the group Willie Isz. They released their debut project Georgiavania on June 15, 2009, via Lex Records.[32] The album features backing vocals from Tunde Adebimpe of TV on the Radio,[33] and continued the string of positive reception Jarel's work had come to know.[34] It would also set the stage for a number of collaborations between Jarel and TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek.[35] [36] [37] [38]

In 2010, Jarel signed a digital distribution deal with Alpha Pup Records, which resulted in the release of his Android Love Mayhem- EP and the reissue of Beyond 2morrow, as Jneiro Jarel.[39] Artwork for both EP's was handled by painter and muralist, and Three Piece Puzzle album cover designer, Joshua Mays.[40]

Jneiro also joined forces with Kindred Spirits again and released the Brazilian themed album Fauna.[41]

All three projects had heavy electronic overtones in their production, and continued to show Jarel's willingness to move away from more traditional sample based music, and explore beyond the rigid boundaries set in place by many musical genres.[42] [43] [44]

In 2011 Jneiro was handpicked by Damon Albarn to be a part of the, newly established, musical collective DRC Music (Democratic Republic of the Congo Music) group. Working in conjunction with Oxfam, the project's intention was to bring awareness to Oxfam's relief work in Congo, as well as give exposure to over fifty local Congolese musicians. Albarn assembled a team of ten producers, composed of Jarel, Dan the Automator, XL Recordings managers Richard Russell and Rodaidh McDonald, Kwes, Actress, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Marc Antoine, Alwest, and Remi Kabaka Jr. to work alongside local musicians in Kinshasa. The result was Kinshasa One Two; an album recorded in five days, with all of its proceeds going towards Oxfam. It was released on Warp Records October 3, 2011.[45] [46]

2012–present: JJ Doom and Label Who

On December 16, 2011, a Dave Sitek remix of a JJ Doom track, titled "Rhymin' Slang", was posted on Pitchfork.[47] JJ Doom was revealed to be the pairing of Jneiro Jarel and Lex label mate MF Doom, which drew speculation at the time that the two were working on an album together. This suspicion was confirmed when Pitchfork later ran an article on February 16, 2012, detailing the album's title, Key to the Kuffs, and leaked one of its tracks "Banished".[48] A third track from the album, "Guv'nor", was posted on Pitchfork July 27, 2012.[49]

Key to the Kuffs was released August 20, 2012 on Lex Records.[50] Debuting at number 124 on the Billboard 200,[51] Key to the Kuffs received notable positive praise,[52] [53] eventually charting a total of six Billboard charts[54] and landing on several "Best Albums of 2012" lists.[55] [56] [57] It had a number of high-profile guest appearances, from previous Jneiro Jarel collaborators Damon Albarn and Khujo Goodie, to Beth Gibbons of Portishead.[50]

A video for the song "Guv'nor" premiered August 23, 2012.[58] Directed by Ninian Doff and presented by RizLab,[59] the video garnered attention for its use of an optical illusion/split-screen visual effect.[60] Later a video for the "Rhymin' Slang (JJ Tron Remix)" would be released, as an extension of the JJ Doom/RizLab project.[61]

The album artwork for Key to the Kuffs was designed by American graffiti artist Stephen "ESPO" Powers.[62] Powers would also later direct the music video for JJ Doom's "Bookhead". The video premiered June 19, 2013 and the track was featured on the expanded, deluxe edition of Key to the Kuffs, titled Key to the Kuffs (Butter Edition),[63] released August 20, 2013.[64] The "Butter Edition" also included the Dave Sitek "Rhymin' Slang" remix, as well as the previously released, alternative version of "Retarded Fren" by Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood. It also featured a number of guest contributions in the form of remixes, features and alternative versions from Beck, BadBadNotGood, Del the Funky Homosapien and Clams Casino.[65]

In August 2013, Jneiro Jarel announced (via Okayplayer) the official launch of his own record label, Label Who, with Ropeadope Records serving as digital distributor.[3]

Personal life

Jarel is married to Indigo.[66]

Discography

Jneiro Jarel

Dr. Who Dat?

