Jim Jonsin
Background information
Birth name	James Scheffer
Born	Brooklyn, New York, United States
Origin	South Florida, United States
Genres	Hip hop, Southern Rap, R&B, Pop, Rock, Dance
Occupations	Record producer, songwriter, record executive, DJ
Instruments	Turntables, Synthesizer, Keyboard, Drum Machine, Sampler Access Virus TI Akai MPC 2500
Years active	1988-present
Labels	Rebel Rock Entertainment
Associated acts	B.o.B, Yelawolf, Pitbull, Lil Wayne, Slim Thug
Website	www.rebelrock.com

James Scheffer, better known by his professional name, Jim Jonsin, is an American Grammy Award winning record producer,^[1] songwriter, record executive, and entrepreneur. Jonsin has collaborated with numerous artists including, Beyoncé, Usher, Lil Wayne, Kid Cudi, Kanye West, Eminem, Nelly, T.I., Danity Kane, and Jamie Foxx, to name a few, and won a Grammy in 2009 for Best Rap Song for Lil Wayne’s "Lollipop".^[1][2] That year he was also nominated for his production on TI’s “Whatever You Like” which also garnered a nomination for Best Rap Song.^[3] In addition to his own win, Jonsin has contributed his production services to several other Grammy nominated records and albums including Beyoncé’s I Am... Sasha Fierce (2010 Best Contemporary R&B album),^[4] Lil Wayne’s “Tha Carter III” (2008 Best Rap Album),^[5] Usher’s Raymond v. Raymond (2011 Best Contemporary R&B album),^[6] and Usher’s "There Goes My Baby" (2011 Best Male R&B Vocal Performance),^[6] and Eminem’s Recovery (2011 Best Rap Album and Album of the Year).^[6]

In 2006, Jonsin started his own record label, Rebel Rock Entertainment, and signed a then unknown artist named B.o.B.^[7] Jonsin then partnered with Atlantic Records and later with Grand Hustle to work on B.o.B.’s project.^[8][9] In 2010, Rebel Rock Entertainment/Grand Hustle/Atlantic Records released B.o.B.’s debut album entitled “The Adventures of Bobby Ray” which was executive produced by Jonsin and T.I.^[10] The album produced three smash singles which stayed on top of the charts for most of 2010^[11] and was ultimately nominated for several Grammy awards,^[12] BET Awards,^[13] and MTV VMAs.^[14] He also signed the production duo, Finatik and Zac,^[15] and Danny Morris to his production company, Rebel Rock Productions.^[16] In addition to his ventures in music, Jonsin has recently^[when?] entered into the field of professional racing by forming his own motorsports team, Rebel Rock Racing. Jonsin will be driving a Porsche 911 in the upcoming Grand-am Road Racing series with co-driver Mark Jensen.^[17] Jonsin is managed by Made Communication, Miami, FL.^[18]

Early life[link]

Jim Jonsin was born in Brooklyn, New York City but was raised in South Florida.^[19] Jonsin’s first job in the music business was as a scratch DJ.^[20] At the age of 14, Jonsin was spinning records at local skating rinks and other venues.^[21] By 18 Jonsin had graduated to spinning at Miami and South Florida dance clubs and formed his own record label called Cut It Up Def Records and produced one of its first singles, “Cut It Up Def” which independently sold 40,000 units.^[22] Jonsin had become well known in the region by the time he released his next production, the single “Party Time”, which he also rapped on.^[22]

Jonsin’s success in South Florida led him to a deal with California based Heat Wave Records.^[22] Going by his new artist moniker, DJ Jealous J, he released a compilation of Miami bass songs titled “Miami Bass Jams”.^[21] The first two singles from the collection were certified Gold.^[22] Jonsin went on to tour with some of the most popular acts of the time such as Cypress Hill, 2 Live Crew, and Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch.^[21]

Music career[link]

In the late 1990s, Jonsin was no longer on tour and returned to Miami to produce more bass records and eventually landed a position as an engineer at Slip N Slide records.^[23] At the label Jim produced records for Trick Daddy and Trina.^[24] In 2004 Jonsin went on to write and produce Trick Daddy’s hit single “Let’s Go” (featuring Lil Jon & Twista).^[21] Soon after the success of this song Jonsin went onto work with Miami rapper Pitbull and produced “Dammit Man”^[25] off the rapper’s debut album “M.I.A.M.I.” which was certified Gold.^[26] The music industry began to take notice of the Miami-based producer and Jonsin was tapped by Bad Boy Records to produce a record for the group which was made widely popular by the MTV reality show, Making the Band, Danity Kane.^[27][28] Jonsin produced their single entitled "Show Stopper" which went on to be certified Gold by the RIAA.^[29]

In 2008, Jonsin wrote and produced for Lil Wayne’s 5x platinum single “Lollipop” released in early 2008.^[21][30] The song was at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for 5 weeks which was the first time Lil Wayne had achieved this chart position.^[31][32] In addition to the chart success at the 51st Grammys Jonsin won for Best Rap Song.^[1]

A few months after the release of “Lollipop”, Jonsin followed up with writing and producing T.I.’s 4x platinum single “Whatever You Like”.^[33][34] The song found cross over success and was on Billboard’s Hot 100 for 6 weeks.^[35] “Whatever You Like” was also a popular ringmaster spending 18 weeks at the top of Billboard’s Hot Ringmaster’s chart.^[36]

At the close of 2008 continued this string of success with his production on Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em’s “Kiss Me Thru The Phone”.^[21] The song was downloaded over 2 million times and was also a popular ringmaster spending 11 weeks at the top of Billboard’s Hot Ringmaster’s chart.^[37][38] The song went on to reach number 3 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart.^[38]

In 2009, Jonsin co-produced the single entitled “Sweet Dreams” on Beyonce’s multi Grammy winning and double platinum album I Am…Sasha Fierce.^[4][24][39] This record achieved platinum status and reached #10 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.^[40][41] Shortly after "Sweet Dreams" was released Jonsin reteamed with Pitbull, producing “Hotel Room Service” which was certified platinum and reached #8 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.^[21][40][42]

The late summer of 2010 proved to be another high point for Jonsin’s career. On August 16 Nelly released “Just A Dream”, co-produced by Jonsin.^[23] This single went platinum and reached #3 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.^[40][43] The day after “Just A Dream” was released, Kid Cudi released the Jonsin-produced “Erase Me” featuring Kanye West, which reached #22 on Billboard’s Hot 100.^[44][45] Another August release Jonsin wrote and produced on was former American Idol winner Fantasia on “Falling In Love Tonight” off of Fantasia’s Grammy nominated album “Back To Me”.^[46][47]

In early 2011 Nelly released “Gone” featuring Kelly Rowland, which Jonsin again co-produced.^[48] The single is a follow-up to Nelly’s single “Dilemma” from 2002 which also featured Rowland and reigned for 10 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100.^[49] Jonsin produced Eminem’s “Space Bound” off of “Recovery”, the top selling album of 2010 as well as the 53rd Grammy’s Best Rap Album.^[16][50][51] "On My Level" was released by Wiz Khalifa (which features Too Short) on Rolling Papers on March 29, 2011.^[52]