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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
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • music producer
  • actor
Years active 1984–present
Labels
  • Delicious Vinyl
  • Thugline
Associated acts Young MC
West Coast Rap All-Stars
Shaquille O'Neal
Funkytown Pros

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
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 non-album single
1994 The Right Kinda Lover (Def Jef Remix) Patti LaBelle non-album single
Life's a ... (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 Duces 'n Trayz: The Old Fashioned Way
Shackled Up Krayzie Bone Oz (soundtrack)
A THugga Level; I Don't Give a ... Thug on da Line
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