Def Jef
Encyclopedia
Def Jef is the stage name
of Jeffrey Fortson (born September 27, 1966), an American alternative hip hop music
ian and rapper
of the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was born in Harlem
, New York City, New York, USA.
His debut album was 1989's Just a Poet With a Soul
, which won critical acclaim for sociopolitical lyrics and original beats. Additionally, he was a member of the West Coast Rap All-Stars
, a collaboration of West Coast
-based hip hop artists who released the anti-violence single "We're All in the Same Gang" in 1990. He performed on the television variety show In Living Color
in 1990.
After his second album, Soul Food, was released, Def Jef moved into production
full-time. Since the 1990s, he has produced, written, arranged and remixed artists including Nas, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Mary J. Blige
, Kimberley Locke
, Maxwell
, Avant, Tupac Shakur
, and Shaquille O'Neal
. He has worked with Krayzie Bone
and Thugline Records
.
He produced the theme songs for the Disney sitcom That's So Raven
and The Game.
Def Jef also appeared in the feature film
Deep Cover
in 1992
.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
of Jeffrey Fortson (born September 27, 1966), an American alternative hip hop music
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
ian and rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
of the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was born in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, New York City, New York, USA.
His debut album was 1989's Just a Poet With a Soul
Just a Poet with a Soul
Just a Poet With a Soul is the debut alternative hip hop album by Def Jef, released in 1989 , released on Delicious Vinyl. The album was highly praised upon its first release, with critics enjoying the sociopolitical lyrics that have led some to Def Jef along with De La Soul and other members of...
, which won critical acclaim for sociopolitical lyrics and original beats. Additionally, he was a member of the West Coast Rap All-Stars
West Coast Rap All-Stars
"We're All in the Same Gang" is a 1990 single by the West Coast Rap All-Stars, a collaboration of West Coast hip-hop artists that assembled for this song that promoted an anti-violence message.Produced by Dr. Dre, the song featured rapped verses from:...
, a collaboration of West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
-based hip hop artists who released the anti-violence single "We're All in the Same Gang" in 1990. He performed on the television variety show In Living Color
In Living Color
In Living Color is an American sketch comedy television series, which originally ran on the Fox Network from April 15, 1990 to May 19, 1994. Brothers Keenen and Damon Wayans created, wrote, and starred in the program. The show was produced by Ivory Way Productions in association with 20th Century...
in 1990.
After his second album, Soul Food, was released, Def Jef moved into production
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
full-time. Since the 1990s, he has produced, written, arranged and remixed artists including Nas, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
, Kimberley Locke
Kimberley Locke
Kimberley Dawn Locke is an American singer-songwriter and model. She has recorded in the dance, pop and adult contemporary music genres....
, Maxwell
Maxwell (musician)
Maxwell , is an American R&B, funk and neo soul musician. He played an important role in the development of the soul sub-genre, neo-soul.-Early life:...
, Avant, Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
, and Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
. He has worked with Krayzie Bone
Krayzie Bone
Anthony Henderson better known as Krayzie Bone, is an American rapper and is a former member of the rap group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.-Solo career:Krayzie Bone recorded his solo debut, Thug Mentality 1999, in 1998...
and Thugline Records
ThugLine Records
TheLife Entertainment, previously known as Thugline Records, is a record label founded by rappers Krayzie Bone and Wish Bone of rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, also known as ThugLine Family, ThugLine Soldiers and TL...
.
He produced the theme songs for the Disney sitcom That's So Raven
That's So Raven
That's So Raven is an American cable television teen sitcom/fantasy series. The show premiered on the Disney Channel on January 17, 2003, and ended on November 10, 2007. The show spawned Disney Channel's first spin-off series: Cory in the House...
and The Game.
Def Jef also appeared in the feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
Deep Cover
Deep Cover
Deep Cover is a 1992 crime thriller film starring Laurence Fishburne and Jeff Goldblum and directed by veteran actor Bill Duke. It is also notable for its theme song of the same name, composed by Dr...
in 1992
1992 in film
The year 1992 in film involved many significant films. -Top grossing films:-Awards:Academy AwardsGolden Globe AwardsNational Film Awards...
.
Discography
- 1989: Just a Poet with a SoulJust a Poet with a SoulJust a Poet With a Soul is the debut alternative hip hop album by Def Jef, released in 1989 , released on Delicious Vinyl. The album was highly praised upon its first release, with critics enjoying the sociopolitical lyrics that have led some to Def Jef along with De La Soul and other members of...
- 1990: "We're All in the Same Gang" (single) (as one of the West Coast Rap All-StarsWest Coast Rap All-Stars"We're All in the Same Gang" is a 1990 single by the West Coast Rap All-Stars, a collaboration of West Coast hip-hop artists that assembled for this song that promoted an anti-violence message.Produced by Dr. Dre, the song featured rapped verses from:...
) - 1991: Soul FoodSoul Food (Def Jef album)Soul Food is the second and final album released by Def Jef. It was released in 1991 for Delicious Vinyl and featured production from Def Jef, DJ Mark the 45 King and The Brand New Heavies...