View source for J. Rawls

{{short description|American rapper}}
{{peacock|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = J. Rawls
| image           =
| caption         =
| birth_name      = Jason Daniel Rawls<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/890459671 |title=ARE YOU LISTENING? |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=April 27, 2023}}</ref>
| alias           =
| birth_date      = {{birth date and age|1974|02|27}}
| birth_place     = [[Columbus, Ohio]], U.S.
| death_date      = <!-- Do not add unsourced material -->
| death_place     =
| genre           = [[hip hop music|Hip hop]]
| occupation      = {{hlist|[[Record producer]]|[[Disc jockey|DJ]]|[[Rapping|Rapper]]|[[Educator]]}}
| years_active    = 1998–present
| label           = Polar Entertainment
| associated_acts = {{hlist|Lone Catalysts|3582}}
| website         = {{URL|www.polarentllc.com}}
}}
'''Jason Daniel Rawls''' (born February 27, 1974<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thefindmag.com/videos/video-j-rawls-find-a-new-ft-casual-of-hieroglyphics/|title=Video: J. Rawls – Find A New (ft. Casual of Hieroglyphics)|work=The Find Magazine|author=Danny|date=October 4, 2011}}</ref>), better known by his stage name '''J. Rawls''', is an American [[hip hop music]]ian, [[music producer|producer]], [[disc jockey]] (DJ), educator and speaker born in [[Columbus, Ohio]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2014/06/05/beats-by-j-as-local-hip-hop-icon-j-rawls-prepares-to-step-back-from-the-scene-the-next-generation-steps-up-.html|title=Beats by J: As local hip-hop icon J Rawls prepares to step back from the scene, the next generation steps up.|publisher=Columbus Alive|first=Andy|last=Downing|date=June 5, 2014}}</ref> He is best known for his work with [[Masta Ace]], [[Mos Def]] and [[Talib Kweli]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xlr8r.com/mp3/2008/06/thankful|title=J.Rawls & Middle Child "Thankful"|publisher=XLR8R|first=Bryant|last=Rutledge|date=June 5, 2008}}</ref> His work with [[Black Star (rap duo)|Black Star]], and their debut album ''[[Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star|Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Stars]]'', gained notoriety in the late 1990s underground hip hop scene.<ref>{{Cite web |title=‘Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star’ Turns 25: A Look Back |url=https://www.bet.com/article/lqpjs9/mos-def-talib-kweli-black-star-25th-anniversary-retrospective |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=BET |language=en}}</ref>
Rawls has also worked with artists such as [[Dose One]], [[Domo Genesis]], [[Capital Steez]], [[Beastie Boys]], [[Slum Village]], [[Diamond D]], John Robinson, [[El Da Sensei]], [[Sadat X]], [[Count Bass D]], Grand Agent,<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/Grand-Agent-J-Rawls-By-Design-The-Essence-Of-Snippets/release/1419282 Grand Agent]</ref> [[9th Wonder]], [[J-Live]], [[Us3]] and [[Moka Only]].
