Johnny "J"

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Johnny "J"

Johnny Jackson ( born August 28, 1969)[1][2], better-known in the music industry as Johnny "J", is a multi-platinum songwriter, music producer & rapper who is perhaps best known for his production on Tupac Shakur's albums All Eyez on Me and Me Against the World. [3]He was born in Juárez, Mexico, in 1969 and raised in South Central Los Angeles. Johnny "J" was owner and CEO of Klock Work Entertainment.

Early Life

Johnny Jackson was born in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.[citation needed] It is unknown when he came to The United States. He was raised in South Central Los Angeles [citation needed] by his adopted parents. His adoptive father is African American and his mother is Mexican-American. [citation needed] At the age of three his father bought him a Drum Set.

Later in his early life after getting kicked out of numerous electronic stores he decided to purchase a drum machine, keyboards and other musical instruments to produce records. He started creating tracks when he was in high school [citation needed]. He attended Washington Preparatory High School in Los Angeles and was part of the marching band.

His First Hit (1987—1992)

Although he received a full scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music Jackson decided not to attend. Immediately after he produced Knockin' Boots for one of his classmates Candyman

Candymans Album Ain't No Shame in My Game eventually went platinum thanks to his hit Knockin' Boots. The album made Candyman the first rapper on Epic Records to go platinum [citation needed]. It also garnered him Grammy and the American Music Award nominations.

I Gotta Be Me (1995)

File:E97bb340dca0246fc0339010.L.jpg
The cover of Johnny J's only solo album to date, I Gotta Be Me

In 1995, Johnny J released his debut rap album I Gotta Be Me, which spawned two singles: "Get Away From Me" and "Dig Um' Out". A music video was shot for "Get Away From Me". Jackson produced the entire album, and even showcased his singing abilities on such tracks as "Love's the Way". The beat for "Better Off" would later be recycled for 2Pac's "Picture Me Rollin'" in his 1996 album All Eyez On Me. [citation needed]. The album is now out of print and hard to find.

2Pac and Death Row Records (1993—1997)

After the numerous nominations for Candyman, Johnny J met 2pac and recorded nine tracks with him in three days [citation needed]. Following these recordings Johnny produced "Pour Out a Little Liquor" which appeared on the Above The Rim soundtrack and 2pac's Thug Life album. The soundtrack eventually went Double Platinum and won the the Soundtrack of The Year Award at the 1995 Source Awards [citation needed].

Around this time Johnny J produced the track "Death Around The Corner" which ended up on 2pac's third solo album entitled Me Against The World That album eventually went to the top of the Billboard 200.[3]

In 1996 Johnny J came back to help produce on 2Pac's Death Row Records Debut All Eyez On Me.[3] Johnny J produced the chart topping hits "All bout U", "How Do U Want It" and "Life Goes On" [citation needed]. He slso produced "Thug Passion", "Shorty Wanna Be A Thug", "Wonda Why They Call U Bitch", "Run tha Streetz", "All Eyez on Me", "What'z Ya Phone #" and "Picture Me Rollin", which used the same beat as "Better Off", off of Johnny J's debut album I Gotta Be Me. [3]

The album is one of the most influential albums in hip hop history, and according to the RIAA, 9 million copies of the album were sold in the United States alone by June 18, 1998 [4]

Miscellaneous Ventures (1997—2006)

Prior to Tupac Shakur's death Johnny produced over 100 tracks for the rapper, a great deal of them unreleased. [5] Many of Johnny's collaborations with Shakur ended up being remixed for his posthumous releases such as "Until The End Of Time", "Better Dayz", and "R U Still Down? (Remember Me)", while only a select few remained in their original form.

