Boulevards

The working stage name for Raleigh, North Carolina singer/songwriter Jamil Rashad, Boulevards makes old-school, '80s-influenced funk and R&B. The son of a Philly-born jazz radio DJ, Rashad grew up listening to his parents' vintage jazz and soul collection. By his teens Rashad was writing his own rap lyrics, as well as attending punk, metal, and hardcore shows. After high school, he attended art school and played in several bands before gravitating back to his love of funk, disco, and '80s house music. Working with a handful of producers including Isaac Gálvez and Taste Nasa, Rashad delivered a four-track EP in 2015. In 2016 he returned with Boulevards' full-length debut, Groove!, featuring the singles "Got to Go" and "Cold Call." ~ Matt Collar