This is the spot where you’ll see upcoming producers and Industry veterans in the game. A lot of people don’t know what goes into production. This will be the section where we feature the hottest producers in hip hop. Each month we’ll bring to you a new producer along with their background.
THIS MONTH’S FEATURE IS: JELLY ROLL
One of America’s most promising producers of the millennium, Jelly Roll’s beats emphasize a sense of funk by focusing on chunky bass lines and plenty of synth. He was first established by Snoop Dogg and his affiliates (Tha Eastsidaz, Doggy’s Angels, Xzibit), along with a number of other artists from East to West including Method Man, Redman, Busta Rhymes, Pharoah Monch, Jadakiss, Olivia and Foxy Brown.
Jelly Roll’s diverse musical style includes an infusion of ghetto gospel, strings, winds, funky guitar riffs and off-the-hook percussion. His aesthetic is a progression from the early-’90s G-funk sound pioneered by Dr. Dre, characterized by fat synth bass lines and soulful keys. Furthermore, his productions also tend to make an excellent use of crooning Gs on the choruses to accentuate the soul element. In some of his recent productions, like Xzibit’s “Saturday Night Live”, and Jadakiss’ “Shine” featuring DJ Quik, Jelly brings a sense of laid-back funky soul to the respective artist’s traditionally gangsta rap sound, making instant hits.
Jelly Roll was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he and his 4 brothers sang as the Drew Brothers at church. It was only a matter of time before the music started flowing through his veins, being that he came from a line of legendary musicians, including the one and only Gap Band. Jelly and his brothers were left with a close family friend while life on the road claimed his mothers attention. It instilled a sense of independence in him, and taught him how to be a man at an early age. It also shaped what today is a very close family of brothers who all work together to achieve one common goal: Success. With his brothers Black Thoven and Jovy Lynn, Jelly Roll is one of the main figures in Heatchamberz Productions, a production house based out of L.A. that keeps the beats fresh and the records hot.
Jelly just concluded the Hip Hop Superstar Tour with Xzibit and the Strong Arm Steady Crew, and the word on the streets is the first single to hit the airwaves off the G-Unit’s First Lady Olivia’s Album is “Twist It”, featuring Lloyd Banks produced by Jelly Roll. He is undoubtedly about to blow the roof off this production game in a major way. Do you remember what happened when we all discovered Timbaland’s beats? Multiply that by infinity and imagine the phenomenon.
JELLY ROLL DISCOGRAPHY
Title Artist Album *Platinum Release Label Release
Party With A DPG -Snoop Dogg- *Topp Dogg- Priority 5/11/99
Another Day- Tha Eastsidaz- *Tha Eastsidaz- TVT 1/18/00
Cold Crush Gangsta- Doggy’s Angels- Pleezbaleevit- TVT 11/21/00
Wrong Idea -Snoop Dogg- *Tha Last Meal- Priority 12/5/00
Bring It On –
I Can’t Swim –
Have A Talk With God- Nysa Shenay -My Everything- Priority 1/23/01
Get Yourz Now -Bad Azz- Personal Business -Priority 7/17/01
Streetz Illustrated –
When You See Me –
Wrong Idea –
Life Ain’t Never What It Seems To Be –
It’s On All Day –
Break A Bitch Til I Die -Tha Eastsidaz- Duces N Trayz -TVT 7/31/01
There Comes A Time-
On The Boulevard -Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg- “Wash”- Interscope 9/25/01
Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, Hay, Keep It Real, Kindness For Weakness, Love’s Unknown, Mackin’ Is My Game -Kelli Mack- Kelli Mack- Eagle 10/23/01
Hitz 4 Dayz -Baby S- Street Fractions- Ruthless 2/26/02
Parent’s Don’t Understand -Lil J- All About J- Hollywood 4/22/02
Heart Of Man- Xzibit- Man vs. Machine- Sony 10/1/02
Harder –
StopLight -Snoop Dogg -*Paid The Cost To Be The Bo$$- Priority 11/26/02
Hourglass –
You Got What I Want –
Whatcha Gonna Do- Foxy Brown -Bringing Down The House- Hollywood 3/4/03
Strange Big Gipp Mutant Mindframe Koch 7/22/03
How We Ride -Zane- The Big Zane Theory- Priority 8/19/03
Who Ya Rollin Wit- Method Man -Tical 0: The Prequel- Def Jam 5/18/04
Incredible Hulk- Bad Azz- Executive Decisions- Navarre 6/15/04
Shine- Jadakiss- *Kiss Of Death- Interscope 6/22/04
Whistle While You Hustle -(ex-U.S. only) 2-1-3 The Hard Way- TVT 8/17/04
Pending Releases
Twist It -Olivia -TBD -GUNIT TBD
Cock and Hold -Game -TBD -Aftermath TBD
Saturday Night Live Xzibit Weapons of Mass Destruction Sony
TBD Busta Rhymes -TBD Aftermath TBD
TBD Sam Scarful -TBD -Def Jam TBD
