When Jesse Boykins III released his last album, “The Beauty Created” in November of 2008—less than a year after his debut, “Dopamine: My Life On My Back” he was radiating potential. With two records under his belt in a single year, he was on the radar of neo-R&B fans everywhere. But suddenly, aside from a few choice covers released sporadically, he disappeared for the next half decade.
“Love Apparatus,” co-produced by American electronic music producer Machinedrum, is an effort in cohesiveness. The two artists worked side-by-side for those five long years trying to create something that they deemed their fans deserved. Boykins took his time creating the album, completely re-imagining his sound and making sure his voice could hold its own against Machinedrums stellar production.
Although he was without new work to attract a larger fanbase over the years, he has created a unique sonic presence that the R&B world is sure to embrace. Sounding similar to early “The Weeknd” mixtapes, Boykins alludes a mysterious, smoky presence on this album, one that seems to be persuading both the listener and himself that they can believe in him. When his fans slide their headphones on, Boykins wants his audience to be able to trust him. He wants them to be able to identify with his voice, not just the lyrical content. He wants them to hear the passion he has for his work. He wants them to be able to identify directly with him, which is something modern R&B has come to lack. Boykins wants to dominate his fans’ soundscape and capture the whole attention of his audience as he spills incredibly deep and honest anecdotes from within.
Boykins differs from current R&B superstars, such as Drake and Miguel, by focusing entirely on his audience. While an artist like Drake attempts to seduce his listeners with his clever lines and braggadocio rap, Boykins emanates understanding. He only wants his music to be heard and understood, not blasted as derivative pop radio.
As the album smoothly slides its way to the end, Boykins breathlessly matches the Machinedrums production. For each breath Boykins takes, the production expands and contracts perfectly. This album should not be looked at as solely an R&B album—this is something that can fit the listener’s pleasure. If one wants to hear it as a contemporary indie album, it has the ability to sound like one. If you want to focus on the breathtaking production then it may sound more like a lengthy electronic mix. But if you sit there and focus on what Boykins and Machinedrum have to show and tell you then the genre preoccupation can be thrown out the window and you just might be able to learn something about yourself from “Love Apparatus”.
