The result of a love child with jazz and hip hop would be one that is passionately and intelligently intertwined. Karriem Riggins was born August 25, 1975 in Detroit. His parents discovered that their son was gifted after he started digging through old records. He joined his father Emmanuel, a jazz guitarist who used to perform with Grant Green, in the studio to play the instruments in the manner of a great musician. Riggins kept his love for music and started making hip-hop music. Riggins, who was 19 years old, made his passion a career by moving to New York City in 1994. Riggins was a drummer in Betty Carter’s “Jazz Ahead” band. The jazz world was captivated by Riggins’ exceptional performance. Riggins performed with and appeared on recordings with many jazz legends, including Hank Jones and Ray Brown, Oscar Peterson and Milt Jackson, Donald Byrd and Bobby Hutcherson. Karriem is not one to be bound by musical boundaries. He has achieved major achievements in hip-hop as a producer and musician. He has produced albums for Common, Slum village, The Roots and Erykah Badu. He has toured with Common three more times and produced “Play Your Cards Right”, a Paramount Picture feature film about “Smoking Aces.” Kanye West helped him demo the theme songs to “Mission Impossible III” with Twista and Keyshia Cole. Karriem was a key part of J Dilla’s final project, “The Shining,” and he produced it. Karriem also released “Music Kaleidoscope,” which showcased his unique talents as a jazz producer and hip-hop producer. Karriem collaborated with Mad-Lib on his “High Jazz” album. Karriem Riggins is still on a musical journey, creating and performing music that will excite audiences and appeal to the musical senses. from http://www.karriemriggins.com
