From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Johnny "J" |
Johnny J in his studio, circa early 2008
|
| Background information |
| Birth name |
Johnny Lee Jackson |
| Born |
August 28, 1969(1969-08-28)
Ciudad
Juárez, Mexico |
| Origin |
Los Angeles,
California, USA |
| Died |
October 3, 2008 (aged 39) |
| Genres |
Hip hop, gangsta funk, gangsta rap, R&B, West Coast
hip hop |
| Occupations |
Rapper, Record Producer, Songwriter |
| Years active |
1987–2008 |
| Labels |
Death
Row, Interscope, Solar, Shade
Tree, Klock Work Entertainment, Epic, Jive, Amaru
Entertainment |
| Associated acts |
Tupac Shakur,
Tatyana Ali, Napoleon |
| Website |
MySpace |
Johnny Lee Jackson (August 28, 1969 - October
3, 2008),[1][2][3]
commonly known in the music industry as Johnny
"J", was a multi-platinum songwriter, music producer and
rapper who
was perhaps best remembered for his production on Tupac Shakur's albums
All Eyez on
Me and Me Against the World, as well
as many of Shakur's subsequent posthumous albums.[4]
He was born in Juárez, Mexico, in 1969 and raised in South Central
Los Angeles. Johnny "J" was co-owner and CEO of Klock Work
Entertainment.
Early
Productions
He produced the 1990 single "Knockin' Boots" for his classmate
Candyman's album Ain't No Shame in My
Game, which went platinum thanks to the single.[5] He also
produced early demos with artist Shady Montage who eventually went
on to become Shade
Sheist.
Tupac, Death Row Records and Solo album (1993—1997)
Johnny J and 2Pac, circa 1994
After the numerous nominations for Candyman, Johnny J met 2pac and recorded
nine tracks with him in three days. 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 Soundtrack of The Year Award at the 1995 Source Awards.[6]
Johnny 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.[4]
While Shakur was in prison for the most of 1995, Johnny J
recorded and 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.[7] I
Gotta Be Me is now out of print and hard to find.
After 2Pac's release in late 1995, the two began collaborating
for 2Pac's Death Row Records debut All Eyez On Me.[4]
The double album was released early next year, and Johnny J
produced the chart topping hits "All Bout U", "How Do U Want
It" and "Life Goes
On".[8] He also
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'"[4]
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.[9]
Miscellaneous
ventures (1997—2006)
Prior to Tupac Shakur's death Johnny produced over 100 tracks
for the rapper, a great deal of them unreleased.[10] 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.[4]
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.[4]
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.
Later
life
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.
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 11 release.
Johnny J had been recording for most of 2008 with actress/singer
Tatyana Ali on her
sophomore music album The Light.[11]
According to his own MySpace page, Johnny J died on October 3,
2008 at the age of 39.[12] While
serving a sentence for DWI in the Twin Towers Correctional
Facility located in Los Angeles,
California, he allegedly jumped off an upper tier of the prison
in an apparent suicide.[13]
Discography
Solo
album
Production
Celeberty
& Star - Move That Body [Single]
(1988)
- All tracks co-produced by L.A. Posse
- All tracks co-produced by Candyman
Candyman -
Candyman Theme [Single] (1990)
- All tracks co-produced by Candyman
Candyman -
Knockin' Boots [Single] (1990)
- All tracks co-produced by Candyman
Candyman -
Melt In Your Mouth [Single] (1990)
- All tracks co-produced by Candyman
Candyman
- Oneighundredskytalkpinelevenotwosevenine - 1-800-SKY-TALK
PIN#110279 [Single] (1991)
- All tracks co-produced by Candyman & Charlie
Mack
Various
Artists - We're All In The Same Gang
(1990)
- 07. "Keep Funkin' It" (performed by MC KRZ)
Various Artists - Fido's Choice - 17 Cool Dance Trax
(1991)
- 02. "Knockin' Boots" (performed by Candyman)
Candyman -
I Thought You Knew (1993)
- 08. "Don't Cry Dry Your Eyes"
Biggy Smallz
- Cruisin' [Single] (1993)
- Produced all tracks from single
Biggy
Smallz - Nobody Rides for Free [Single]
(1993)
- Produced all tracks from single
Mel-Low
- Return Of The Player [Single] (1994)
- B2. "Return Of The Player (LP Version)"