Rawls has released three solo albums and contributed to the [[neo soul]] movement, producing artists such as [[Aloe Blacc]], [[Eric Roberson]], [[Dudley Perkins (rapper)|Dudley Perkins]] and others.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.columbusunderground.com/event/music-entrepreneurship-workshop-concert-w-zo-and-j-rawls/2018-03-3|title=Music Entrepreneurship Workshop + Concert w/ Zo! and J. Rawls|publisher=Columbus Underground|date=2018}}</ref>
Fusing [[jazz]] and [[Hip hop music|hip hop]], his 2006 work "The Liquid Crystal Project"<ref>[https://polarentllc.bandcamp.com/album/j-rawls-presents-the-liquid-crystal-project-vol-1 "The Liquid Crystal Project"]</ref> included collaborations with B-Jazz,<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/J-Rawls-Middle-Child-Rawls-Middle/release/1355832 B-Jazz]</ref> Rob Riley, Eddie Bayard and Charles Cooper as well as a tribute to producer [[J. Dilla]]. Rawls has a Columbus-based production company and record label, and he performs as a DJ for clubs and private functions around the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://licenselounge.com/shop/jrawls/|title=The New Era Of Music Licensing Has Arrived |publisher=License Lounge|date=2018}}</ref>
==Music career==
J. Rawls' first solo album, ''The Essence of J. Rawls'', was released in 2001 and featured "Great Live Caper," "Check the Clock" and "They Can't See Me."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-essence-of-j-rawls-mw0000002444|title=The Essence of J. Rawls - J. Rawls|work=[[AllMusic]]|first=Matt|last=Conaway|access-date=August 25, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525035029/http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-essence-of-j-rawls-mw0000002444|archive-date=May 25, 2015}}</ref>
Rawls is one half of the duo 3582, alongside [[Fat Jon]] of [[Five Deez]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/j_rawls-historys_greatest_battles_campaigns|title=J Rawls - History's Greatest Battles, Campaigns & Topics|work=[[Exclaim!]]|first=Del F.|last=Cowie|date=May 2003|access-date=August 25, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219050604/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/j_rawls-historys_greatest_battles_campaigns|archive-date=December 19, 2014}}</ref> 3582 released two albums, ''The Living Soul'' and ''Situational Ethics''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/3582-living_soul|title=3582 - The Living Soul|work=[[Exclaim!]]|first=Del F.|last=Cowie|date=May 2002|access-date=August 25, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219044258/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/3582-living_soul|archive-date=December 19, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xlr8r.com/reviews/3582/situational-ethics|title=Situational Ethics|work=[[XLR8R]]|first=Ross|last=Hogg|date=November 28, 2003|access-date=August 25, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219032356/http://www.xlr8r.com/reviews/3582/situational-ethics|archive-date=December 19, 2014}}</ref>
Rawls released another solo album, ''The Hip-Hop Affect'', in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/album-reviews/id.1686/title.j-rawls-the-hip-hop-affect|title=The Hip-Hop Affect (review)|work=[[HipHopDX]]|first=William E.|last=Ketchum III|date=May 26, 2011|access-date=May 28, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219032623/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/album-reviews/id.1686/title.j-rawls-the-hip-hop-affect|archive-date=December 19, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/HipHop/j_rawls-hip_hop_affect|title=J. Rawls - The Hip Hop Affect|work=[[Exclaim!]]|first=Kevin|last=Jones|date=May 24, 2011|access-date=|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726084511/http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/HipHop/j_rawls-hip_hop_affect|archive-date=July 26, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.okayplayer.com/reviews/j-rawls.html|title=J. Rawls|work=[[Okayplayer]]|first=Niela|last=Orr|date=6 September 2012 |access-date=December 12, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051133/http://www.okayplayer.com/reviews/j-rawls.html|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref>
