Bio : BLKBOK

Born and raised in Detroit’s inner-city, BLKBOK (born Charles Wilson III), grew up in a music-filled home. A piano prodigy from the time he was 8 years old, BLKBOK has been on his artistic journey, weaving together a love of hip-hop and classical music to craft his own neoclassical compositions that reflect the world we live in today.  He has toured the world as a pianist and musical director with the likes of Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato, Timbaland and John Mayer, recently pivoting to developing his own neoclassical compositions. His debut neoclassical album Black Book was released last year, featuring songs such as “Michelle’s First Day at the White House” (Amazon's Best of 2021: Classical) and “George Floyd & The Struggle For Equality.” BLKBOK has gone viral on TikTok for his unexpected neoclassical covers of Cardi B and Kendrick Lamar. On Instagram, he hosts a monthly “What's Goin' On” social series, where he develops new songs related to current cultural milestones and events, and offers an open forum for fans to share their feelings and discuss social issues.

His most recent album Black Book DLUX was released on June 17, 2022 via icons + giants which was followed by a string of live performances for MoMA's Black Arts Council Benefit, his return to the Juneteenth Freedom Festival in Washington DC and NAMM, endorsed by Yamaha. The DLUX album is a timely natural continuation of BLKBOK’s critically-acclaimed debut as a composer, reflecting on pertinent social issues, with counterpoints, and sustaining a dialogue through his thought-provoking pieces. The package includes 11 new interstitial poems woven throughout the album, written and narrated by award-winning Jamaican poet Lauren Delapenha.