Jeremih
Biography
Jeremy Phillip Felton, known professionally as Jeremih, was born on July 17, 1987, in Chicago, Illinois. He is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. His musical inclinations were evident from a young age; he began playing drums at three and later learned to play the saxophone, piano, and various percussion instruments. Felton was a student at Morgan Park High School, where he was a member of the marching band and a Latin jazz band. An academically strong student, he graduated high school a year early. Initially, he enrolled at the University of Illinois to study engineering but soon shifted his focus to music, transferring to Columbia College Chicago in 2007 to pursue a degree in music business. A performance at a campus talent show, where he paid tribute to Ray Charles, earned him positive feedback and solidified his confidence in his vocal abilities.
Career Beginnings and Breakthrough
While at Columbia College Chicago, Jeremih began collaborating with record producer Mick Schultz. In February 2009, after a performance for Def Jam's CEO Russell Simmons and executive vice president of A&R Karen Kwak, he signed a recording contract with the label that very day. His debut single, "Birthday Sex," was released in March 2009 and became a commercial success, peaking at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100. This success paved the way for his self-titled debut album, "Jeremih," released in June 2009. Produced entirely by Mick Schultz, the album debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200, selling 59,000 copies in its first week. The album also featured the single "Imma Star (Everywhere We Are)," which peaked at number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Subsequent Albums and Collaborations
All About You
Jeremih's second album, "All About You," was released in September 2010. The album featured the lead single "I Like" featuring Ludacris, and the highly successful "Down on Me" featuring 50 Cent. "Down on Me" reached the top five of the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Rhythmic Billboard chart for eight consecutive weeks.
Late Nights
After some delays, Jeremih's third studio album, "Late Nights: The Album," was released in December 2015. It was preceded by the hit single "Don't Tell 'Em" featuring YG, which became his third top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The album also included the popular singles "Planez" featuring J. Cole, which earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance, and "Oui".
Collaborative Projects
In 2018, Jeremih formed the duo MihTy with singer Ty Dolla Sign, releasing a collaborative self-titled album in October of that year. The album featured the single "The Light". He has also collaborated with a wide range of artists throughout his career, including Chance the Rapper on a holiday mixtape, and has been a featured artist on numerous tracks.
Musical Style and Artistry
Jeremih's musical style is primarily contemporary R&B, often blending soulful sounds with modern production and provocative lyrics. He has cited Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and R. Kelly as his biggest musical influences, describing their music as "timeless". His vocal style has been described as "charmingly sly" and has been compared to artists like Slim of 112 and Raphael Saadiq.
Recent Activities
After a hiatus, Jeremih released the single "Changes" in October 2022. In April 2023, he introduced his first protégé, Murf Dilly, on the track "2 C's," released on Jeremih's newly established record label, Late Nightz Records. In February 2024, it was announced that Jeremih had departed from Def Jam Recordings after 15 years. He continues to work on new music, with a fourth studio album in progress.