''[[Respect Game or Expect Flames]]'', his collaborative album with [[Casual (rapper)|Casual]] of [[Hieroglyphics (group)|Hieroglyphics]], was released on [[Nature Sounds]] in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/HipHop/casual_j_rawls-respect_game_expect_flames|title=Casual and J Rawls - Respect Game or Expect Flames|work=[[Exclaim!]]|first=Mark|last=Bozzer|date=August 28, 2012|access-date=August 25, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210230619/http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/HipHop/casual_j_rawls-respect_game_expect_flames|archive-date=December 10, 2013}}</ref> It was described by [[Okayplayer]] as "one of the most consistently dope and balanced albums in 2012."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.okayplayer.com/reviews/j-rawls-and-casual.html|title=J.Rawls and Casual|work=[[Okayplayer]]|first=T.|last=Love|date=September 8, 2012|access-date=August 25, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222204641/https://www.okayplayer.com/reviews/j-rawls-and-casual.html|archive-date=February 22, 2019}}</ref>
In 2014, Rawls released an album titled ''The Legacy''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.29235/title.j-rawls-the-legacy-release-date-cover-art-tracklist-album-stream|title=J Rawls "The Legacy" Release Date, Cover Art, Tracklist & Album Stream|work=[[HipHopDX]]|first=Soren|last=Baker|date=June 12, 2014|access-date=August 25, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219032433/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.29235/title.j-rawls-the-legacy-release-date-cover-art-tracklist-album-stream|archive-date=December 19, 2014}}</ref>
In 2019, Rawls and John Robinson released an album, titled ''Youth Culture Power'' (YCP), consisting of jazz-infused hip hop tracks produced by Rawls over which the emcees rhymed about the state of educating inner city youth. Rawls and Robinson list many perceived challenges, such as like culturally biased [[Standardized test|standardized tests]], the whitewashing of history in textbooks and the cutting of resources, but also detail potential solutions, such as relating to students, implementing new techniques in the classroom and being attentive to students' lives.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Album |url=https://itsjayare.com/the-album |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207112114/https://itsjayare.com/the-album |archive-date=7 December 2023}}</ref>
== Academic career ==
Rawls holds a bachelor's degree in business from the [[University of Cincinnati]], a master's degree in education from [[Ashland University]] and a doctorate in education in Educational Administration from [[Ohio University]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alumni Spotlight: Jason Rawls |url=https://www.ohio.edu/education/alumni/rawls |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805162946/https://www.ohio.edu/education/alumni/rawls |archive-date=5 August 2021}}</ref> From 2012 to 2020, he served as an adjunct hip hop and music business instructor and as a visiting artist at [[Tiffin University]] in Tiffin, Ohio. Rawls has conducted multiple workshops on the music industry, focusing on hip hop education and beat-making at major universities around the country. He also has more than 15 years of [[K-12]] teaching experience.
Rawls co-authored a book, ''Youth Culture Power: A #HipHopEd Guide to Teacher-Student Relationships and Student Engagement'', with John Robinson, released through Peter Lang Publishers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=LLC |first=Polar Ent |title=Welcome to Polar Ent. LLC |url=https://polarentllc.com/polar-edu |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=Polar Ent. LLC |language=en-US}}</ref> The book is about the experience of educators and hip hop artists in the urban classrooms, specifically on how to teach students through [[Hip hop based education|Hip Hop Based Education]] (HHBE).<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Book |url=https://itsjayare.com/the-book |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207110010/https://itsjayare.com/the-book |archive-date=7 December 2023}}</ref>
In 2021, Ohio University's Patton College of Education implemented the first-ever hip hop-based education program to help pre-service teachers incorporate culturally relevant pedagogy into their own teaching styles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pelham |date=17 March 2021 |title=OHIO’s Patton College of Education implements first ever Hip-Hop based education program to prepare teachers to incorporate culturally relevant pedagogy |url=https://news.ohio.edu/news/2021/03/ohios-patton-college-education-implements-first-ever-hip-hop-based-education-program |access-date=2 May 2024 |website=OHIO News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Patton College of Education {{!}} Ohio University |url=https://www.ohio.edu/education/ |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=www.ohio.edu}}</ref> The program, known as Hip-Hop OHIO Patton Education (HOPE), is led by Rawls, who worked as the program coordinator. HHBE strives to teach the value of incorporating hip hop-based education, culturally relevant pedagogy and relational pedagogy into the classroom to build healthy and affirming relationships while improving engagement with students.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://itsjayare.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430125703/https://itsjayare.com/ |archive-date=30 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=HOPE Program |url=https://www.ohio.edu/education/teacher-ed/hope-program |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930011207/https://www.ohio.edu/education/teacher-ed/hope-program |archive-date=30 September 2023}}</ref>
