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Justin Smith, better known as Just Blaze, is an American hip hop music producer from Paterson, New Jersey.^[1][2][3] Blaze is also the CEO of Fort Knocks Entertainment.^[4] He is most well known for producing Jay-Z songs on the albums The Blueprint, The Blueprint 2, and The Black Album.^[5] He is also known for producing a number of songs on Eminem's most recent album Recovery. Blaze also appears in the video for the third single from Recovery entitled "No Love", which he also produced.

Discography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Just Blaze discography at MusicBrainz

Look up blaze in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Blaze may refer to:

Places[link]

• Blaze Island, Nunavut, Canada

Music[link]

• Blaze Bayley, former Wolfsbane and Iron Maiden vocalist
  • Blaze Bayley (band), his current band, formerly known as Blaze
• Blaze (band), an electronica band formed in 1984 in New Jersey, USA
• Blaze (Japanese band), a band currently known for their song "Fire", which appears in the Yu-Gi-Oh! movie Pyramid of Light
• Blaze (Lagwagon album), 2003
• Blaze (Herman's Hermits album)
• "Blaze" (song), a 2008 single by J-pop singer Kotoko
• "Blaze", a single by Japanese singer Kinya Kotani

Fiction[link]

• Blaze (film), a 1989 film starring Paul Newman and Lolita Davidovich
• Blaze (novel), a 2007 novel by Stephen King writing as Richard Bachman
• Blaze and Satanus, comic book villains from DC Comics, enemies of Superman and Captain Marvel
• A horse featured in a series of children's books by C.W. Anderson
• A firefly, featured as a major character in Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure

Video games[link]

• Blaze Europe, video games accessory manufacturer and distributor in the UK
• Blaze the Cat, a fictional cat from the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series
• Blaze (Mortal Kombat), a character from the Mortal Kombat video game series
• A special ability of some Pokémon
• A character from the Streets of Rage video game series
• A mob from the Minecraft video game
• The player character's callsign in Ace Combat 5
• Method Man's nickname in Def Jam: Fight for NY

Sports and games[link]

• Blaze (dinghy), a high-performance racing dinghy designed by Ian Howlett and John Caig
• Utah Blaze, an Arena Football League team playing their home games in Salt Lake City
• Gold Coast Blaze, an Australian professional basketball team based in Queensland, Australia
• Baton Rouge Blaze, a former team in the arenafootball2 league who played their home games in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
• Blaze the Trail Cat, mascot of the Portland Trail Blazers professional basketball team
• Blaze (UAB mascot), the dragon mascot of the University of Alabama at Birmingham athletic teams
• Blaze the Phoenix, the mascot of the 1996 Summer Paralympics
• Blaze the Vulcan, the mascot of the California University of Pennsylvania Vulcans.
• A non-standard poker hand

Other uses[link]

• Fire
• Blaze (toy), a rocking-horse riding toy produced by Mattel in the 1960s
• Trail blazing, the practice of marking paths in outdoor recreational areas
• An equine coat marking
• Blaze (UAB mascot)

See also[link]

• Blaise (disambiguation)

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Look up just in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Just may refer to:

• "Just" (song), a song by Radiohead
• Just! (series), a series of short-story collections for children by Andy Griffiths
• Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST)
• Just, a 1998 album by Dave Lindholm
• Justice, the idea or act of being just or fair

People with the surname[link]

• Aleksandar Just (1872-1937), Croatian physicist and inventor
• Carl Just (1897–1990), Norwegian journalist
• Cassià Maria Just (1926–2008), Catalan abbot
• Ernest Everett Just (1883–1941), American biologist
• Florian Just (born 1982), German pairs skater
• Gustav Just (1921–2011), East German writer and editor
• Jesper Just (born 1974), Danish artist
• Joe Just (1916-2003), American baseball player
• John Just (1797–1852), English archaeologist and botanist
• John Augustus Just (1854—1908), German-born American chemist and inventor
• Karsten Just (born 1968), East German sprinter
• Klaus Just (born 1964), West German sprinter
• Marcel Just, American psychologist and cognitive neuroscientist
• Myron Just (born 1941), American politician and farmer from North Dakota
• Paul Just (born 1964), German-born Canadian pole vaulter
• Theodore Just (1886–1937), British athlete
• Ward Just (born 1935), American writer

See also[link]

• List of people known as the Just
• All pages beginning with "Just"
• Saint-Just (disambiguation)

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Timothy Elpadaro Thedford (born September 19, 1976), better known by his stage name Jay Electronica, is an American hip hop recording artist and record producer, currently based in London, United Kingdom.^[2] Jay Electronica first gained significant attention after the release of the musical composition Act I: Eternal Sunshine (the pledge), made available on a MySpace page in 2007. It is fifteen continuous minutes of music, without drums, built from Jon Brion's soundtrack to the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. In late 2009 he released two songs, both produced by Just Blaze, "Exhibit A (Transformations)" and "Exhibit C" the latter of which won a Sucker Free Summit Award for Instant Classic. On November 12, 2010, it was announced Jay Electronica had become an official member of Jay-Z's Roc Nation record label.^[3]

