J. Rawls

Jason Daniel Rawls (born February 27, 1974²), known professionally as J. Rawls, is an American hip-hop musician, producer, DJ, educator, and speaker based in Columbus, Ohio.³ He emerged in the late 1990s underground hip-hop scene, contributing to projects such as Black Star's's debut album, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Stars.⁴⁵ He is the producer of the group Lone Catalysts with rapper J Sands.⁶⁷ Rawls has collaborated with various artists, including Grand Agent.⁸ Rawls runs a Columbus-based production company and record label named Polar Entertainment, and performs as a DJ.⁹¹⁰

Throughout his career, Rawls has developed a diverse body of work. His solo albums include The Essence of J. Rawls (2001), The Hip-Hop Affect (2011), and The Legacy (2014).¹¹ He is a member of the duo 3582 with Fat Jon of Five Deez,¹² and has collaborated on projects such as Respect Game or Expect Flames (2012)¹³ with Casual of Hieroglyphics and Youth Culture Power (2019) with John Robinson, a jazz-infused album addressing challenges in educating inner-city youth.¹⁴

In addition to his musical career, Rawls has established an academic profile. He 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 Educational Administration from Ohio University.¹⁵ He has served as an adjunct instructor and visiting artist, teaching courses in hip-hop and music business, and has co-authored Youth Culture Power: A #HipHopEd Guide to Teacher-Student Relationships and Student Engagement.¹⁶ Rawls also directs the Hip-Hop OHIO Patton Education (HOPE) program at Ohio University's Patton College of Education.¹⁷¹⁸ In 2023, he was hired by Ohio State University to help build the first collegiate level hip-hop based education (HHBE) in the United States.¹⁹²⁰

• The Essence of J. Rawls (2001)
• The Living Soul (2001) (with Fat Jon, as 3582)
• Hip Hop (2001) (with J Sands, as Lone Catalysts)
• Situational Ethics (2003) (with Fat Jon, as 3582)
• Histories Greatest Battles, Campaigns & Topics (2003)
• The Essence of Soul (2005)
• Good Music (2005) (with J Sands, as Lone Catalysts)
• The Liquid Crystal Project (2006)
• It's the Dank & Jammy Show (2007) (with Declaime)
• True Ohio Playas (2007) (with Count Bass D)
• J. Rawls Presents Holmskillit (2007) (with Holmskillit)
• Square Binizz (2007) (with J Sands, as Lone Catalysts)
• The Liquid Crystal Project 2 (2008)
• Rawls & Middle (2008) (with Middle Child)
• The 1960s Jazz Revolution Again (2009) (with John Robinson, as Jay Are)
• The Hip-Hop Affect (2011)
• Back To School (2011) (with J Sands, as Lone Catalysts)
• The Liquid Crystal Project 3 (2012)
• Respect Game or Expect Flames (2012) (with Casual)
• The Legacy (2014)
• Culture (2017) (with J Sands, as Lone Catalysts)
• #jazzhop (2022)
• The Confidence of Knowing (2024) (with Talib Kweli)

• Rawlzey (2015) (with Coolzey)
• The Profit (2019) (with Nova)
• Valor (2020) (with Eloh Kush)²¹

• Mos Def & Talib Kweli - "Brown Skin Lady" and "Yo Yeah" from Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star (1998)
• Doseone - "Spitfire", "Self Explanatory", "That Ol' Pagan Shit", and "Genres" from Hemispheres (1998)
• Themselves - "Directions to My Special Place" from Them (2000)
• Rasco - "Living Voices" from Hostile Environment (2001)
• Moka Only - “String Beans (No Sunshine)” from Dirty Jazz (2005)
• El Da Sensei - "Lights, Camera, Action!" from The Unusual (2006)
• Capital Steez - "Infinity and Beyond" from AmeriKKKan Korruption (2012)
• MHz Legacy - "Columbus Diss Patch" from MHz Legacy (2012)
• Cas Metah & Wonder Brown - "Drowning Man" from The Darke Bros (2012)