Jidenna Wants to Avoid Comparisons to Andre 3000

Seemingly out of nowhere, 30-year-old MC Jidenna's hit song "Classic Man" has been blazing up the Billboard charts for a few weeks now and today, the Wisconsin-born, Boston-by-way-of-Nigeria-raised artist decided to let loose the official remix to his smash single. With two added verses from Kendrick Lamar, Jidenna's track is only gaining more momentum as the summer rolls along and helping the Wondaland Records artist become a new figure in hip-hop that listeners need to keep an eye on.

As the first artist signed to Janelle Monae's Wondaland Records, Jidenna stands apart from the rest of the hip-hop artists in today's game. Elegantly dressed in three-piece suits and with a style reminiscent of the social aid and pleasure clubs of New Orleans, Jidenna looks to develop a new genre of music within hip-hop that he defines as Swank. Highlighting the classic hip-hop record "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Jidenna looks to provide listeners with party music to jam to while at the same time incorporating positive messages into his lyrics.

With Kendrick now on the remix to Jidenna's breakout hit, the world is becoming more familiar with the MC and after his performance at the Bay Area Summer Jam last week, the "Classic Man" stopped by XXL to speak on the impact of his record and the movement he looks to create. —Roger Krastz