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J. Wells

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J. Wells
Birth nameJon Wells [1]
Also known asJ Roc
Born1983 (age 40–41)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
OriginLos Angeles, California
GenresHip hop
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • rapper
  • record executive
  • businessman
Years active1999–present
Labels
Websitehttp://bonzirecords.com

Jon Wells (born 1983) is an American record producer, record executive, and rapper. He is a member of the Likwit Crew.[2]

Biography

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Wells was born and raised in Chicago but moved to California, then later to Atlanta, Georgia when he was young. He took the alias "J Roc" when he began rapping in local clubs. A high school friend introduced him to K-Boogs, Young and DJ7 with whom he later formed the group Rocswell, as well as a production company under the same name - Rocswell Entertainment.[3] The group recorded its first album Chilahyork in 1997 which sold 5,000 copies. A second album, Tha Classiks, was released in 1999 and sold 8,000 copies.

In 2000 Wells began producing a Dallas-based hip hop group called Virus and they briefly signed with Warner Brothers in 2001, before being dropped from the label. As a result, the group's first album Outbreak was never released and shelved indefinitely.

In 2001 Wells was invited to join the group Likwit Crew, which includes: Xzibit, Tha Alkaholiks, (E-Swift, J Ro, Tash), King Tee, Lootpack, Phil Da Agony, and Defari, who in 2002 toured with Snoop Dogg's Puff Puff Pass tour, where he met Kurupt from the Dogg Pound (with whom he later formed a duo and released an album). He went on to work on the Wolfpac's Roger Troutman Project and put together his own Wolf Pac Mix tape Volume One which featured artists such as James Debarge, Kurupt, Tha Alkaholiks, Shyheim and Sunz of Man. It sold 25,000 copies.

In 2005, after creative differences with Wolfpac Records, Wells launched another record label, Bonzi Records, before releasing his debut album, Digital Master which featured: Bishop Lamont, Method Man, Mitchy Slick, Goodie Mob, Tha Liks, Jayo Felony, Kurupt, Roscoe, and Planet Asia. The same year Wells produced the Goodie Mob single, "Play Yo Flutes", featuring Sleepy Brown

Wells produced Work It Out on Keyshia Cole's album Just like You in 2007. He also produced songs for Snoop Dogg's EP and animated DVD The Adventures of The Blue Carpet Treatment, as well as music used on TV shows such as, The Sopranos and Six Feet Under, and for the film Be Cool directed by F. Gary Gray.

His songs are also feature in the video games: EA Sports 2004 Tiger Woods Golf, and EA Sports 2006 Fight Night, as well as commercials for major corporations including McDonald's, Smirnoff, Starbucks, and Coors Light. He released his collaboration album with Kurupt, Digital Smoke under his own label Bonzi Records / Fontana Distribution.

He went on to release Digital Master Vol. 2.1 in 2009 which featured: Snoop Dogg, Estelle, Rah Digga, WC, Mack 10, and Da Brat. The single "Already Famous" featuring Da Brat and Kurupt was released on Bonzi Records in March 2009. The video was released without Da Brat due to her incarceration in the Georgia state prison. In 2016 Wells formed rap group Stylz & Wells with Likwit Crew member Styliztik Jones the duo released a music video for lead single "Involved" in August 2017. The duo announced signing a label deal with Capitol Records's Priority Records in October 2017. The duo released their first single on S & W Recordings / Priority Records entitled "Involved" via Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music, and other online retailers on November 8, 2017.[4][5][6][7]

Establishing Bonzi Records

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Bonzi Records is an American record label founded by Wells. Fontana Distribution is the distributor for Bonzi. In 2005 after leaving Wolfpac Records, Wells established Bonzi Records and began to release a series of rap music compilations to establish the new brand. In 2006 the label went on to sign a distribution deal with Fontana Distribution, and in 2007 released a Kurupt collaboration album Digital Smoke. In 2010 Bonzi began ushering in more acts through a joint venture deal with Ingrooves. Through the venture Wells worked as executive producer for D. Woods of Danity Kane, Kokane, Ray J, Sir Michael Rocks of The Cool Kids, Ruff Ryders, Dope House Records, King Chip, and Lil' Scrappy. In 2012 Bonzi Records in partnership with Ingrooves released Lil Scrappy's The Grustle.[8][9]

Productions discography

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[12][13] [14][15]

Discography

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  • Rocswell - Chilahyork (1999)
  • Marley Marl - Re-Entry (2001)
    • "Foundation Symphony" feat. J. Wells, Larry-O, Miss Man, Seven Shawn(produced by J-Force)
    • "So Good" feat. J. Wells, Edwin Birdsong (produced by Marley Marl)
  • Rocswell - Tha Classiks (2002)
  • J. Wells - "Presents Wolfpac Mixtape" - (2003)
  • J. Wells - Digital Master Vol.1 (2005)
  • Kurupt and J. Wells - Digital Smoke (2007)
  • J. Wells - Digital Master Vol. 2.1 (2009)
  • Inebriated (TBD)

Filmography

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Commercials music composed by

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[16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21]

References

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  1. ^ "ASCAP ACE - Search Results". Archived from the original on 2011-05-23. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
  2. ^ "New Members". Playback Magazine. ASCAP. Fall 2004. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  3. ^ Cover of second record Tha Classiks, 2001, printed in the US
  4. ^ JWELLS PRESENTS: THE WOLFPAC MIXTAPE VOLUME 1 | RAPINDUSTRY.COM FEATURE
  5. ^ Nima (February 2008). "Exclusive interview with J. Wells". DubCNN Magazine. DubCNN. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  6. ^ Baker, Soren (February 2009). "About J. Wells". Source Magazine. The Source.
  7. ^ Robinson, James. "Virus..." Wolfpac Records. Archived from the original on 2004-03-02. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  8. ^ BET.com - Lil Scrappy - Atlanta, Georgia - Hip Hop / R&B / Pop - http://www.bet.com
  9. ^ - D Woods - http://ifelicious.com
  10. ^ Be Cool (2005) - Soundtracks
  11. ^ "Stacee Adamz - Late Nite Ridin' (Prod. By J Wells)". YouTube. 13 March 2023.
  12. ^ ProdBy // The Net #1 Source for Hip-Hop Productions and Discographies Archived 2008-05-31 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ dubcnn.com // West Coast News Network //
  14. ^ Canibus - For Whom The Beat Tolls
  15. ^ // Vibe Magazine //
  16. ^ MySpace.com - Bonzi!! - Likwit Atlanta, Georgia - Hip Hop / R&B / Pop - www.myspace.com/digitalmastermusic Archived 2007-11-17 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ HTC's ‘Miami Bass Project’ launches in Germany
  18. ^ www.youtube.com www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNSLTwPobFE
  19. ^ www.hiphopdx.com https://hiphopdx.com/videos/id.26182/title.dxclusive-stylz-n-wells-hit-the-scene-with-involved-video-featuring-symphony-green
  20. ^ www.allmusic.com https://www.allmusic.com/album/involved-mw0003123419
  21. ^ www.allmusic.com https://www.allmusic.com/artist/j-wells-mn0000776961/credits
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