FANTASTIC NEGRITO
Born Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz, Fantastic Negrito’s story is a testament to resilience and the transformative power of music. By now, much has been made of Negrito’s unique journey — growing up in an orthodox Muslim household, enduring a doomed major label deal, and surviving a near-fatal car crash that permanently damaged his guitar-playing hand. His remarkable redemption arc began in 2015, when he won the first-ever NPR Tiny Desk Contest.
Since then, he has earned three consecutive GRAMMY® Awards for “Best Contemporary Blues Album” and shared stages with artists such as Sturgill Simpson, Chris Cornell, and Bruce Springsteen. He’s collaborated in the studio with the likes of Sting, E-40, and Tank and The Bangas; performed on numerous headline world tours; and appeared at major festivals including Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, Newport Folk, and WOMAD. He is also the founder of the Revolution Plantation, an urban farm dedicated to youth education and empowerment.
Fantastic Negrito releases his highly anticipated new album, Son of a Broken Man, on October 18, 2024, via his own Storefront Records.
This new record captures the essence of his inimitable style — from hard-hitting guitar riffs to expressive ballads — enriched with the unexpected twists that have become his signature.
One of his most personal works to date, Son of a Broken Man explores themes of family, deception, and the human tendency to conceal the true self. At its heart lies a deep, emotional exploration of the complex and often painful dynamics between father and son.