Mondo.NYC Speaker
Aloe Blacc
GRAMMY-Nominated Singer & Songwriter
GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc fell in love with hip-hop as a kid and started writing rap songs when he was nine. With his lyrics drawing influence from socially conscious artists like KRS-One, he put out his first hip-hop mixtape at age 17. Later developing a fierce admiration for such soul musicians as Donny Hathaway and Marvin Gaye, he also discovered an affinity for folk-rock singer/songwriters during his college years. Blacc is actively working with the Black Music Action Coalition and several organizations reaffirming his goal to use his platform for positive social justice transformation.
After inking a deal with indie label Stones Throw, Blacc released his solo debut Shine Through in 2006 and sophomore album Good Things in 2010. Boosted by the breakout success of “I Need a Dollar” (which was selected as the theme song to HBO’s How To Make it In America), Good Things reached gold status in countries around the world and paved the way for his signing to XIX Recordings/Interscope Records in 2012. The following year, Blacc co-wrote and provided vocals for “Wake Me Up,” the hit Avicii song that has garnered over one billion streams and close to two billion views on YouTube. Made in collaboration with groundbreaking producers like Pharrell Williams, Lift Your Spirit debuted at #4 in 2014 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and earned a GRAMMY Award nomination for Best R&B Album. Aloe Blacc’s fourth solo album "All Love Everything" drops on October 2nd with BMG Music.
Keynote Conversation: Harvey Mason Jr. and Aloe Blacc
10/14/20, 7:40 PM
Harvey Mason Jr., Interim President/CEO of the Recording Academy®, Chair of the Board of Trustees, multi-GRAMMY nominee songwriter and producer and philanthropist in conversation with GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc, co-writer and vocalist for Avicii's song "Wake Me Up," actively working with Black Music Action Coalition to use his platform for positive social justice transformation.