Fantastic Negrito

The Profile

American singer-songwriter born in Massachusetts and raised in Oakland, known for a fierce blend of blues, soul, funk, and R&B. After an early 1990s career and a serious car accident, he relaunched as Fantastic Negrito by street-testing songs, then issued acclaimed albums and a powerhouse live show.

Three-time Grammy winner for Best Contemporary Blues Album (2017, 2019, 2021). Birth name: Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz. American artist associated with Oakland.

Reviewers hail Fantastic Negrito’s genre-blending punch: blues roots supercharged with soul, funk, gospel and modern grit. The Last Days of Oakland, Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?, and White Jesus Black Problems earn ecstatic praise for songwriting, production, and musicianship. Standout tracks span “Scary Woman” to “Your Sex Is Overrated” and “Oh Betty.” Lyrics and themes hit hard; the live show is described as explosive and unmissable.