Shape of Broad Minds

Willie Isz

Capital Peoples

DRC Music

JJ Doom

Productions

Remixes

Mixes

DJ Mixes

Guest appearances

Compilation appearances

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Joy of Lex (#06 Extended Feature). Bonafide Magazine. June 17, 2012. June 3, 2013. April 25, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130425005155/http://www.bonafidemag.com/bonafide-exclusive-joy-lex-bonus-outtakes/. dead.
  2. Web site: Jneiro Jarel. . June 1, 2013.
  3. Web site: Jneiro Jarel Launches Label Who. okayplayer.com . November 7, 2013. Eddie. Stats. 7 August 2013 .
  4. Web site: OKP Exclusive: Kimbra Talks 'The Golden Echo' LP + Jneiro Jarel x Kimbra – 'Echoes In Viberia' Mixtape Premiere. okayplayer.com . August 26, 2014. Karas. Lamb. 26 August 2014 .
  5. Web site: Jneiro Jarel's Australian Debut With RBMA. . November 7, 2013. Kris. Swales.
  6. Web site: Jneiro Jarel- Music Biography, Credits and Discography. . May 27, 2013. Marisa. Brown.
  7. Web site: Kindred Spirits Artist Profile-Jneiro Jarel . Kindred Spirits . June 3, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130614221354/http://www.kindred-spirits.nl/artist.php . June 14, 2013 . dead .
  8. Web site: Jneiro Jarel. . May 27, 2013.
  9. Web site: Download Benefit Compilation for Kool Herc featuring Jneiro Jarel. Lex Records. June 5, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131215214800/http://lexprojects.com/2011/02/benefit-compilation-for-kool-dj-herc/. December 15, 2013. dead.
  10. Web site: Rich Medina' Connecting the Dots. . June 5, 2013.
  11. Web site: Jneiro Jarel- Groups, Projects & Aliases. . May 27, 2013.
  12. Web site: Jneiro Jarel- Section A . Discogs . May 28, 2013.
  13. Web site: Jneiro Jarel- Timeless Volume 1 . Discogs . May 28, 2013.
  14. Web site: Jneiro Jarel- Discography . Discogs . May 28, 2013.
  15. Web site: Three Piece Puzzle- Jneiro Jarel- . Allmusic. . May 27, 2013. Vincent. Thomas.
  16. Web site: Jneiro Jarel:Three Piece Puzzle:Label Who . RapReviews.com . December 20, 2005. Tom. Doggett.
  17. Web site: Jneiro Jarel "Three Piece Puzzle" (Ropeadope) . beatlife.com . May 28, 2013. Lucy. B. 10 November 2005 .
  18. Web site: Beat Journey- Dr. Who Dat? . Allmusic. . May 29, 2013.
  19. Web site: Dr. Who Dat?- Beat Journey . . May 29, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131027161644/http://www.xlr8r.com/reviews/dr-who-dat/beat-journey . October 27, 2013 . dead .
  20. Web site: Album Review: Dr. Who Dat?- Beat Journey . Prefix Magazine. December 5, 2006 . Matthew. Gasteier.
  21. Web site: Dr. Who Dat?-Beat Journey. The Cover Up. August 15, 2007. May 29, 2013. February 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140203195240/http://the-cover-up.com/2007/08/15/dr-who-dat-beat-journey/. dead.
  22. Web site: EHQUESTIONMARK?- BONAFIDE EXCLUSIVE . Bonafide Magazine . March 7, 2010. Paul. Allworthy.
  23. Web site: Dr. Who Dat?- Beat Journey. The Cover Up. August 15, 2007. May 29, 2013. February 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140203195240/http://the-cover-up.com/2007/08/15/dr-who-dat-beat-journey/. dead.
  24. Web site: Shape of Broad Minds: Craft of the Lost Art . Sleevage . January 2, 2008 . May 29, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130517185157/http://sleevage.com/shape-of-broad-minds-craft-of-the-lost-art/ . May 17, 2013 . dead .
  25. Web site: Shape of Broad Minds- Craft of the Lost Art . . May 29, 2013. Vincent. Thomas.
