The rhythm of genius. Meet Daru Jones.
July 24, 2024
SKILLS HONED IN THE HOUSE OF A HIGHER POWER.
When you’re the son of two musicians, it’s almost divine providence that you’ll end up with that same passion. And that’s exactly the case for virtuoso drummer Daru Jones, who picked up the sticks at the ripe age of four. Where? At his church, of course, where his mom worked her day job as a janitor.
HIP HOP AMPLIFIES HIS METRONOMIC BEATS.
Jones pursued his passion for the drums by touring the country performing various gigs. But his big break happened in a truly transformative era of hip hop. With the new millennium came massive digital advances, new collabs and the explosion of the internet, all of which pushed the genre forward. And in 2005, Jones’ big break came with Detroit hip hop group Slum Village.
HERE COMES THE NAME DROP. AND THE MIC DROP.
After moving to New York, Jones began collaborating with true luminaries in the hip hop arena, including Nas, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch and RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan. In 2010, while performing with Black Milk, Jones got the attention from someone who wasn’t a rapper, but had a profound appreciation for the art form: seminal rocker Jack White. White was so impressed by Jones’ talent that he invited him on tour, not to mention taking up the drums on two of White’s albums.
“AND THE GRAMMY GOES TO…”
He already won the respect of his peers in the music industry. So the next natural step? The adulation of the public. Jones has taken home two Grammy awards, been featured in Rolling Stone and USA Today, and appeared on The David Letterman Show and Saturday Night Live. He formed a super group with Living Colour bassist Doug Wimbish called The Daru Jones Project. And if all that isn’t enough, he owns his own record label Rustic Records. So if you haven’t already, join the millions who are nodding their heads to this luminary performer and percussion artist.