Johnny had composed a few music scores in such films as Gridlock'd.[3] His productions ended up on movie soundtracks like SuperCop and Blood Diamond.[citation needed] The first artist Johnny collaborated with after 2Pac's death was Bizzy Bone from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. Johnny produced "Thugz Cry" and "Nobody Can Stop Me" off of the Heavenz Movie album, a release that would eventually go gold.{[3]

Along with Napoleon from the Outlawz and Val Young, Johnny released "Never Forget" in 2004, a tribute song to 2Pac. A music video was shot for the song, and includes many guest appearances from many of Shakur's close friends. Johnny began producing a double album for Napoleon, but the songs were discarded to Johnny's archives when Napoleon decided to retire from gangsta rap and pursue his practice of Islam full-time.[citation needed]

In 2005, Johnny was rumoured to be launching a new label with Ruthless Records co-founder Jerry Heller aimed at the Latino hip-hop community. The label never got under way and despite a label launch announcement in early 2007 to help raise its profile, Johnny parted ways with Jerry shortly after.[citation needed]

New Releases (2006-Present)

A 2Pac Tribute: Dare 2 Struggle

In mid 2006, Johnny J premiered a 10 year anniversary Tupac tribute track on a charitable compilation by Dr. Mutulu Shakur entitled A 2Pac Tribute: Dare 2 Struggle. The song was written by Johnny and performed by a new artist working with Klock Work at the time named T-Jay. Johnny also acted as a consultant on the compilation, advising Canadian activist Deejay Ra who produced the complation with Dr. Mutulu Shakur. [citation needed]

Let The Truth Be Known

In mid 2008, Iranian-Canadian rapper Imaan Faith collaborated with Deejay Ra to release Imaan's debut album Let The Truth Be Known on Universal Music Canada, featuring an opening track with Johnny J entitled "Goin 2 Da Top", which was recorded at Johnny's studio in California in mid 2006. Johnny's name was mentioned in billboard, radio and TV advertisements across Canada as one of the album's producers during a 3 month advertising campaign, and the album charted at #6 on the Nielsen SoundScan top ten in Canada the week of its March 11th release. Imaan and Deejay Ra both credited Johnny in Canadian interviews for the album's success, and claimed Johnny would also be working more extensively on Imaan's sophomore album release.[citation needed]

In a recent Canadian radio interview, Imaan claimed he would be returning to California in late 2008 to film a music video for "Goin 2 Da Top" with Johnny J, to release the track as his album's next single.[citation needed]

The Light

Johnny J had been recording for most of 2008 with actress/singer Tatyana Ali on her sophomore music album "The Light".[6]

Production discography

Celeberty & Star - Move That Body [Single] (1988)

  • Produced full albums

Candyman - Ain't No Shame in My Game (1990)

  • All tracks co-produced with Candyman

Thug Life - Thug Life: Thug Life Vol. 1 (1994)

  • 04. "Pour Out a Little Liquor"

2Pac - Me Against the World (1995)

  • 14. "Death Around the Corner"

2Pac - All Eyez on Me (1996)

  • 1-02. "All Bout U" (featuring Dru Down, Nate Dogg & Snoop Dogg)
    • Produced with 2Pac
  • 1-05. "How Do U Want It" (featuring K-Ci & Jojo)
  • 1-09. "Life Goes On" (featuring Stacey Smallie)
  • 1-14. "Whatz Ya Phone No." (featuring Danny Boy)
    • Produced with 2Pac
  • 2-02. "Shorty Wanna Be a Thug"
  • 2-04. "Wonda Why They Call U Bitch"
    • Produced with 2Pac
  • 2-06. "Thug Passion" (featuring Dramacydal, Jewel & Storm)
    • Produced with 2Pac
  • 2-07. "Picture Me Rollin'" (featuring Danny Boy, Big Syke & C.P.O.)
  • 2-08. "Check Out Time" (featuring Kurupt, Syke & Natasha Walker)
    • Produced with 2Pac
  • 2-10. "All Eyez on Me" (featuring Big Syke)
  • 2-11. "Run Tha Streetz" (featuring Michel'Le, Storm & Mutah)

Various Artists - Gridlock'd (Original Soundtrack) (1996)

  • 05. "Never Had a Friend Like Me"

K-Ci & JoJo - You Bring Me Up [UK Single] (1997)

  • 05. "You Bring Me Up (Johnny J Remix)"

Craig Mack - Operation: Get Down (1997)

