J. Rawls

Infobox Musical artist
Name = J. Rawls
Landscape =
Background = non_performing_personnel
Birth_name = Jason Rawls
Born = birth date and age|1974|02|27
Origin = Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Genre = Hip hop
Occupation = producer
Years_active = 1994–present
Label = POLAR
URL =

Jason Rawls (born February 27, 1974 in Columbus, Ohio) is an American hip hop, soul, and neo-soul producer whose work crosses over into jazz. He has worked with Dose One, Beastie Boys, Slum Village, El Da Sensei, Count Bass D, Grand Agent, 9th Wonder, Us3, and Moka Only.

Production career

J. Rawls' production is best known for his work with Black Star, a rap group formed by Mos Def and Talib Kweli. Rawls contributed production on "Brown Skin Lady" and "Yo, Yeah" which placed him on the map among producers in the rap music genre. The album "Mos Def & Kweli are Black Star" did very well in the independent hip hop market, was acclaimed as one of the best albums in 1998 and was a major force in the late '90s underground hip hop explosion.Fact|article|date=September 2007

J. Rawls' first solo album came in 2001, with "The Essence Of... (Groove attack)", which featured singles "Great Live Caper" featuring J-Live, "Check the Clock" and "They Can't See Me".

He released his second solo album called "The Essence of Soul" in 2005 on his own label POLAR Records, which featured singles "Bailar" featuring Aloe Blacc, "Soul (Again & Again)" featuring Middle Child, and "Pleasure Before Pain" featuring Eric Roberson.

Away from his solo albums, J. Rawls is one half of the duo The Lone Catalysts, with emcee J. Sands. The group has been together since the mid-'90s and the first release from the Lone Catalysts, "THE BEGINNING EP", was in August 1998. They have released three albums since: "Hip Hop" (1999,BUKA Entertainment), "The Catalyst Files" (2002, BUKA Entertainment), and "Good Music" (2005, BUKA Entertainment).

J. Rawls is also one half of the duo 3582, consisting of emcee Fat Jon the Ample Soul Physician (of Five Deez). 3582 released two albums, "The Living Soul" (2001) and "Situational Ethics" in (2003).

J. Rawls has recently released "Dank & Jammy", his latest duo project. He joined forces with Dudley Perkins, a rapper and singer who is currently signed to Stones Throw Records, has formerly recorded under the name "Declaime" and has previously collaborated with Madlib and Five Deez, and Georgia Anne Muldrow, among other artists. The album "It's The Dank & Jammy Show" was released in 2007 (POLAR/Groove attack).

In 2006, J. Rawls received much acclaim with The Liquid Crystal Project's "A Tribute To Dilla 7"" production (Turntable Jazz/Unique 2006), which was an ode to one of J. Rawls' favorite producers, J Dilla. The single came off the self-titled album "The Liquid Crystal Project" (Polar/Groove Attack 2006), which is a group formed by J. Rawls whose music can be described as fusing the key elements of both jazz and hip hop. The group consists of members J. Rawls, B-Jazz, Shaun Scott, B Chapman and Selah One other single was released from the album, "A Tribute To Troy 7" (Turntable Jazz/Unique 2006).

Discography

Albums

*2001 "The Essence Of J. Rawls"
*2003 "Histories Greatest Battles, Campaigns, & Topics"
*2006 "The Liquid Crystal Project "
*2007 "It’s The Dank & Jammy Show" (with Declaime)
*2008 "The Liquid Crystal Project II"

Production

*2006: "Lights, Camera, Action" (from the El Da Sensei album "The Unusual")

External links

* [http://www.j-rawls.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/jrawls J. Rawls] On MySpace
* [http://www.germanrhymes.de/Features/J-Rawls.html J. Rawls making the beat]