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, J-Live, Us3,
and Moka Only. J Rawls is a graduate from the University of Cincinnati
with a Bachelors in Business, he is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity, Alpha Alpha chapter.
J. Rawls' production is best known for his work with Black Star,
a hip hop 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 hip hop-music genre.
The album Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star did very well
in the independent hip hop market, was acclaimed as one of the best
albums of 1998 and was a major force in the late-1990s underground
hip hop explosion.[citation needed]
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).
[edit] Discography
[edit] 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)
2007 True Ohio Playas (with Count Bass D)
2007 J. Rawls Presents...Holmskillit (with Holmskillit)
2008 The Liquid Crystal Project II
2008 Rawls & Middle
2009 The 1960's Jazz Revolution Again (with John Robinson)
2011 The Hip-Hop Affect
[edit] Production
2006: "Lights, Camera, Action" (from the El Da Sensei
album The Unusual)