  • 04. Rap Hangover (featuring La Shawn Monet)
  • 10. You

2Pac - R U Still Down? (Remember Me) (1997)

  • 2-01. "Ready 4 Whatever" (featuring Big Syke)
  • 2-05. "Fake Ass Bitches"
    • Co-produced by We Got Kidz

Nate Dogg - G-Funk Classics, Vol. 1 & 2 (1998)

  • 1-06. Crazy, Dangerous (featuring Nancy Fletcher & Six Feet Deep)

2Pac - Greatest Hits (1998)

Bizzy Bone - Heaven'z Movie (1998)

  • 02. "Thugz Cry"
  • 04. "Yes Yes Y'all"
  • 12. "Nobody Can Stop Me"
  • XX. "Life Goes On (R.I.P. 2Pac)" (Tribute to Tupac Shakur that was eventually scrapped from the album)
  • XX. "Confessions" (Featuring 2pac) (Contains 2pac's "Breathin" verse) Unreleased from the album due to sampling clearances

CJ Mac - Platinum Game (1999)

2Pac & The Outlawz - Still I Rise (1999)

  • 02. "Still I Rise"
  • 03. "Secretz of War"
  • 14. "U Can Be Touched"

2Pac - Until the End of Time (2001)

  • 1-01. "Ballad of a Dead Soulja"
  • 1-03. "Lil' Homies"
  • 1-06. "Letter 2 My Unborn" (featuring Anthem & Tena Jones)
    • Co-produced by Nitty
  • 1-07. "Breathin" (featuring Outlaw Immortalz)
  • 1-08. "Happy Home" (featuring Yusef Sharid, Barbara Wilson & Tracy Hardin)
  • 1-11. "Thug N U Thug N Me (Remix)" (featuring K-ci & JoJo)
  • 1-12. "Everything They Owe" (featuring Timothy)
  • 1-13. "Until The End of Time" (featuring RL & Anthem)
    • Co-produced by Nitty
  • 1-15. "World Wide Mob Figgaz" (featuring Outlaw Immortalz & Ta'he)
  • 2-02. "My Closest Roaddogz" (featuring Shiro & Timothy)
  • 2-04. "When Thugz Cry"
  • 2-06. "This Ain't Livin'" (featuring Vanessa Marquez)
  • 2-08. "Lastonesleft" (featuring Outlaw Immortalz)
  • 2-09. "Thug N U Thug N Me" (featuring K-Ci & JoJo & Capucine)
  • 2-13. "When I Get Free"
  • 2-14. "Until The End of Time (RP Remix)" (featuring Richard Page, RL & Anthem)
    • Co-produced by Nitty & Jamel Edgerton

Big Syke - Big Syke Daddy (2001)

  • 08. "At Your Convenience"
  • 12. "On My Way Out"
  • 13. "Good Timez"
  • 15. "Enjoyin' Life"

Various Artists - Gang Related (soundtrack) (2001)

2Pac - Better Dayz (2002)

  • 1-05. "Fuck 'Em All" (featuring The Outlawz)
  • 2-03. "Never Call U B**** Again" (featuring Tyrese)
  • 2-04. "Better Dayz" (featuring Mr. Biggs)
  • 2-10. "There U Go" (featuring Syke, Jazze Pha & The Outlawz)
  • 2-11. "This Life I Lead" (featuring The Outlawz)
  • 2-12. "Who Do U Believe In" (featuring Yaki Kadafi)
  • 2-13. "They Don't Give a F*** About Us" (featuring The Outlawz)

Dr. Mutulu Shakur - A 2Pac Tribute: Dare 2 Struggle (2006)

  • 09. "Still"

Imaan Faith - Let The Truth Be Known (2008)

  • 02. "Goin 2 Da Top"

References

  1. ^ http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2008/10/04/20553711.aspx
  2. ^ http://www.thuglifearmy.com/news/?id=4519
  3. ^ a b c d e f allmusic Credits
  4. ^ RIAA
  5. ^ http://www.hitemup.com/interviews/johnnyj-part1.html
  6. ^ http://blog.themavenreport.com/?p=5772

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to Johnny "J".

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