Def Jef: Difference between revisions

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			{{short description\|American rapper}}
	'''Def Jef''' (born '''Jeffrey Forster''') is an American ] ] artist and ] of the late ] and early ]. His debut album was ]'s '']'', which won critical acclaim for sociopolitical lyrics and original beats. He was unable to live up to the expectations for his second album, however, and '']'', was a critical and commercial failure. Def Jef moved into ], working with ], ] and ], among others, as well as appearing in films like '']'' in ] (see ]).He is currently working with Krayzie Bone and Thugline Records.

			S{{Use mdy dates\|date=February 2015}}
	]
			{{BLP sources\|date=May 2010}}
	]
			{{Infobox musical artist
	]
			\| name = Def Jef
			\| image =
			\| caption =
			\| alias =
			\| birth_name = Jeffrey A. Fortson
			\| birth_date = {{birth date and age\|1970\|9\|27}}
			\| birth_place = ], New York City, U.S.
			\| occupation = {{hlist\|Rapper\|music producer\|actor}}
			\| genre = ]
			\| years_active = 1984–present
			\| label = {{hlist\|]\|Thugline}}
			\| associated_acts = ]<br>]<br>]<br>Funkytown Pros
			\| website =
			}}

			'''Def Jef''' is the stage name of '''Jeffrey Fortson'''<ref name="LarkinDM">{{cite book\|title=]\|editor=]\|publisher=]\|date=1998\|edition=First\|isbn=0-7535-0252-6\|page=80}}</ref> (born September 27, 1970), an American ] musician and rapper of the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was born in ], New York City.
	{{US-musician-stub}}

	{{hiphop-stub}}
			His debut album was 1989's '']'',<ref>{{cite web\|url={{AllMusic\|class=artist\|id=p28\|pure_url=yes}}\|title=Biography: Def Jef\|last=Kellman\|first=Andy\|publisher=]\|accessdate=May 7, 2010}}</ref> which won critical acclaim for sociopolitical lyrics and original beats.<ref name="LarkinDM"/> Additionally, he was a member of the ], a collaboration of ]-based hip hop artists who released the anti-violence single "We're All in the Same Gang" in 1990. He performed on the television variety show '']'' in 1990.<ref name="imdb Def Jef">{{IMDb name\|id=0420101\|name=Def Jef}}</ref>

			After his second album, '']'', was released, Def Jef moved into production full-time.<ref name="LarkinDM"/> Since the 1990s, he has produced, written, arranged and remixed artists including ], ], ], ], ], Avant, ], and ]. He has worked with ] and Thugline Records.

			He produced the theme songs for the Disney sitcom '']'' and '']''.

			Def Jef also appeared in the feature film '']'' in 1992.<ref name="LarkinDM"/>

			==Discography==
			*1989: '']''
			*1990: "]" (single) (as part of the ])
			*1991: '']''
			{\| class="wikitable"
			\|+Production Credits
			!Year
			!Song
			!Artist
			!Album
			\|-
			\| rowspan="2" \|1989
			\|Hi Powered
			\|Body & Soul
			\|{{Non-album single}} <ref>{{Cite web \|title=discogs \|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/703616-Body-And-Soul-Dance-To-The-Drummers-Beat}}</ref>
			\|-
			\|En La Casa
			\|]
			\|]
			\|-
			\|1991
			\|Mean Green
			\|Tone-Loc
			\|]
			\|-
			\|1992
			\|Good Things Don't Last; Let It Move You; Forward Bound; Best in Me
			\|The Poetess
			\|''Simply Poetry''<ref>{{Cite web \|title=YouTube \|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1262480-The-Poetess-Simply-Poetry}}</ref>
			\|-
			\| rowspan="3" \|1993
			\|Deeper; Process of Elimination; 1800 Bodies
			\|]
			\|''Born Gangster''
			\|-
			\|I Know I Got Skillz; I ate to Brag
			\| rowspan="2" \|], Def Jef
			\|]
			\|-
			\|I Know I Got Skillz Remix
			\|{{Non-album single}}<ref>{{Cite web \|title=discogs \|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2700230-Shaquille-ONeal-I-Know-I-Got-Skillz}}</ref>
			\|-
			\| rowspan="5" \|1994
			\|The Right Kinda Lover (Def Jef Remix)
			\|Patti LaBelle
			\|{{Non-album single}}
			\|-
			\|Life's a Bitch (Arsenal Mix)
			\|Nas, AZ
			\|{{Non-album single}}
			\|-
			\|Out of Control
			\|Wells
			\|''NBA JAm Session''<ref>{{Cite web \|title=discogsy \|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1042594-Various-NBA-Jam-Session}}</ref>
			\|-
			\|Cherish This Love; DOn't Let Me Catch You Slippin'
			\|Brigette McWilliams
			\|''Take Advantage of Me''<ref>{{Cite web \|title=discogs \|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1732559-Brigette-McWilliams-Take-Advantage-Of-Me}}</ref>
			\|-
			\|Shaq-Fu: Stand and Deliver
			\|Shaq
			\|]<ref>{{Cite web \|title=discogs \|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/205534-Shaquille-ONeal-Shaq-Fu-Da-Return}}</ref>
			\|-
			\|1996
			\|80 Ways
			\|Def Jef
			\|''Phat Beach (soundtrack)''
			\|-
			\|1997
			\|Under Pressure
			\|Nadanuf
			\|''Worldwide''
			\|-
			\|1999
			\|Betta Dayz
			\|Snoop Dogg
			\|]
			\|-
			\|2000
			\|Tha Eastsidaz
			\| rowspan="2" \|Tha Eastsidaz
			\|]
			\|-
			\| rowspan="3" \|2001
			\|Late Night
			\|]
			\|-
			\|Shackled Up
			\| rowspan="2" \|Krayzie Bone
			\|]<ref>{{Cite web \|title=discogs \|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1626129-Various-OZ-The-Soundtrack}}</ref>
			\|-
			\|A THugga Level; I Don't Give a Fuck
			\|]
			\|}

