Jeremy Hawkins (born August 8, 1991) known professionally as JHawk or JHawk Productions, is an American record producer and songwriter from Los Angeles, California. He is known for pioneering the Jerkin' Movement, accumulating tens of millions of views and streams, contributing heavily to the success of a number of Los Angeles-based artists.[1] Hawkins is perhaps best known for producing The Rej3ctz's breakout hit "Cat Daddy" in 2011 which reached Number 77 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and achieved Platinum certification independently.[2]

JHawk
JHawk in August 2014
JHawk in August 2014
Background information
Birth nameJeremy Hawkins
Born (1991-08-08) August 8, 1991 (age 33)
OriginLos Angeles, California, United States
Genres
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • songwriter
Instruments
Years active2006–present
Labels
  • 22andlife
  • JHawk Productions
Websitejhawkproductions.com

Early life

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JHawk grew up in Leimert Park, Los Angeles. His parents are musicians, mother being a local vocalist and father being a multi-instrumentalist. He is a great nephew to The Chambers Brothers,[3] and he often observed the band rehearse and play live shows for his great-grandmother. Shortly after his father gave him his first music sequencer software, Hip Hop eJay, he started making beats at the age of 11 and desired to become a music producer. Stating to Killerhiphophop's Quez, "I put out my 1st song on the internet when I was about 15-16, and I've just been going hard ever since".[4]

Music career

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2008–present

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After 3 years and a junior at Daniel Murphy High School, the Archdiocese decided to shut the school's doors. Jeremy, who'd been building a name for himself on campus by recording students in his bedroom studio at his grandmother's was forced to relocate senior year. Stating to KHH, " I went to a private school called Daniel Murphy. It got shut down actually. I had to complete my last year of High School at a new High School".[5] After moving out of his grandmother's house, he moved in with his father. Gutting the garage and making a studio space in the spring of 2008. Often recording his cousin Left Brain, who brought Tyler The Creator, Hodgy Beats, Casey Veggies, of the year old collective Odd future. Recording and producing for the collective, The Odd Future Tape, The Dena Tape.[6]

JHawk attended The Academy of Music and Performing Arts at Hamilton High School in the summer of 2008. Due to a credit issue, he was required to attend a piano lesson class for admission and freshman PE class his senior year. Subsequently, adding an Electronic Music and Music History course, soon meeting friend Syd Tha Kyd in Hamilton's electronic music class. After being at Hamilton for months and remaining unnoticed he aggressively fought to gain attention. Garnering his Myspace page he began to send out beats, connecting with YG on MySpace, the two collaborated on songs that would combine for over 3 Million plays.[7]

JHawk signed a co-music publishing deal with Kara DioGuardi and Stephen Finfer's Arthouse Entertainment,[8] now administered by BMG Chrysalis.[9]

Jerkin'

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With a heavy influence from then Hyphy movement, (Keak da Sneak, Turf Talk, E-40) and newfound fame from working with YG & The Pu$haz Jeremy started to collaborate with anyone, often his fellow students on campus. Slowly building recognition, kids on campus started to dance to the music, in all styles, but most notably a new style called Jerkin'. Taking notice saying, "I never sought out to make a jerk beat. I always just did me. I did JHawk. People danced to my music and I kind of developed a formula to what they were grabbing off of my beats."[10] Eventually dance crews such as the Rangers formed on campus and videos were made with the music to match amassing tens of millions of hits on Myspace and the newly created YouTube. At the age of 17 and having worked with almost all of La's male youth, he longed to form a group. On the bleachers in the PE class he was succumbed to is when he met 6 female freshman who all rapped. The same day they quickly formed the name of the group Pink Dollaz. After 2 months the music was streamed over 5 million times across Myspace and YouTube with radio spins from Dj Carisma's Power 106.[11] A slew of relationships such as these formed by spring 2009. Another song titled 'Tippin' today amasses 14 million plays on one YouTube video alone.[12] LA Weekly's Jeff Weiss stating, "The wiry J-Hawk is the nexus that binds all of these groups together. After all, he's produced their hits, and to think it might not have happened if Daniel Murphy High hadn't shuttered last year, causing the 17-year-old Hawkins to transfer to Hamilton".[13] The genre, sound and culture exploded to the mainstream. After amassing press mentions from The New York Times,[14] LA Times[15] LA Weekly[16] and a host of acts signed to major label deals: New Boyz, The Rej3ctz, Audio Push, and YG.[17] JHawk stated, "I'm definitely fortunate for the movement and being one of the starters of it back in 2008".[18]

Cat Daddy

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After a year and growing frustrated he re-connected with The Rej3ctz sharing similar emotions, "We were major contributors, but we felt we weren't getting our shine. So we wanted to start a new movement."[19] In the spring of 2010 at JHawk's home recording studio crafted, Cat Daddy.