Rawls was also a featured presenter for the Places of Invention, [[Bronx]], New York, exhibit that opened in July 2015 at the Smithsonian [[National Museum of American History]] in Washington, D.C. In this exhibit, a virtual Rawls walks visitors through the nuances of how to scratch and mix on a replica turntable.<ref>{{cite web |date=2018 |title=Music Entrepreneurship Workshop + Concert w/ Zo! and J. Rawls |url=https://www.columbusunderground.com/event/music-entrepreneurship-workshop-concert-w-zo-and-j-rawls/2018-03-3 |publisher=Columbus Underground}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2017 |title=J.Rawls |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-d-rawls-ed-d-4b7737139 |publisher=linkedin}}</ref>
== Discography ==
===Studio albums===
* ''The Essence of J. Rawls'' (2001)
* ''The Living Soul'' (2001) {{small|(with [[Fat Jon]], as 3582)}}
* ''Situational Ethics'' (2003) {{small|(with Fat Jon, as 3582)}}
* ''Histories Greatest Battles, Campaigns & Topics'' (2003)
* ''The Essence of Soul'' (2005)
* ''The Liquid Crystal Project'' (2006)
* ''It's the Dank & Jammy Show'' (2007) {{small|(with [[Declaime]])}}
* ''True Ohio Playas'' (2007) {{small|(with [[Count Bass D]])}}
* ''J. Rawls Presents Holmskillit'' (2007) {{small|(with Holmskillit)}}
* ''The Liquid Crystal Project 2'' (2008)
* ''Rawls & Middle'' (2008) {{small|(with Middle Child)}}
* ''The 1960s Jazz Revolution Again'' (2009) {{small|(with John Robinson, as Jay Are)}}
* ''The Hip-Hop Affect'' (2011)
* ''The Liquid Crystal Project 3'' (2012)
* ''[[Respect Game or Expect Flames]]'' (2012) {{small|(with [[Casual (rapper)|Casual]])}}
* ''The Legacy'' (2014)
* ''#jazzhop'' (2022)
* ''The Confidence of Knowing'' (2024) {{small|(with [[Talib Kweli]])}}
===Compilation albums===
* ''Hotel Beats Vol. 1'' (2009)
* ''Hotel Beats Vol. 2'' (2014)
* ''Bringing it Home Vol. 1'' (2001)
* ''Bringing it Home Vol. 2'' (2006)
===EPs===
* ''Rawlzey'' (2015) {{small|(with Coolzey)}}
* ''The Profit'' (2019) {{small|(with Nova)}}
* ''Valor'' (2020) {{small|(with Eloh Kush)}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://polarentllc.bandcamp.com/music|title=Music {{!}} Polar Entertainment LLC|website=[[Bandcamp]]|access-date=August 25, 2020}}</ref>
===Singles===
* "Check the Clock" (2000)
* "Great Live Caper" (2001)
* "They Can't See Me" (2001)
* "Soul" / "Bailar" (2005)
* "Pleasure Before Pain" / "Miss You (Bring It Back)" (2005)
* "A Tribute to Dilla" / "Too Personal" (2006)
* "A Tribute to Troy" / "So Fly" (2006)
* "Til the Sun Comes" (2008) {{small|(with Middle Child)}}
* "Music Over Madness" (2008) {{small|(with Middle Child)}}
* "A Tribute to Da Beatminerz" / "A Tribute to The Beatnuts" (2008)
* "Another Tribute to Dilla" / "Digital Funky" (2008)
* "A Tribute to Souls" / "Capricorn's Reprise" (2008)
* "A Tribute to De La" / "Stakes Still High" (2011)
===Productions===
* [[Mos Def]] & [[Talib Kweli]] - "Brown Skin Lady" and "Yo Yeah" from ''[[Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star]]'' (1998)
* [[Doseone]] - "Spitfire", "Self Explanatory", "That Ol' Pagan Shit", and "Genres" from ''[[Hemispheres (Doseone album)|Hemispheres]]'' (1998)
* [[Themselves]] - "Directions to My Special Place" from ''[[Them (Themselves album)|Them]]'' (2000)
* [[Rasco]] - "Living Voices" from ''[[Hostile Environment]]'' (2001)
* [[El Da Sensei]] - "Lights, Camera, Action!" from ''[[The Unusual]]'' (2006)
* [[Capital Steez]] - "Infinity and Beyond" from ''AmeriKKKan Korruption'' (2012)
* [[MHz Legacy]] - "Columbus Diss Patch" from ''[[MHz Legacy (album)|MHz Legacy]]'' (2012)
* Cas Metah & Wonder Brown - "Drowning Man" from ''The Darke Bros'' (2012)
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* {{Discogs artist|J. Rawls|J. Rawls}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rawls, J.}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Rappers from Columbus, Ohio]]
[[Category:American hip hop DJs]]
[[Category:American hip hop record producers]]
[[Category:Alternative hip hop musicians]]
[[Category:Five percenters]]
[[Category:21st-century American rappers]]
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American musicians]]