15 Facts About Karriem Riggins

Karriem Riggins is an American jazz drummer, record producer, DJ and songwriter from Detroit, Michigan.

Karriem Riggins met Chicago rapper Common and fellow Detroit musician J Dilla both in 1996, and served as an extensive contributor for releases by both artists.

Karriem Riggins produced for Common's 1997 album One Day It'll All Make Sense, did so on much of his further projects, and formed the musical trio August Greene with the rapper alongside fellow jazz instrumentalist Robert Glasper in 2018.

Karriem Riggins joined the Kennedy Elementary school band in the sixth grade as a trumpeter, studying with Belgrave, where he played for two years in addition to drums before switching to drums full-time in the eighth grade.

Karriem Riggins was a DJ, producing hip-hop and performing in three different school bands at Southfield High School before leaving school in the eleventh grade.

Karriem Riggins joined Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead band soon after at age 17 and moved to New York in 1994, later joining the Mulgrew Miller trio.

Karriem Riggins performed in bands with Steven Scott and Benny Green before joining Roy Hargrove's band in the middle of 1995.

Karriem Riggins had met Common in 1996, and began spending time with the rapper during visits with notable hip-hop producers.

Karriem Riggins met J Dilla, a fellow Detroit native, that same year.

Karriem Riggins then formed a close friendship with Dilla until his death; Riggins has cited Dilla as a primary influence in helping him overcome multiple creative ruts throughout his career.

Apart from working with Common and Dilla, Karriem Riggins has produced for other hip hop artists like Slum Village, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Kanye West, Talib Kweli, Kaytranada, Earl Sweatshirt, Phat Kat, Consequence and Dwele.

Karriem Riggins collaborated with multi-instrumentalist Madlib on his 2007 album Yesterdays Universe, they formed the musical outfits Supreme Team and The Jahari Massamba Unit.

Karriem Riggins released his debut full-length album, the instrumental double-LP Alone Together on Stones Throw Records on October 23,2012.

Karriem Riggins extensively worked on Common's highly acclaimed 2016 album Black America Again, which featured Stevie Wonder on the titular song and included a performance at the White House as part of NPR's "Tiny Desk Concerts" series.

On February 24,2017, Karriem Riggins released his second album on Stones Throw, Headnod Suite.