J-Swift: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:35, 17 August 2014

Revision as of 13:08, 15 June 2015

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==Career==

Around 1988 J-Swift met [[R&B]] musician [[Reggie Andrews]], producer of [[Dazz Band]]’s 1982 funk hit “Let It Whip.” After J-Swift composed three [[Newnew Jackjack Swingswing]]-style songs to get his attention, Andrews suggested that he concentrate on writing and producing, and set him up with a recording studio (complete with a then-state-of-the-art Akai MPC60) at South Central Unit (SCU), an after-school program for disadvantaged young talent. This gave J the opportunity to submit songs to A&M Record’s Rondor Music publishing, while additional work came via BMI’s Cheryl Dickerson. Though much of this early music went unreleased (like an album by [[Bell Biv DeVoe]] spin-off STR8-Ahead), J-Swift’s official songwriting/producing debut came in 1991 with [[Keisha Jackson]]’s “Feel You Out.”

Around this time J-Swift began making music with a crew of dancers-turned-rappers. With Reggie Andrews’ record collection at their disposal, J-Swift and [[The Pharcyde]] crafted a three-song demo in ’91 and subsequently a hip-hop classic, 1992’s [[Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde]]. Featuring the hit single ''[[Passin' Me By]]'', Pharcyde’s debut went certified Gold. Disputes over production and credits caused a rift between J and the group (although they would later reunite on The Pharcyde’s “Trust” remix in 2000, not to mention several J-Swift-produced tracks on [[Fatlip]]’s 2005 solo debut [[The Loneliest Punk]], and Fatlip and [[Tre Hardson]]’s 2007 holiday song “All I Want for Xmas”).