West Coast producer Icon Johnny Jackson aka Johnny J (1969 – October 3, 2008) has passed

Johnny “J”, the multi-platinum songwriter, music producer & former rapper who is perhaps best known for his production on Tupac Shakur’s albums All Eyez on Me and Me Against the World. He was born in Juárez, Mexico, in 1969 and raised in South Central Los Angeles. Johnny “J” now runs Klock Work Entertainment. He committed suicide in the LA County jail Oct. 3rd, 2008.
Johnny J Born Johnny Jackson Was Born Cd. Juárez, Mexico.It Is unknown when he Came to The United States. He was raised In South Central Los Angeles by his adopted parents whom is Father Is African American and his Mother is Mexican-American. At the age of three his Father bought him a Drum Set. Later in his early life after getting kicked out of numerous electronic stores he decided to purchase a drum machine, keyboards and other musical instruments to produce records. He started creating tracks when he was in high school. He attended Washington Preparatory High School In Los Angeles and was part of the marching band.

His First Hit(1987-1992)
Although he received a full scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music he decided not to attend. Immediately after he produced Knockin’ Boots for one of his classmates Candyman. Candymans Album Ain’t No Shame in My Game which eventually went platinum thanks to his super hit Knockin’ Boots. The Album Made Candyman The First Rapper On Epic Records to go platinum. It also garnered him Grammy and the American Music Award Nominations. It Later Paved to johnny J tremendous success.

After The Numerous Nominations For Candyman Johnny J met 2pac and recorded nine tracks in with 2Pac In Well Over Three Days. Following these recordings johnny produced in 1993 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 the Soundtrack of The Year at 1995 Source Awards which took place in New York and was also during the East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry.
Johnny J Around this time produced the track Death Around The Corner which ended up on 2pacs third solo album entitled Me Against The World That Eventually Went to the top of the Billboard 200. 2Pac thus became the first artist to have an album debut at #1 while incarcerated thanks to Dear Mama and other hits off the album.
In 1996 Johnny J Came back to help produce on 2Pac’s Death Row Records Debut All Eyez On Me. Johnny J Produced The Chart Topping Hits All bout U,How Do U Want It, Life Goes On. 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’ which used the same beat as Better Off off of Johnny J’s Debut Album I Gotta Be Me.
All Eyez on Me was released after Suge Knight, CEO of Death Row Records, bailed 2Pac out of jail, fulfilling part of 2Pac’s brand new contract with Death Row Records. This double-album served as the first two records of his three album contract. He arrived in the studios just hours after being released from prison to begin work on this 27 track hip-hop “tour de force”. The prolific rapper finished this album in only two weeks. The album sold 566,000 copies in its first week of release and was certified platinum in its first four hours of release.
The album is one of the most influential albums in hip hop history and is widely considered one of the crowning achievements of 1990s rap. According to the RIAA, 9 million copies of the album were sold in the United States alone by June 18, 1998.

I Gotta Be Me
In 1995 Johnny J Came Out With His Debut Album I Gotta Be Me which spawned two singles Get Away From Me And Dig Um’ Out. The album which includes solo material from johnny j. Its The Only Solo Album he has to date. A music video was shot for Get Away From Me. The Album Is Now out of print and hard to find.

After Tupac’s Death (1997-Present)
Prior to Tupac Shakur’s death Jackson produced over 100 tracks for the rapper, a great deal of them unreleased. Many of Jackson’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.
Jackson had composed a few music scores in such films as Gridlock’d. His productions ended up on movie soundtracks like SuperCop and Blood Diamond. The first artist Johnny J collaborated with after 2Pac’s death was Bizzy Bone from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. He produced “Thugz Cry” and “Nobody Can Stop Me” off of his Heavenz Movie album, a release that would eventually go gold.

Johnny J, along with Napoleon from the Outlawz and Val Young 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. In a recent interview, Johnny J said that as of 2008, he is currently working with singer Tatyana Ali on her sophomore album The Light.

Death
Johnny Jackson committed suicide in the LA County jail Oct. 3rd, 2008. He is survived by a wife and two children. He was 39 years old.

As a friend of Johnny’s I would like to add that he had a great spirt and energy about himself like no other. He was passionate about music, in love with his family, and always strived to be the best that he could be. He loved music and respected the artistry of it in so many ways. If you were hanging out with him, he treated you like family member no matter how long he knew you for or what you could do or couldn’t do for him. He was humble about somethings and very proud for others. Either way he was unique and cool in many ways…. and he will be missed. I suggest when you can go listen to his life’s work… and hear it for yourself why Tupac Shakur always went to Johnny J for the HITS. This is one dude that deserves to be in Heaven.

May his values and music live on!