Jaden

Jaden searches for pure emotion in every note he sings. The singer, rapper and actor born Jaden Christopher Syre Smith in 1998 has been a full-time celebrity since his kindergarten years, thanks to his parents, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith. But this Swiss-Army-knife entertainer has approached his career with humility and a burning desire to always improve his musical abilities. “I’m always trying to make the best thing I’ve ever made,” Jaden explained to Apple Music. The artist, who used to perform under the name Jaden Smith, has been rapping since his pre-teenage years, but he only began to find his identity as a musician when he expanded his scope as a songwriter. Early mixtapes like 2014’s CTV2 found Jaden emulating the sample-heavy beats and punchline-filled bars of rappers like Childish Gambino and Heems from Das Racist, but later efforts such as 2017’s SYRE and 2019’s ERYS found him experimenting with pop, indie rock and electro. He hit a creative high point with 2020’s “Cabin Fever”, a breezy summer jam as indebted to chillwave as hip-hop. Produced by BURNS, the track sees Jaden deftly moving through registers with the dexterity of a seasoned singer, happily embracing the thrilling twist in his sound. “I constantly listen to different styles of music,” he explained to Apple Music, before adding, “I’m at the point now where I can pull from all of it for inspiration.”