Jean Dawson

Rapper and singer Jean Dawson is known for his lyrical and hypnotic genre-mashing blend of hip-hop, trap, and experimental indie rock. He garnered widespread buzz with his 2019 EP Bad Sports and quickly followed in 2020 with his debut full-length, Pixel Bath. His sophomore album, Chaos Now*, arrived in 2022.
Born in Tijuana, Mexico, Dawson was raised in a biracial Black and Mexican family, and was first introduced to hip-hop by his parents. Growing up, he crossed the border for several years to attend school before moving with his family to San Diego. From a young age, Dawson imbibed an eclectic mix of music, driven in part by his older brother’s love of downloading and his own voracious musical appetite. By his teens, he had developed a wide-ranging taste, listening to artists like Jay-Z, Kanye West, N.E.R.D., and Nirvana, as well as sundry other indie rock artists. He eventually discovered Bon Iver and Frank Ocean, and began writing his own songs, pushing his sound in more experimental directions. Working with producer/songwriter Lecx Stacy, he recorded his 2019 debut EP, Bad Sports. Included on the release were the tracks “Bull Fighter” and “’90s Green Screen.”
In October 2020, Dawson issued Pixel Bath, his first full-length studio album, which included a guest feature from A$AP Rocky on the song “Triple Double.” In late 2021, Dawson teamed with Mac DeMarco for collaborative track “Menthol*.” Shortly thereafter, he released “Porn Acting*,” the first single from his sophomore album, Chaos Now*. “3 Heads*” and “Pirate Radio*” also preceded the record, which was released in October 2022. He kicked off 2023 with the reflective “No Szns,” a collaboration with SZA. ~ Matt Collar