J Rawls

J Rawls serves as Visiting Instructor of Hip Hop & Music Business at Tiffin University, where he teaches music industry courses, coaches hip hop performers, teaches turntablism and beatmaking, and presents regular workshops on music industry topics. Known for his work with Black Star, a hip hop group comprised of Mos Def and Talib Kweli, Rawls contributed production on “Brown Skin Lady” and “Yo, Yeah,” which placed him on the map among independent hip hop producers. The album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star did was acclaimed as one of the best albums of 1998 and was a major force in the late-1990s underground hip hop explosion. Rawls has also worked with Dose One, Beastie Boyz, Slum Village, El Da Sensei, Count Bass D, Grand Agent, 9th Wonder, J-Live, Us3, and Moka Only. Rawls has released three solo albums, and contributed to or produced dozens of others, having worked with J-Live, Aloe Blacc, Eric Robertson, Dudley Perkins, and many others.  He is one-half of the duo The Lone Catalysts, with emcee J. Sands, having released four albums together. Fusing jazz and hip hop, his 2006 work with The Liquid Crystal Project led to national acclaim for his collaboration with B-Jazz, Shaun Scott, B Chapman and Selah and their tribute to the legendary producer J Dilla. His Columbus-based production company and record label continues to make an impact in the national hip hop scene, and he is in high demand as a DJ for top clubs and private functions around the country. 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 from Ohio University.