American R&B artist Gabriel Jacoby has been named the latest star of NME's The Cover, featuring an in-depth profile alongside an exclusive playlist he curated titled "Funky Buddha." The feature highlights Jacoby's rising profile following his 2025 debut EP "Gutta Child," which earned him a spot on the NME 100 of 2026, a list showcasing essential emerging artists.

The playlist draws on influences including Nina Simone, Curtis Mayfield, Outkast and Erykah Badu, closing with D'Angelo's "Another Life" — a nod to comparisons Jacoby has received to the late soul icon, including from Michelle Obama on Keke Palmer's podcast. Jacoby, born in South Carolina and raised in Florida, said he resists mimicking other artists and wants listeners to "experience something new." His EP blends R&B, funk, soul, backwoods blues and Tampa krank, and he has upcoming festival appearances at Austin City Limits and Camp Flog Gnaw, alongside new music he describes as more direct and "undeniable."