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J. Rhodes (record producer)

J. Rhodes
Background information
Birth nameJustin Rhodes
BornDallas, Texas, U.S.
EducationUniversity of North Texas
Genres
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • composer
  • filmmaker
  • artist
Years active2010–present
Labels
  • Vintage Rhodes Productions
Websitethesebeatsaintfree.com

J. Rhodes is a music producer, composer, filmmaker, artist, author, public speaker, and educator.[1][2] He co-wrote and produced, Welcome to America, recorded by Lecrae, which charted at #16 on Billboard's Hot Gospel chart and earned him a Dove Award in 2015.[3][4][5] He has composed and produced music for artists including Killer Mike, Talib Kweli, the Game, and Royce da 5′9″.[6][7][8]

He wrote, directed, and produced, the hip hop musical It's a Wonderful Plight, and wrote the book These Beats Ain't Free.[9][10][11]

Early life

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Justin Rhodes was born in Oak Cliff, Texas, to parents Joe and Gloria Rhodes.[12] He began writing lyrics and poetry while attending Carter High School. During his sophomore year at the University of North Texas, he began experimenting with beat machines and music production.[13][14]

Career

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Rhodes’ music career began while he was in college. In 2007, he opened the 808 Studio in downtown Dallas where he was a producer and engineer. His song "Hello", which he produced and rapped on, was featured on MTV's RapFix Live in 2010. He won the IStandard ASCAP Producer Battle, that same year.[15][16]

He is a Dove Music Award winner, and has composed and produced music for artists including Killer Mike, Lecrae, the Game, Slim Thug, Talib Kweli, Royce da 5′9″, and Styles P.[5][17] Rhodes' music has been featured in television and films including The Recruit, America to Me, FreeRayshawn, Coffee & Kareem, Black and Blue, and Between the World and Me, and at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.[18]

As a filmmaker, he produced and hosted the TV reality series for music producers The House of Beats, which aired on Apple TV in 2018. His music video "MakeItTakeIt" premiered at the American Black Film Festival in 2019.[19][20][21] In 2020, Rhodes wrote, directed, and produced the hip hop musical It’s a Wonderful Plight, which received favorable reviews and was listed among USA Today's "The Summer Movies You Need to See" in 2021.[22][23]

Rhodes authored These Beats Ain't Free, and has been a speaker and panelist at SXSW, ASCAP's I Create Music, and CD Baby's DIY music conference.[11][24][25][26][27]

He is an associate professor at the Berklee College of Music.[18]

Selected discography

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References

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  1. ^ "Justin Rhodes - On His Way to Obtain an Egot". Flaunt. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  2. ^ "Dallas filmmaker Justin Rhodes revitalizes Black storytelling in upcoming post-apocalyptic film". 16 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Billboard Hot Gospel Songs - Lecrae - Welcome to Americia #16" (PDF). Billboard. September 27, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  4. ^ "Welcome to America - Lecrae". Apple Music. September 9, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Dove Awards Past Winners - Producer J. Rhodes - Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year". Dove Awards. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Michael [2 LP] by Killer Mike". Barnes and Noble. September 15, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Hear Talib Kweli's Uplifting New Song 'Heads Up Eyes Open' With Rick Ross". Rolling Stone. September 29, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "J. Rhodes' Work Has Made it to the Charts, but his Mind is on Oak Cliff -The Dallas producer hopes that Top 10 success can help draw outside attention to his beloved district by Dick Sullivan". D Magazine. October 2, 2014. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  9. ^ "Dallas filmmaker presents the ghost of 'woke' past, present and future in special drive-in screening by Carrington Tatum". Dallas News. August 30, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  10. ^ "AWARD-WINNING MUSIC PRODUCER J RHODES DISCUSSES HIS LATEST FILM 'IT'S A WONDERFUL PLIGHT' by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton". Black Enterprise. July 30, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  11. ^ a b "These Beats Ain't Free". Amazon. August 15, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  12. ^ "Grammy Award Winning Producer J. Rhodes Joins the Show @ 01:45". Dope Kontent. March 15, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  13. ^ "J. Rhodes, Dallas' Best-Kept Production Secret, Wants to Build the Next Motown". Dallas Observer. December 29, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  14. ^ "Hip-hop producer J. Rhodes graduated from college during the pandemic by Rachel Stone". Oak Cliff Advocate Magazine. January 4, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  15. ^ "Rosalinda Ruiz is the Spark Behind Dallas' Hip-Hop Renaissance by Vanessa Quilantan". Dallas Observer. May 30, 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  16. ^ "Dallas MC J.Rhodes Wins 'Get In The Game' On 'RapFix Live' by D.L. Chandler". MTV. December 15, 2010. Archived from the original on March 9, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  17. ^ Magazine, D. (October 2, 2014). "J. Rhodes' Work Has Made it to the Charts, but his Mind is on Oak Cliff - The Dallas producer hopes that Top 10 success can help draw outside attention to his beloved district by Dick Sullivan". D Magazine. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  18. ^ a b "Berklee Faculty - Justin Rhodes". Berklee College of Music. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  19. ^ "House of Beats". Apple TV. January 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  20. ^ "The House Of Beats (Season 1)". Maschine Masters. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  21. ^ "American Black Film Festival To Feature 'The Black Godfather', Spike Lee, HBO Short Film Finalists And More by Dino-Ray Ramos". Deadline. June 6, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  22. ^ "It's a Wonderful Plight". Apple TV. 20 December 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  23. ^ "Exclusive new photos from the biggest summer movies". USA Today. May 16, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  24. ^ "SXSW 2017". SXSW. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  25. ^ "2017 ASCAP Expo". ASCAP. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  26. ^ "ASCAP Adds Hitmaking Music Creators Across Genres To 2019 "I Create Music" Expo Lineup". American Songwriter. April 5, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  27. ^ "CD BABY ANNOUNCES KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AT DIY MUSICIAN CONFERENCE". Music Connection. July 12, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  28. ^ "S.P. The GOAT: Ghost of All Time Styles P". Genius. May 3, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  29. ^ "Album Review - Styles P – Dime Bag". Focus Hip Hop. 12 November 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  30. ^ "Chips - Talib Kweli (featuring Waka Flocka Flame)". Apple Music. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  31. ^ "Talib Kweli & Z-Trip - Attack The Block-2012". May 9, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2023.