Jesse who was born in Chicago on February 20, 1985 spent most of his childhood in Jamaica and Miami before spreading roots as a teenager in New York City. In his youth Jesse spent most of his time outside of school learning valuable life lessons from his family. His aunts and uncles taught him the value of setting goals for himself; his grandmother a respect for spirituality; his mother a sense of passion and the importance of staying dedicated and focused in order to reach his goals and from all of them was grown an adoration and reverence for music.
Jesse’s own musical creations began in the 4th grade. He developed a talent for hearing sounds in his environment and using them as a guide to create melodies that he would record on his karaoke machine. It was around this time that he began to seek out music outside of what he had been exposed to growing up. He sought out soul artists such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway; enigmatic artists such as Bjork, Sade and Pink Floyd and realizing from them the impact of words in their songs he began to delve into the writings of Shakespeare and Langston Hughes. From them he learned how to create depth in his lyrics. He studied their use of metaphors and imagery, and examined how they used these techniques to create stories and worked these methods into his own personal style.
At 16 Jesse was selected out of the nation to be 1 of 13 singers in the Grammy Jazz Ensemble, where he was discovered and later recruited by The New School University for Jazz and Contemporary Music. While studying at The New School University, Jesse worked on refining his skills as a writer, performer, arranger, producer and vocalist. He studied with classical trainer Kenneth Kamal Scott and soul artist Bilal. He also created bonds with other talented creative people who became integral parts of his team and dedicated musicians forming his supporting band, The Beauty Created.
In early 2008 Jesse entered into the mainstream music scene with his first release Dopamine: My Life On My Back. His first single from that album, Tabloids peaked at #2 on the Billboard Video Monitor. His ambitious follow-up release later that year, The Beauty Created affirmed critics’ acclaim for Dopamine while solidifying Jesse’s defining place in the history of soul music. With the success of both albums, music videos and many collaborations with contemporaries such as The Foreign Exchange, Theophilus London, MeLo-X, Machine Drum, and Phantom Lover he has gained international recognition and built a loyal worldwide following.
Jesse’s talent and hard work was also recognized by BET in 2010 when they tapped him to be a major component in their BET Music Matters™ campaign granting him the distinction of being one of the first Independent Artists to premiere a video on their popular show 106 & Park. Jesse was further rewarded by earning a nomination for a 2010 Soul Train Award, which can be largely credited to his release of the video, Amorous (dir. Jarrett Woo) and his worldwide Romantic Movement Tour that year.
Currently Jesse is completing his third album Love Apparatus with producer Machine Drum. With the lead single B4 the Night is Thru, released on Robert “Bobbito” García’s vinyl label Alala Records, they delighted fans and critics alike with the evolution of his sound. Jesse considers himself a musical explorer. While recording Love Apparatus Jesse traveled worldwide marking new experiences and exploring new sounds and incorporating that into the project. In his own words he says, “I create World Soul that marks moments in time. Each time I introduce new music to my fans I want it to become a defining part of their lives as much as it is a part of mine.”
greyscale
Jesse Boykins III Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I move with wvery breath you make
For all the case, I curse,
I go, I don't want no mistake
(Pre-)
Whenever we want the mates,
Readings integrate
An endless love
For earth, you know it feel,
It feels, you know it encounters us
The glow that grows deep within
The shelter we built to trust
(Pre-)
Whenever we want the mates,
Readings integrate
An endless love
()
The force is calling, the field is strong
The nature comes to say
The force is calling, the field is strong
The greyscale
()
Plundered by the all of you
A few of the truth is known
Whoever's real, I sense withing
So I need to hold on
Closed eyes skype through
Closed lips seek it through
An endless journey of love
I roam, I yearn, I fall, I trip
Into your open arms
Your tenderness, it brings the best
When we, we all alone
(Pre-)
Whenever we want the mates,
Readings integrate
An endless love
()
The force is calling, the field is strong
The nature comes to say
The force is calling, the field is strong
The greyscale
The lyrics of Jesse Boykins III's song "Greyscale" describe the deep and enduring connection between two people, as well as the challenges that come with maintaining that love. The opening lines express how the singer is always in tune with their partner, moving with every breath they take. The following lines, "For all the case, I curse, I go, I don't want no mistake," suggest that despite the strength of their love, there are still moments of frustration or mistakes that may test the relationship.
The chorus speaks of an "endless love" that is powerful enough to transcend the limitations of our physical world. The reference to "greyscale" could be interpreted as a metaphor for the many shades and complexities of human emotion, and the force that calls to us and connects us all. The singer also references the shelter of trust that they have built with their partner, a place where they can be vulnerable and intimate.
The final verse speaks to the challenges of maintaining a lasting love, with the singer admitting to the temptation of seeking out the truth from others, but ultimately realizing that their partner's tenderness brings out the best in them. The lyrics come full circle with the repetition of the chorus, suggesting that despite the ups and downs, their love remains endless and strong.
Line by Line Meaning
The way it comes and goes,
I adapt to the changes that occur in our relationship.
I move with every breath you make
I am connected to you and feel your every move.
For all the case, I curse,
Even through difficulties, I try to stay positive.
I go, I don't want no mistake
I am cautious not to make any errors in my actions towards you.
Whenever we want the mates,
When we desire companionship,
Readings integrate
Our energies merge together.
An endless love
Our bond is infinite.
For earth, you know it feel,
I can sense the connection we have with the world around us.
It feels, you know it encounters us
We experience the effects of our environment.
The glow that grows deep within
Our love and bond continues to strengthen inwardly.
The shelter we built to trust
Our relationship is a safe haven we can rely on.
The force is calling, the field is strong
There is a powerful energy between us.
The nature comes to say
Our connection is in tune with the natural world.
The greyscale
Our relationship is not just black or white, but has nuances and complexities.
Plundered by the all of you
Your presence consumes me.
A few of the truth is known
We only understand a small part of our connection.
Whoever's real, I sense within
I can detect authenticity in our relationship.
So I need to hold on
I must preserve our bond.
Closed eyes skype through
Even without physically seeing, I can understand you.
Closed lips seek it through
We can communicate without speaking.
An endless journey of love
Our relationship is an ongoing process of care and affection.
I roam, I yearn, I fall, I trip
My feelings for you are varied and can be unpredictable.
Into your open arms
I seek comfort and affection in you.
Your tenderness, it brings the best
Your care and affection brings out my best qualities.
When we, we all alone
When we are together and free from distractions,
The force is calling, the field is strong
Our bond and connection is powerful and enduring.
The nature comes to say
Our love is in harmony with the natural world.
The force is calling, the field is strong
Our relationship has a strong magnetic pull and energy.
The greyscale
Our bond has many nuances and complexities, making it rich and interesting.
Contributed by Hailey L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.