- Co-produced by Mel-Low & Poppa C
- A1. "Pour Out a Little Liquor (Radio Version)"
(performed by 2Pac)
- A2. "Pour Out a Little Liquor (LP Version)" (performed
by 2Pac)
Thug Life - Thug
Life: Vol. 1 (1994)
- 04. "Pour Out a Little Liquor" (performed by
2Pac)
- 08. "Pour Out a Little Liquor" (performed by 2Pac as Thug
Life)
- 14. "Death Around the Corner"
- 05. "Never Had a Friend Like Me" (performed by
2Pac)
- 2-01. "Ready 4 Whatever" (featuring Big
Syke)
- 2-05. "Fake Ass Bitches"
- Co-produced by We Got Kidz
2Pac & Snoop Doggy Dogg - Wanted Dead Or
Alive [Single] (1997)
- B1. "Never Had a Friend Like Me" (performed by
2Pac)
Craig Mack -
Operation: Get Down (1997)
- 04. "Rap Hangover" (featuring La Shawn
Monet)
- 10. "You"
- 07. "Are You Still Down" (featuring 2Pac)
K-Ci & JoJo -
You Bring Me Up [UK Single] (1997)
- 05. "You Bring Me Up (Johnny J Remix)"
- 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)
- 2Pac's verse also appears on his album Until the End of
Time on the track "Breathin'"
- Unreleased from the album due to sampling
clearances
Nate Dogg - G-Funk
Classics, Vol. 1: Ghetto Preacher (1997)
- 07. "Crazy, Dangerous" (featuring Nancy Fletcher &
Six Feet Deep)
2Pac - Happy Home
[Single] (1998)
- 1-06. "Crazy, Dangerous" (featuring Nancy Fletcher &
Six Feet Deep)
- 02. "Still I Rise"
- 03. "Secretz of War"
- 14. "U Can Be Touched"
- A1. "Letter 2 My Unborn"
- A2. "Letter 2 My Unborn (Instrumental)"
- A3. "Letter 2 My Unborn (A Cappella)"
- Produced all tracks from single
- 1-01. "Ballad of a Dead Soulja"
- 1-03. "Lil' Homies"
- 1-06. "Letter 2 My Unborn" (featuring
Anthem & Tena Jones)
- 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)
- 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
- 08. "At Your Convenience"
- 12. "On My Way Out"
- 13. "Good Timez"
- 15. "Enjoyin' Life"
Various Artists - Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000
(2001)
- 1-04. "Who Do You Believe In" (featuring Yaki
Kadafi)
- 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)
- 03. "How Do U Want It (Situations)"
Various Artists -
Hip Hop II (2002)
Various Artists - Tupac Shakur: Thug Angel: The Life of an
Outlaw (Soundtrack) (2002)
- 15. "Thinking of You (2Pac Tribute)" (performed by
Stepchylde & Johnny J)
Hussein Fatal -
Fatalveli, Volume 1: The Mixtape
(2003)
- 02. "Made Niggaz" (featuring Makaveli & The
Outlawz)
Various Artists - Tupac: Resurrection (Soundtrack)
(2003)
- 04. "Death Around the Corner" (performed by
2Pac)
- 05. "Secrets of War" (performed by 2Pac & The
Outlawz)
- 07. "Part 2" (featuring 2Pac)
Mopreme Shakur
- Evolution Of A Thug Life N.I.G.G.A. Vol. 1.1
(2005)
- 1-13. "Play Your Cardz Right" (featuring 2Pac, Big Syke,
K-Ci & JoJo)
- 2-06. "What's Next?" (featuring 2Pac, Big Syke & Prince Ital
Joe)
Napoleon -
Have Mercy [Unreleased] (2005)
- 07. "Picture Me Rollin'"
- 08. "Chamillionaire Speaks"
Dr. Mutulu Shakur Presents - A 2Pac
Tribute: Dare 2 Struggle (2006)
- 09. "Still" (performed by T-Jay & Johnny
J)
- 01. "Picture Me Rollin'" (featuring Kurupt & Butch Cassidy)
- Additional Production by Street Radio, Bob Perry &
Arnold Mischkulnig
- 12. "Picture Me Rollin'" (featuring Outlawz & Danny Boy)
2Pac - Best of 2Pac Part
1: Thug (2007)
2Pac - Best of 2Pac Part
2: Life (2007)
- 03. "Until The End of Time (RP Remix)" (featuring Richard Page, RL &
Anthem)
- Co-produced by Nitty & Jamel Edgerton
- 04. "Never Call U B**** Again" (featuring Tyrese)
- 05. "They Don't Give a F*** About Us" (featuring The
Outlawz)
- 10. "When I Get Free"
2Pac - The
10th Anniversary Collection - The Sex, The Soul & The
Street (2007)
C-Bo Presents: Marvaless - Ready
Made (2007)
- 18. "Neva Be Peace" (featuring 2Pac &
Storm)
O.F.T.B. -
The Missing D.R. Files (2007)
- 02. "Better Dayz" (featuring 2Pac & Big Syke)
- 11. "Ladies Night" (featuring 6 Feet Deep)
- 15. "So Long" (featuring MC Hammer)
References
External
links
|
Tupac Shakur |
|
| Studio
albums |
|
|
| Posthumous
albums |
|
|
| Compilation
albums |
|
|
|
Singles |
|
|
| Posthumous
singles |
|
|
| Other
songs |
|
|
| Featured
singles |
|
|
|
Documentaries |
Template:Nowrapbegin "Tupac: Thug
Angel: The life of an outlaw" · "Biggie &
Tupac" · "Tupac:
Resurrection" · "Tupac: Assassinaton" |
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