Biography[link]

1976-2006: Early life and career beginnings[link]

Thedford was born on September 19, 1976, in the Magnolia Projects of New Orleans, a place where the crime rate was infamous throughout the country before 2005, when the projects were flooded during Hurricane Katrina. Thedford began rapping after hearing his nephew Akeem Pryor rhyme. By the age of 19 Jay Electronica left New Orleans to pursue his musical career. Living a mostly nomadic lifestyle, he found refuge in cities such as Philadelphia, Baltimore, Detroit, New York, and briefly in Atlanta. From club to club, and stage to stage, Electronica had gotten booed off and denied because of his Southern accent and slang. "In my earlier years from when I first left home, I was embarrassed from being from the South," Thedford stated. "Not in general, but as a rapper because all of the negative things that people in the States put on the South."^[4] Electronica’s career really took form in the city of Detroit when he linked up with Detroit native Johnnie Last, a friend he had spent a lot of time with at Darp Studios in Atlanta, GA. Detroit is where Electronica met producer/engineer Mike "Chav" Chavarria, who introduced him to both J. Dilla and Mr. Porter, and who is now a regular collaborator.^[5][6] Detroit, where he recorded his Style Wars-era music with several J. Dilla beats, meeting the producer subsequently to ask for permission to use the recordings as a demo.

[edit] 2007-2010: Act I: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge) and signing with Roc Nation

Jay Electronica first gained significant attention through Act 1: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge), made available on a MySpace page in 2007. It is nine continuous minutes of music, without drums, built from Jon Brion's soundtrack to the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. There are five segments or movements marked by changes in music and mood, raps by Electronica, and occasional snippets of sampled dialogue including scenes from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. The first segment is a spoken word piece by Just Blaze and Erykah Badu describing Electronica over piano music.

The nature of the piece of music, along with the nature of its appearance, led to a slow build-up of interest in Electronica as an enigmatic figure. Songs circulating online as the Style Wars EP gained wider circulation, and other songs, such as the dream-inspired "Dimethyltryptamine", soon appeared. In January 2008, Giles Peterson's 90-minute Gilles Peterson Worldwide was devoted to the rapper.^[7] Hiphopdx.com in 2008 called him "arguably...the most talked about new emcee last year ... at times...more like a myth or urban legend than an actual rapper",^[8] and URB ran a cover story on the artist under the banner "Jay Electronica: A Spotless Mind :: An MC’s mystery revealed", which referred to his wanderings as his being "like some sort of hip-hop Jack Kerouac".^[5]

Jeff Weiss' piece for the L.A. Weekly, "Jay Electronica: Much Better Than His Name Would Suggest", acknowledged that the rapper could be fairly described as "one of the most buzzed about rappers of 2008", but attempted to temper the hype somewhat, describing Act 1... as "ambitious, wildly original, if not slightly pretentious", while endorsing only to an extent the comparisons URB had made (referencing an "abstract rhyming style") to rappers like Nas and Pharoahe Monch.^[9][10]

[edit] 2010-present: Act II: Patents of Nobility (The Turn)

Jay Electronica has yet to release a full-length album, but he has released two official singles to date, "Exhibit A" and "Exhibit C", which won a Sucker Free Summit Award for Instant Classic. His music so far has been made available through the internet, either through being leaked to what URB magazine describes as "obscure web forums", or through an appearing and disappearing Myspace page (currently two seem to be in existence, at /jayelect and at /jayelectronica). Erykah Badu has questioned whether he ever will release, in her words, "actual albums".^[5] From New Orleans, LA he has lived in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Denver, and Detroit, where he recorded his Style Wars-era music with several J Dilla beats, meeting the producer subsequently to ask for permission to use the recordings as a demo. Jay met producer/engineer Mike "Chav" Chavarria in Detroit, the latter introducing him to both J Dilla and Mr. Porter, and who is now a regular collaborator.^[5][11]

According to URB, Act II: Patents of Nobility will feature Nas, and will be the second of a putative trilogy. URB also reported that digital EPs with both Guilty Simpson and producer 9th Wonder were planned. According to a Filter TV interview,^[12] Jay Electronica has partnered with Decon to release his debut project. It is being described as a multi-media release and footage from the project which was partially shot in Nepal and Dubai has begun to surface online. The first clip to leak is titled "Dear Moleskine" and can be found on YouTube, the track was produced by Just Blaze and the clip was directed by Jason Goldwatch from Decon. In June 2009, Decon and Jay's "The Dogon Society" released "Exhibit A" digitally. "Exhibit C" was released on iTunes December 16, 2009 and quickly shot to the top 10 of the iTunes Hip-Hop charts. The following week it was chosen by Hot 97's Dj Enuff as the Heavy Hitter pick of the week.

