Karriem Riggins

For the past three decades, Karriem Riggins — Emmy Award-winning and Grammy-nominated musician, producer, composer, and DJ — has been a pivotal figure at the confluence of jazz and hip-hop, one of the leaders in the evolution of both genres in the 21st Century, and anin-demand studio and touring drummer.

Riggins has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Diana Krall, Common, Erykah Badu, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, The Roots, Norah Jones, Ray Brown, and Steve Lacy. Whether he’s working with his hip-hop supergroup collective, August Greene (alongside Common and Robert Glasper), or as Jahari Massamba Unit (his jazz duo with Madlib), Riggins is sure to show his far-reaching range. Among his prolific list of collaborations and accolades, Riggins holds an Emmy award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics, was nominated for an Album of the Year Grammy for his production with H.E.R. He was a longtime collaborator of the legendary and influential hip-hop producer J Dilla, who chose Riggins to complete his posthumous album, The Shining. Riggins’ work with these cultural giants places Riggins among the few producers with the balance of vision, style, and technical prowess to steer effortlessly between the most revered players in jazz, hip-hop, and R&B. In 2023, Riggins was named Artist-in-Residence for the Detroit Jazz Festival.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Karriem Riggins found sanctuary in music from an early age. His father, Emmanuel Riggins, played with the renowned Grant Green Band; he introduced Riggins to many jazz greats and their shared passion for creativity and precision.

With a foundation of work ethic, and a flair for the playful, Riggins developed his art into an industrious career as a drummer, record producer, rapper, and DJ. Whether in the studio or on the stage, Riggins continues to push the boundaries of music and inspire a new generation of musicians and artists around the world. Riggins’ depth of sound, ranging from the pioneering to the nostalgic, comes from a deep understanding of the human experience. He feels that the blessing of music is found in the sincere care put into its creation, and its ability to touch people and inspire.