Jeff Jones (hip hop musician)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone or spelling. You can assist by editing it now. A how-to guide is available. (September 2007) |
Jeff Le’Mar Jones p/k/a Jeff Jones is an American rapper and hip-hop and R&B songwriter.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Jeff Jones was raised in the gang dominated streets of Los Angeles’s Compton and South Central neighborhoods and then had to move around Southern California from the San Fernando Valley to Palmdale to Riverside due to his mother’s battle with drug addiction. Jones started rapping and performing at the age of ten, freestyling at school and performing with a local rap group. He was inspired by West Coast hip-hop legends 2Pac, Snoop, Ice Cube and DJ Quik and later New York’s Notorious B.I.G. He continued to hone his lyrical skills battle-rapping all over Southern California throughout high school. After a year of hustling to make ends meet, he knew music was his true calling and he was going to need to put all his energy into pursuing his dream of being a hip-hop superstar.
With Jones looking for ways to be noticed, his sister sent a fax to Los Angeles radio station 100.3 The Beat and entered him into Steve Harvey’s Apollo West Talent Showcase to perform his Spoken Word rap. He emerged with two back-to-back victories and much praise for his exceptional lyrical skills. Jones and his crew the 5th Squad began recording music with the help of a local manager, and eventually he got his chance to show what he could do in front of top music industry executives. In 2003 Jones was discovered by music production company SpenCow Entertainment, home of several Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum selling record producers. SpenCow executives Demetrius Spencer and Jamal “JJ” Johnson heard Jones spit an ugly and signed him on the spot. They began work immediately on his first album with producer Poli Paul (Chingy, Black Eyed Peas, Nas & Bravehearts), and within six months Jeff Jones was signed to a major record deal with Elektra Records, then home of platinum recording artists including Fabulous, Missy Elliott, and Busta Rhymes.
He completed recording his first album on Elektra Records “God Given” with features from Trick Daddy, Cee-Lo of Gnarls Barkley, and R&B group Midwest City. His high energy record “We Sum All Stars” off the album was featured in the hit Disney feature film New York Minute and also on the movie soundtrack. In the summer of 2004 Jeff Jones’ first single “Trunk Rattle” hit radio airwaves in the West Coast and Midwest regions, introducing his melodic flow to the masses. Just as he began to promote this record, Elektra Records folded and his deal was lost.
But the politics of the record business and the beginnings of label financial issues were no deterrent to Jeff Jones and his passion for music. Jones decided to stay in the mix behind the scenes and develop his natural talent for songwriting further by collaborating on new material for other artists. He eventually teamed up with production company label-mate Solo of R&B group Midwest City (Universal/Motown) to form a writing team called “Wryters Block.” Their winning combination of street swagger with soulfulness and melody caught the attention of top producers, hip-hop artists and R&B/pop artists. As songwriters, they have worked with hit artists and producers including Chingy, Christina Milian, Jonathan “JR” Rotem, Jazze Pha, Eric Hudson and many more. Jones also helped to develop young hip-hop group LAX Boyz (One Recordings) and co-wrote most of their album including their first single featuring Jazze Pha “Ride Like This” which has been gaining momentum on radio and BET.
In 2007 Jeff Jones is back on the map as a hip-hop artist ready to take the industry by storm, releasing his debut mixtape via Mic Blazin' Entertainment entitled “I Smell Smoke Vol. 1” hosted by LA’s finest DJ Felli Fel of Power 106 and the Heavy Hitters and featuring NE-YO, D. Woods of Danity Kane, LAX Boyz (One Recordings) and Midwest City (Universal Motown) tracks and the sounds of hit producer Poli Paul (Chingy, Black Eyed Peas).
West Coast music source DubCNN.com states “Jeff Jones is what many will see as a breath of fresh air to the game. With his adaptable style, listener friendly tone, and ability to flow over an array of beats, we are putting money on Jeff Jones becoming a playlist regular over the coming 12 months.”
Jeff Jones can also be heard on the soundtrack for the urban drama film “4 Life” starring Wood Harris (The Wire) and Elise Neal (Hustle & Flow, All of Us) on DVD in July 2007 as well as upcoming features on Midwest City and LAX Boyz’s albums to drop later this year on Universal/Motown and One Recordings, respectively.
Jeff Jones is co-managed by Jamal “JJ” Johnson and Jennifer Horton of 11-16 Entertainment and Zane Lawrence of MHC Entertainment.
[edit] Albums
Jeff Jones "I Smell Smoke Vol. 1" hosted by DJ Felli Fel (Mic Blazin 2007)
[edit] Singles
- "Trunk Rattle" (Elektra Records 2004)
[edit] Songwriting Credits
- LAX Boyz ft. Jazze Pha "Ride Like This" (One Recordings 2007)
Produced by Jazze Pha Co-Written by Jeff Jones www.myspace.com/lax1recordings http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazze_Pha
- Chingy ft. Midwest City "Cadillac Door" Album: Hoodstar (Capitol 2006)
Produced by Poli Paul Co-Written by Jeff Jones http://xxlmag.com/online/?p=4917
- Chingy "Nike Aurrs & Crispy Tees" Album: Hoodstar (Capitol 2006)
Produced by Poli Paul Co-Written by Jeff Jones
[edit] Soundtracks
- "4 Life" starring Wood Harris, Elise Neal, Page Kennedy (Code Black 2007)
Elise Neal ft. Al Kapone & Jeff Jones "I'm Down Baby" Produced by Al Kapone Co-Written by Jeff Jones http://www.codeblackentertainment.com/Products.aspx?productID=37&pageID=Previously
- "New York Minute" starring Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen (Warner Bros 2004)
Jeff Jones "We Sum All Stars" (Elektra 2004) Produced by Poli Paul Writted by Jeff Jones http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Minute_%28film%29
