Aloe Blacc is the stage name of Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins III, an American soul singer, rapper and musician from Laguna Hills, United States. Born in 1979, he begins his recording career in 1995 as an MC and later builds a solo career that combines soul, hip hop and neo soul with R&B and pop soul.

Early career

He starts recording with hip-hop producer Exile in the group Emanon, an independent rap act that becomes a long-running part of his work. Alongside his singing and rapping, he is also a multi-instrumentalist.

Solo releases and collaborations

Blacc releases his debut solo album, Shine Through, on Stones Throw Records in 2006, followed by Good Things in 2010. He also works with the Cradle Orchestra under the name Bee, and the project Open Your Mind appears in 2009. His label is Aloe Blacc Publishing Inc.

Notable songs and style

His song “I Need a Dollar” becomes the intro music for the HBO series How to Make It in America. He also records a Latin version of John Legend’s “Ordinary People” in Spanish. His music draws on a wide range of influences, including folk artist Cat Stevens and Negro spirituals, and often moves between digital R&B, Latin elements and hip-hop.

Collaborations

He develops a close working relationship with Oh No after touring Europe with Lootpack, and this leads to further collaborations as a solo artist.