We love to look at old pictures and long for the days of Nat King Cole and Duke Ellington, when black men dressed in suits with so much swagger and style it dripped off of them with each step. You know the man with the presence of Cab Calloway and the impeccable elegance that commanded respect. So that is why as soon as we saw Jidenna AND heard his new song “Classic Man” featuring Roman GianArthur we had to number one, pull ourselves together and number two, quickly add it to our music rotation and put it on repeat.

Jidenna is signed to Janelle Monae’s Wondaland Records label. She’s one of our ABSOLUTE FAVORITES by the way. Jidenna's sound is as smooth as the curl that he sports in his red hair and he makes the case for never judging a book by it’s cover. With lyrics like, “You can be mean when you look this clean” and “Now y’all fucking with the wrong mummafucka”, he will clearly style on you and if need be; whoop your ass. Jidenna is something of a hybrid, smooth old school crooner and THEE coolest rapper you wish had an album out right now, because you are going to wear out the new album from Kendrick Lamar soon enough.

We’re hoping this is the start of a resurgence of the cool. THE REAL COOL, not the phonies. We’ve needed this for a while and we’re ready! Check out the video for “Classic Man” below and be on the lookout for The Eephus on May 6th from Wondaland Records. The five-track compilation will feature "Classic Man", along with new music from artists on the label.