  26. Web site: Shape of Broad Minds . . May 29, 2013. Vincent. Thomas.
  27. Craft of the Lost Art . . October 2007 . Tony . Wilson . 2013-05-29 . 2014-02-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140202114321/http://www.frieze.com/issue/article/craft_of_the_lost_art/ . dead .
  28. Web site: Shape of Broad Minds- Craft of the Lost Art . . November 5, 2007 . Jesse . Serwer . May 29, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141026024746/http://www.xlr8r.com/reviews/shape-broad-minds/craft-lost-art . October 26, 2014 . dead .
  29. Web site: Dr. Who Dat?, Beyond 2morrow . Impose Magazine . February 11, 2009. Jason. smith.
  30. Web site: Review: Dr. Who Dat?, "Beyond 2morrow" . Plug One . January 23, 2009.
  31. Craft Of The Lost Art- Jneiro Jarel. . January 26, 2012. Robin. Murray.
  32. Web site: Willie Isz: Something Else . Hiphopdx.com . May 22, 2009. Andrew. Noz.
  33. Web site: Willie Isz-Georgiavania . . May 29, 2013.
  34. Web site: Willie Isz-Georgiavania- Willie Isz . . June 3, 2013.
  35. MF Doom- Gazillion Ear EP (Jneiro Jarel & Dave Sitek remix) video . . May 29, 2013.
  36. Web site: TV On The Radio- Shout Me Out (Willie Isz Remix by Jneiro Jarel. RCRD LBL. May 29, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20110820023827/http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/TV_On_The_Radio/track/Shout_Me_Out_Willie_Isz_Remix_by_Jneiro_Jarel. August 20, 2011. dead.
  37. Web site: Maximum Balloon- Groove Me (feat. Theophilus London) (by Jneiro Jarel Remix). RCRD LBL. May 29, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20120104110238/http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Maximum_Balloon/track/Groove_Me_feat_Theophilus_London_Jneiro_Jarel_Remix. January 4, 2012. dead.
  38. Web site: JJ DOOM: "Rhymin' Slang (Dave Sitek Remix)" . . December 16, 2011 . Larry . Fitzmaurice . April 21, 2020 . September 14, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150914141626/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/12897-rhymin-slang-dave-sitek-remix/ . dead .
  39. Web site: Jneiro Jarel . . June 3, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130428062524/http://www.alphapuprecords.com/artistpage.php?ArtistID=156 . April 28, 2013 . dead .
  40. Web site: Feature Interview-Joshua Mays: Meditations on Canvas. https://archive.today/20130628232358/http://www.culturefphiles.com/joshua-mays-meditations-on-canvas/. dead. June 28, 2013. CultureFphiles.com. June 1, 2013.
  41. Web site: Jneiro Jarel-Fauna . Kindred Spirits . May 29, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131005095344/http://www.kindred-spirits.nl/release_detail.php?idxItem=55059 . October 5, 2013 . dead .
  42. Web site: Jneiro Jarel-Android Love Mayhem EP. Impose Magazine . May 24, 2010.
  43. Web site: Album Reviews: Dr. Who Dat?, Mr. Chop . https://archive.today/20130630142153/http://www.wickedlocal.com/holbrook/fun/entertainment/x2094360650/Album-reviews-Dr-Who-Dat-Mr-Chop?img=2%23axzz2UhSNdcTb . dead . June 30, 2013 . Wickedlocal.com access . January 12, 2009 . Patrick . Varine .
  44. Web site: Escape With Jneiro Jarel To 'Amazonica' . Soulbounce.com . September 29, 2010 . May 29, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130127054659/http://www.soulbounce.com/soul/2010/09/escape_with_jneiro_jarel_to_amazonica.php . January 27, 2013 . dead .
  45. Web site: DRC Music- Kinshasa One Two . DRC Music . May 29, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111120032047/http://drcmusic.org/ . November 20, 2011 .