Flight In Progress

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Is the Music Business Venture from Music Producer JHawk, which currently helps Independent Artist and Music Producers navigate Music Distribution, Music Streaming & more in the ever-changing Music Industry. Currently the content is delivered via YouTube & SoundCloud.

22andlife

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The production company founded by Jeremy JHawk Hawkins, currently it boats no artist and solely exists as a creative outlet for music projects, videos, street-wear and events.

Discography

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Extended plays

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List of EPs, with selected information
Title Album details
22[20]
Fairfax and Pico (with Mann)
  • Released: October 20, 2017
  • Label: Empire, Peace Life Quality Recordings, JHawk Productions
  • Format: Digital download

Mixtapes

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  • Jerkin' with JHawk (2009)[21]

Albums

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  • For The Function (2018)

As a lead artist

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Production discography

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Selected discography

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Singles Produced

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Year Title Chart positions Certifications Album
US
US R&B
US Rap
Billboard 200

Soundtrack

2010 "Cat Daddy" (The Rej3ctz) 97 77
2016 Petty (E-40 feat. Kamaiyah) -- -- -- The D Boy Diary Deluxe
2017 Boom Boom (Iggy Azalea feat. Zedd) (co.) -- -- -- #2 Pitch Perfect 3

(film series)

Filmography

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Film
Year Title Role
2012 We the Party[32] DJ[33]
2015 Some Kind of Hate Bud[34]

References

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  1. ^ LA Weekly, WE'RE JERKIN' (STARRING THE NEW BOYZ, J-HAWK AND PINK DOLLAZ), WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2009
  2. ^ Billboard, Rej3ctz
  3. ^ SongFacts, Time has Come Today, January 12, 1969
  4. ^ Killerhiphop Jhawk Interview, May 21, 2012
  5. ^ KHH Jhawk Interview, May 21, 2012
  6. ^ Hodgy Beats The Dena Tape, 2009
  7. ^ The official MySpace account for Y.G, 2009
  8. ^ Arthouse Entertainment Signs Producer Jhawk To Co-Publishing Deal, August 16, 2009
  9. ^ BMG Rights Management to Purchase Bug Music, September 12, 2011
  10. ^ KHH Interview, May 21, 2012
  11. ^ ARTIST ON THE RISE......PINK DOLLAZ " FEMALE RAP GROUP FROM LOS ANGELES " WITH ALMOST 3 MILLION MYSPACE HITS!!, August 10, 2010
  12. ^ Tippin on my dick youtube 14 million, Aug 17, 2009
  13. ^ Starring the new boyz, JHawk and pink dollaz LA WEEKLY, August 5, 2009
  14. ^ Hip-Hop's New Steps, New York Times ArticleNOV. 20, 2009
  15. ^ Jerkin' is workin' for 'em, April 11, 2010[dead link]
  16. ^ jerkin-at-avalon-hollywood-a-dance-primer, July 6, 2009
  17. ^ "Jerking is very ground up," said Todd Moscowitz, the president of Asylum Records, who added the Rej3ctz, the New Boyz, the Bangz and the Cold Flamez to the label's roster this year, NOV. 20, 2009
  18. ^ KHH Interview, May 21, 2012
  19. ^ QuezKHH Exclusive, May 21, 2012
  20. ^ djcarisma.com/2015/05/12/new-mixtape-jhawk-22 May 12, 2015
  21. ^ Jerkin With JHawk, Cocaine Blunts Review, August 1st, 2009
  22. ^ djcarisma.com/2015/10/19/new-ep-jhawk-pressure, October 19, 2015
  23. ^ LA Weekly-former-jerkin-stars-cam-and-china-are-the-best-young-hip-hop-duo, November 4, 2015
  24. ^ ALLMUSIC, March 30, 2010
  25. ^ Ill Roots-casey-veggies-verified, 04/06/2012
  26. ^ Hot New Hip Hop, My Turn Up, Mar 12, 2013
  27. ^ khalil-a-long-story-short-new-mixtape, Say Yes, Aug 28, 2014
  28. ^ Singers room is it new serayah song, May 13, 2015
  29. ^ Listen To E-40 And Kamaiyah's New Track "Petty", Aug 4, 2016
  30. ^ Tyga Announces 'Bugatti Raww' Mixtape
  31. ^ RIAA Website Cat Daddy Platinum, 2018
  32. '^ We the Party,' Directed by Mario Van Peebles, APRIL 5, 2012
  33. ^ We the Party Full Cast & Crew, 2015
  34. ^ Some Kind of Hate Full Cast & Crew, 2015