Jidenna’s new album ’85 to Africa’ drops tomorrow and with the new album comes what many people are calling a new look. While on media rounds for the new album, the singer/rapper explained the new look to Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Yee and DJ Envy on The Breakfast Club on Power 105.1 FM in New York.
Jidenna no longer rocks the ‘Classic man’ look as he has now changed into a younger, fresher and more playful look. He explained this new look to the radio hosts, saying that he felt trapped in the Classic man look for a while, and adding that “you evolve over time… I always say it’s more about character than the look”. He further said that “people got caught up in the look and that is what I want to change. I’m trying to make sure that people see the whole shades of a man, shades of an artist”.
During his appearance on the show, he also talked about the influence African Americans and celebrities have in helping Africa grow, calling it the mission of his life. He said, “85 to Africa is about everything but this is the mission of my life, honestly. If we invest in Africa, invest in that continent, if Africa invests in the diaspora, we are going to change everything. It is not going to work the way we’re doing it now.”
He talked about his experiences on tour, what he was doing while he was away, and even gave snippets into growing up as a Nigerian child in America. He talked about writing most part of the album in Africa, saying that it is road trip music. He said “it’s a highway across the Atlantic ocean and its road trip music. So if you took a road trip literally across the Atlantic, you will start with Hip-hop, you’ll probably start with trap, you might move to some RnB and then you’re gonna land with Afro Beats.”
According to the singer, fans can expect all the above genres of music in the new album, including some Jimmy Hendricks vibe, inspired by weed smoking. The album will be out tomorrow and Jidenna is still on his listening tour so he may just be coming to a place close to you.