YOUNG JIMMY is a New York City–bred creative force whose artistry defies easy labels. An American guitarist, singer-songwriter, rapper, producer, and recording artist, he represents a new generation of multi-hyphenate talent—equally at home behind the mic, the guitar, or the control board. Beyond music, he is also a record executive, video editor, graphic designer, and entrepreneur, shaping every layer of his vision with hands-on precision and independent grit.

At the core of YOUNG JIMMY’s sound is what he calls “Hood-Rock”—a raw, boundary-pushing subgenre he defines as rock music from the hood. Rooted in alternative rock, his music pulls influence from rap-rock, alt-rock, indie rock, jazz fusion, and pop rock, blending aggressive energy with melodic depth and street-level storytelling. The result is a sound that feels both rebellious and reflective, bridging cultures, genres, and lived experience without compromise.

His debut studio album, Rockett 88 (Deluxe), showcases the full scope of YOUNG JIMMY’s creative identity—bold, genre-fluid, and unapologetically original. The project cements his place as an artist unafraid to rewrite the rules, merging rock’s edge with hip-hop’s attitude and DIY innovation. Rockett 88 (Deluxe) is available now on all streaming platforms, marking a defining chapter in the rise of an artist determined to leave his own imprint on modern music.

If you’re meeting LIZA for the first time, her new single “Gone September” is the perfect doorway. The song unfolds like the moment summer slips into memory—quietly devastating, intimate, and emotionally precise. LIZA doesn’t chase drama; she lets feeling do the heavy lifting. With understated production and a vocal delivery that feels more confessed than performed, “Gone September” captures the ache of time passing and love shifting without warning. It’s the kind of song that lingers long after it ends, leaving new listeners asking, Who is this—and what else has she been holding back?

LIZA is a HOOD ROCK RECORDS exclusive artist signee from Dolton, Illinois, on Chicago’s South Side. The daughter of a Greek immigrant, she brings a global sensibility to a sound rooted in soul. Known for her sweet, soulful tone and contemporary versatility, her voice feels like it belongs to a past generation while her writing and phrasing live firmly in the now.

Her résumé quietly speaks volumes. LIZA has worked with and toured alongside legendary and forward-thinking artists alike, including Hip-Hop icon Ski Beatz, Nitty Scott MC, Grammy-nominated jazz alto saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin (including her 2016 European tour), Hypnotic Brass Ensemble at The Blue Note and Knitting Factory in NYC, and Nickel and Dime OPS in Athens, Greece as part of the NOSTOS Festival at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. She’s also performed with The Sensei’s, known from Sway in the Morning—a testament to her ability to move seamlessly between hip-hop, jazz, soul, and live ensemble work.

Beyond the microphone, LIZA is a credited lyricist, with notable writing contributions on “We Drip” and “Earthquake” for R&B artist Jessica Betts. Those works have landed placements on the TV series Claws and were performed live by Betts on The Kelly Clarkson Show, further cementing LIZA’s pen as one to watch.

Her debut studio album, executive produced by YOUNG JIMMY, is set for release in 2026. Until then, “Gone September” offers a compelling first chapter—an introduction that feels honest, timeless, and deeply human. Stay tuned. This is LIZA.

Melle Mel is a hip-hop pioneer who achieved fame as the lead rapper for Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. He is credited with transforming hip-hop from a DJ-focused art form to one centered on the MC, influencing the genre with his lyricism, social commentary on tracks like "The Message," and iconic hits such as "White Lines."

He was the first rapper to win a Grammy for a rap performance on Chaka Khan's "I Feel for You." He was also part of the first hip-hop group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and has won multiple Grammys for his work on Quincy Jones albums. Also, he has collaborated with Cher and Duran Duran.

Melle Mel co-wrote lyrics on YOUNG JIMMY's song 'The Movies' off his debut EP 'Yellow Yellow', as well as being featured on an alternate version of the same song.

Before YOUNG JIMMY emerged as a solo artist and producer, his earliest recorded work lived inside a five-piece indie-rock band called Sankofa. Formed in 2006, Sankofa would go on to become the house band for the now-legendary House of Yes during the height of New York City’s 2010s indie-rock surge—standing at the center of a scene that was loud, experimental, and rapidly reshaping itself.

At just 20 years old, YOUNG JIMMY served as the band’s lead guitarist and co-composer during the recording of their 2007 EP, To My Chagrin. The record captures a band operating with urgency and intent—raw but deliberate, restless yet emotionally grounded. Nervy guitars collide with driving rhythms, while the songs wrestle with frustration, self-reflection, and identity without ever overexplaining themselves. It’s indie rock that trusts its listener.

Sankofa’s presence was singular. In an era where the indie-rock landscape was overwhelmingly homogeneous, they were quite possibly the only all-Black indie-rock band of that moment, occupying the genre fully and unapologetically. Their music didn’t ask for permission or carve novelty from difference—it simply existed, loudly and honestly, in a space that rarely made room for them.

The band’s name was no accident. Sankofa is a word and guiding philosophy from Ghana’s Akan people, meaning “to go back and fetch it” or “reach back to propel forward.” Symbolized by a mythical bird with its head turned backward, an egg in its mouth, and feet facing forward, the concept emphasizes learning from the past to strengthen the present and future. That philosophy is embedded in To My Chagrin—a record that feels aware of what came before it, even as it pushes forward with urgency and conviction.

Sankofa’s original lineup consisted of Hassan Spruill (rhythm guitar), Darren Benjamin Maxwell (vocals), YOUNG JIMMY (lead guitar), J.C. (drums), and Reginald Duvivier (bass). Together, they created a body of work that now feels like a missing artifact—one that sounds just as alive, relevant, and necessary today.

For new listeners, To My Chagrin isn’t just an EP—it’s a document of a moment, a philosophy, and the early creative spark of an artist still shaping the future by understanding the past.

Kendra Foster is a 2X Grammy-winning singer-songwriter from Tallahassee, Florida. She has recorded with artists including George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Snoop Dogg, and Jay-Z. She wrote 8 out of the 12 songs on D'Angelo's last studio album, 'Black Messiah', also a member of his band The Vanguard, and a member of Parliament-Funkadelic.

Her captivating vocals are featured on "No Racist" off YOUNG JIMMY's 2023 debut studio album "Rockett 88 (deluxe)".

Kam Franklin is a one-time Grammy Award winner, known as the lead singer of the Houston Soul group, The Suffers. She began her career as a backing vocalist and dancer, has performed on Austin City Limits, toured with Jim James, recorded with Jackie Venson, Scarface, Khruangbin, and Deer Tick.

Her powerful, dulcet vocals are featured on YOUNG JIMMY's new single "HEAVY," available now on all streaming services. An extended version is coming soon to CD & Vinyl record.