Adrian Younge, a Los Angeles native, is a multi-instrumentalist and composer known for his eclectic blend of Black music styles and crate-digger perspective. His work spans from scoring the blaxploitation homage Black Dynamite in 2009 to releasing solo projects like Something About April (2011) and collaborative albums with major influences like the Delfonics and Ghostface Killah. Younge co-founded the Jazz Is Dead label and series with Ali Shaheed Muhammad in 2020, leading to a fruitful collaboration with legendary artists and a diverse range of musical styles through multiple series releases up to 2025.
Transitioning from sample-based hip-hop production to live instrumentation and composition, Younge's career evolved with projects like Venice Dawn and conceptual albums like The Electronique Void (2016). He continued to refine his sound through collaborations and solo releases, including contributions to iconic albums in the hip-hop genre. Younge's involvement in the Jazz Is Dead series with Muhammad showcased his versatility and creative approach to music, culminating in diverse releases that spanned genres like jazz, funk, and soul leading up to his latest work with the series in 2025.