Jay Electronica appeared at the 2010 Bonnaroo Music Festival. Jay Electronica continued his scattered release practice, releasing "A Million In The Morning" on April 4, 2010. The song features a weary Electronica trying to keep himself awake to escape his nightmares.^[13] On April 30, Jay Electronica debuted "The Ghost of Christopher Wallace" via his Twitter. The song features P Diddy and is produced by London beatsmith Quincey Tones, who is known for producing such acts as Young Jeezy and Royce da 5'9".

On November 12, 2010, Jay-Z announced that Jay Electronica was officially the newest member of his own 'Roc Nation' record label/management company, which boasts such acts as J. Cole, and Willow Smith. Before signing to Roc Nation in 2010, Jay Electronica was a prospective signee of Bad Boy Records, a label owned by producer/rapper/entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs.^[14]

In late 2010, he and Lucy Liu were featured on The Bullitts' track "Close Your Eyes". It was BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe's 'record of the week' and will feature on The Bullitts upcoming album set for release in 2011. Then in July 2011, he produced and was featured on the track "Run & Hide", which will be on the same album.

In July 2011, Jay Electronica posted via his twitter that his debut album, "Act II: Patents Of Nobility (the turn)," was complete.^[15] On October 10, 2011, Jay Electronica released the song Call Of Duty, featuring Prodigy from Mobb Deep. He stated that this single would not be on his album. On March 8th, 2012, Jay Electronica tweeted that the album is complete and will be turned in to Roc Nation ^[16]

Personal life[link]

Jay Electronica and Erykah Badu have one child together, Mars Merkaba Thedford, born on February 1, 2009.^[17] He is a member of the Five Percent Nation.^[18]

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

• Act II: Patents of Nobility (The Turn) (TBA)
• Act III: The Last Will & Testament Of Timothy Elpadaro Thedford (The Prestige) (TBA)

EPs[link]

• Style Wars EP (2007)

Mixtapes[link]

• Act I: Eternal Sunshine (the pledge) (2007)

Singles[link]

As lead artist[link]

As featured artist[link]

Guest appearances[link]

Production discography[link]

2008[link]

[edit] Nas - Untitled

• 01. "Queens Get the Money"
  • Sample Credit: John Powell - "I Am Sam (Theme)"

External links[link]

• :::::::Magnetik7::::::: (come on in, the water's fine.) - Official web site (inactive since 2005)^[19][20][21]
• Jay Electronica Official News Source
• Jay Electronica Fan Website(domain expired)
• Jay Electronica (JayElectronica) on Twitter
• URB Jay Electronica cover (left) (.gif)
• Giles Peterson Worldwide (.mp3, 80MB) - Lengthy interview and music
• Jay Electronica video interview on redbullmusicacademy.com
• Just Blaze, Jay Electronica, & Mike "Chav" Chavarria - An Interview with Jay, Chav, & Just Blaze
• Exclaim! magazine interview with Jay Electronica-Exclaim!

Sources[link]

Konee Rok is an American music video and documentary director. He has done film and video work with many popular artists in hip-hop, rap music and break dancing culture.^[1]

He has directed music videos, documentaries and commercials featuring Grammy Award winner Rhymefest, Kanye West, Raekwon, rapper Cassidy, Little Jon and DJ Jazzy Jeff of the Fresh Prince. His documentary on MC Juice tells the story behind the freestyle M.C.'s battle against rapper Eminem.^[2] He directed the Chicago street gang film Trust None with Psychodrama and Crucial Conflict.^[3]

He also has directed numerous video projects in the underground hip hop and break dancing community.^[4]

Recent work[link]

Rok is currently working on several music videos for Rhymefest's upcoming album "El Che", as well as a documentary about rapper Common's "Resurrection" album.^[5]

On February 11, 2011 Raekwon released the Konee Rok directed music video for “Shaolin vs Wu-Tang,” the title track from The Chef’s upcoming album of the same name. The video features a hybrid of cartoon martial artistry with live action of Raekwon laying down his vocals.^[6]

References[link]

1. ^ "midwestbusiness.com
2. ^ Konee Rok's official website. Past Work
3. ^ Break Lovers
4. ^ Chicago Sun-Times Article. Konee Rok Has Seen and Shot It All
5. ^ Konee Rok's official website. Past Work
6. ^ "Raekwon – Shaolin vs Wu-Tang Video". BirthPlaceMag. http://www.birthplacemag.com/2011/02/raekwon-video-raekwon-shaolin-vs-wu-tang-video. Retrieved 2011-02-12. 

External links[link]

• Official Konee Rok site: KoneeRok.com news, videos & project history.

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