			==References==
			{{Reflist}}

			==External links==
			* {{IMDb name\|id=0420101\|name=Def Jef}}

			{{Authority control}}

			{{DEFAULTSORT:Jef, Def}}
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]


			{{US-hiphop-bio-stub}}

Latest revision as of 10:49, 19 January 2025

American rapper

This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous.
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Def Jef
Birth name	Jeffrey A. Fortson
Born	(1970-09-27) September 27, 1970 (age 54) Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Occupations	Rapper music producer actor
Years active	1984–present
Labels	Delicious Vinyl Thugline

Musical artist

Def Jef is the stage name of Jeffrey Fortson (born September 27, 1970), an American alternative hip hop musician and rapper of the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was born in Harlem, New York City.

His debut album was 1989's Just a Poet with a Soul, which won critical acclaim for sociopolitical lyrics and original beats. Additionally, he was a member of the West Coast Rap All-Stars, a collaboration of West Coast-based hip hop artists who released the anti-violence single "We're All in the Same Gang" in 1990. He performed on the television variety show In Living Color in 1990.

After his second album, Soul Food, was released, Def Jef moved into production full-time. Since the 1990s, he has produced, written, arranged and remixed artists including Nas, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Kimberley Locke, Maxwell, Avant, Tupac Shakur, and Shaquille O'Neal. He has worked with Krayzie Bone and Thugline Records.

He produced the theme songs for the Disney sitcom That's So Raven and The Game.

Def Jef also appeared in the feature film Deep Cover in 1992.

Discography

1989: Just a Poet with Soul
1990: "We're All in the Same Gang" (single) (as part of the West Coast Rap All-Stars)
1991: Soul Food

Production Credits
Year	Song	Artist	Album
1989	Hi Powered	Body & Soul	Non-album single
1989	En La Casa	Mellow Man Ace	Escape from Havana
1991	Mean Green	Tone-Loc	Cool Hand Lōc
1992	Good Things Don't Last; Let It Move You; Forward Bound; Best in Me	The Poetess	Simply Poetry
1993	Deeper; Process of Elimination; 1800 Bodies	Boss	Born Gangster
	I Know I Got Skillz; I ate to Brag	Shaquille O'Neal, Def Jef	Shaq Diesel
	I Know I Got Skillz Remix	Shaquille O'Neal, Def Jef	Non-album single
1994	The Right Kinda Lover (Def Jef Remix)	Patti LaBelle	Non-album single
	Life's a Bitch (Arsenal Mix)	Nas, AZ	Non-album single
	Out of Control	Wells	NBA JAm Session
	Cherish This Love; DOn't Let Me Catch You Slippin'	Brigette McWilliams	Take Advantage of Me
	Shaq-Fu: Stand and Deliver	Shaq	Shaq Fu: Da Return
1996	80 Ways	Def Jef	Phat Beach (soundtrack)
1997	Under Pressure	Nadanuf	Worldwide
1999	Betta Dayz	Snoop Dogg	No Limit Top Dogg
2000	Tha Eastsidaz	Tha Eastsidaz	Snoop Dogg Presents: Tha Eastsidaz
2001	Late Night	Tha Eastsidaz	Duces 'n Trayz: The Old Fashioned Way
	Shackled Up	Krayzie Bone	Oz (soundtrack)
	A THugga Level; I Don't Give a Fuck	Krayzie Bone	Thug on da Line

References

^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 80. ISBN 0-7535-0252-6.
Kellman, Andy. "Biography: Def Jef". AMG. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
Def Jef at IMDb
"discogs".
"YouTube".
"discogs".
"discogsy".
"discogs".
"discogs".
"discogs".

External links

Def Jef at IMDb

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