  46. Web site: DRC Music. . May 29, 2013.
  47. Web site: Fitzmaurice. Larry. JJ DOOM: "Rhymin' Slang (Dave Sitek Remix)". Pitchfork Media. December 15, 2011. April 21, 2020. September 14, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150914141626/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/12897-rhymin-slang-dave-sitek-remix/. dead.
  48. Web site: Battanon. Carrie. DOOM Teams With Jneiro Jarel for Album. Pitchfork Media. 21 May 2012. 15 February 2012.
  49. Web site: Battanon. Carrie. DOOM Teams With Jneiro Jarel for Album. Pitchfork Media. 21 May 2012. July 27, 2012. 2 August 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120802073433/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/13951-guvnor/. dead.
  50. Web site: Horowitz. Steven. JJ DOOM "Key To The Kuffs" Album Stream . Hiphoxdx.com . August 16, 2012.
  51. Web site: Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 8/26/2012. 29 August 2012. HipHopDX.
  52. Web site: Key To The Kuffs-JJ DOOM. . May 30, 2013.
  53. Web site: JJ DOOM-'Key To The Kuffs'. . June 3, 2013.
  54. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=jj doom|chart=Billboard 200}} JJ DOOM-Chart History]. . May 30, 2013.
  55. Exclaim!'s Best Albums of 2012: Hip-Hop. Exclaim!. December 18, 2012.
  56. Web site: Staff Lists: Toussaint's Top Albums and Songs of 2012. spartanchronicle.com. November 29, 2012. May 31, 2013. August 16, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130816053853/http://www.thespartanchronicle.com/2012/11/29/staff-lists-toussaints-top-albums-songs-of-2012/. dead.
  57. Web site: 50 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2012. The Urban Daily. Dart. Adams . January 1, 2013.
  58. Grosinger. Matt. Video: JJ DOOM-"Guv'nor" . . August 23, 2012.
  59. Web site: JJ DOOM "GUV'NOR" From Album KEY TO THE KUFFS- RizLab Project #4. . August 23, 2012.
  60. Web site: Video: JJ DOOM-Guv'nor. Pretty Much Amazing access. May 31, 2013. May 31, 2013. October 4, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121004075047/http://prettymuchamazing.com/videos/guvnor. dead.
  61. Video: JJ DOOM-"Rhymin' Slang (JJ Tron Remix) Video" . . May 31, 2013.
  62. Web site: JJ Doom (Jneiro Jarel and DOOM) Album Artwork by ESPO. Ego Trip. July 5, 2012. June 4, 2013. October 29, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171029062235/http://www.egotripland.com/jj-doom-album-cover/1956129524001/. dead.
  63. Web site: Battan. Carrie. Video: JJ DOOM: "BOOKHEAD" . . June 19, 2013.
  64. Web site: Key to the Kuffs (Butter Edition): JJ Doom. Amazon . July 27, 2013.
  65. Martins. Chris. Hear Thom Yorke, Dave Sitek, and Clams Casino Rework JJ DOOM's Gritty Rap Tracks. . June 20, 2013.
  66. Web site: Laurent. Fintoni. V is for Vibing. Red Bull Amaphiko. February 3, 2016. June 22, 2016. August 17, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160817124306/https://amaphiko.redbull.com/en/magazine/v-is-for-vibing. dead.
  67. Web site: Jneiro Jarel and MF DOOM Are JJ DOOM. XLR8R. February 16, 2012. Patric. Fallon.
  68. Web site: JJ DOOM Prep Fans For 'Key to the Kuffs' (Butter Version). okayplayer. August 27, 2014. Karas. Lamb. 2 August 2013 .
  69. Web site: JJ DOOM RELEASE BOOKHEAD EP AS LIMITED EDITION PICTURE DISC, AND IT LOOKS ACE. 24 January 2014 . factmag.com. September 1, 2014.

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