Jaz-O facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jaz-O
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Jaz-O in 2000
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jonathan Allen Burks |
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| Born | October 4, 1964 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
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| Years active | 1986–present |
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Jonathan Allen Burks Sr. (born October 4, 1964), better known by his stage name Jaz-O (formerly The Jaz and Big Jaz), is an American rapper and record producer. Active in the late 1980s through the 1990s, he became known in retrospect for being the mentor of fellow Brooklyn rapper Jay-Z. Burks, nicknamed "the Originator", debuted the artist on his 1986 single "H. P. Gets Busy". Burks has since released three solo albums: Word to the Jaz (1989), To Your Soul (1990) and Kingz Kounty (2002), all of which were released by the record label EMI. His extended play The Warmup (2021), was the first release from the Roc Nation subsidiary Equity Distribution. He's been credited as a record producer for artists including Puff Daddy, Rakim, Usual Suspects, GZA, Kool G Rap, Queen Latifah, M.O.P., and Group Home, among others.
Early life
Jonathan Burks was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City and raised in Marcy Houses, a housing project in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. Originally attending college to become an accountant, he decided to become a rapper after being encouraged by a friend, and being inspired after hearing UTFO's "Roxanne, Roxanne."
Career
Early years and signing with EMI USA
Being from the same projects as Jay-Z, the two would meet and become friends, with Jaz-O being a rhyme mentor to Jay-Z. Sometime during the year of 1986, the two lyricists would soon form a short-lived group by the name of High Potent. Despite the group being short-lived, the two recorded and released several songs throughout 1986, before Jaz-O would go on and get a record deal with EMI USA. In regards to the signing, he stated:
1989: Word to the Jaz
Several months after signing with EMI USA, Jaz-O went on a trip to London, where he would record his debut album. Joining him on the trip was Jay-Z, as well as future Murder Inc Records CEO and producer Irv Gotti, who was Jaz-O's DJ at the time. After completion, Jaz-O released his debut album Word to the Jaz. The album was produced by Bryan "Chuck" New, Pete Q. Harris and Jaz-O himself. The album peaked at number 87 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It featured a guest appearance from Jay-Z on the song "Hawaiian Sophie", which peaked at number 18 on the Hot Rap Songs chart. The single "Let's Play House"/"Buss the Speaker" peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.
Jaz-O also made a guest appearance on The O'Jays's "Have You Had Your Love Today", which was a single released from their 1989 album Serious.
1990: To Your Soul
Jaz-O released his second album To Your Soul on July 16, 1990. Despite the album not reaching the Billboard charts, its two singles, "The Originators" and "A Groove (This Is What U Rap 2)", peaked at No. 13 and No. 18, respectively, on the Hot Rap Songs chart. Similar to his debut album, Jay-Z was the only guest, being featured on two songs.
1991–1996: Production work behind the scenes
Sometime after the album was released, Jaz-O was dropped from his record label and began to spend time working behind the scenes as a producer. At some point, Jaz-O connected with The Lox, and produced a demo tape for the group, which would become instrumental to the start of their successful career. Fellow Yonkers native Mary J. Blige, would receive the tape from a cousin who did music with the trio. Becoming a supporter of the group, Blige would pass the demo tape on to Bad Boy CEO Sean "Puffy" Combs while on a tour with Jodeci. Liking what he heard, Puff shortly signed The Lox to a deal.
1996–1998: Involvement with Jay-Z's early success
Throughout the late 1990s, Jaz-O had quite a hand in Jay-Z's early solo success. Jaz-O produced "Rap Game," a track that appeared on Jay's second album In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, which was released in the year of 1997.
Jaz-O produced two tracks for Jay-Z's Streets Is Watching. The album fared well commercially reaching #3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and was released May 12, 1998, by Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Records.
2017–2020: Reunion with Jay-Z and signing with Roc Nation
In December 2017, Jaz-O and Jay-Z reunited at Jay-Z's 4:44 concert, seemingly ending their feud. In 2019, it was reported that the two had worked out a music deal for Jaz-O's Kingz Kounty Media Group to be distributed through Roc Nation's Equity Distribution.
On February 7, 2020, Jaz-O released an extended play (EP) titled The Warmup, on Kingz Kounty Media Group. It was distributed by Roc Nation's Equity Distribution.
2021: Other ventures and releases
Currently Jaz-O has moved his 'Kingz Kounty Music Group" to Rival Distribution. Releasing a collaboration single "Lookin' Like" with Nipsey Hussle on July 2, 2021. The music video is directed by Da Inphamus Amadeuz.
Musical style
Influences
Jaz-O cites Grandmaster Caz as an early influence. Caz was the artist who made Jaz-O decide to become a rapper.
Rhyming style
Jaz-O was the rapper to pioneer the triplet flow, which allows the rapper to flow far beyond sixteen syllables within the 4/4 time signature. Being able to add extra syllables to the sixteen multiplies the syllables into twenty-fourths, which makes a triplet of an eighth. Since the 1990s, the triplet rhyme technique has become a common distinction among some of the most respected hip-hop lyricists. Several lyricists who are well known for the technique include former apprentice Jay-Z, as well as Twista, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Fu-Schnickens, Spice-1, and Tech N9ne.
Personal life
Jaz-O was known to be a visible figure in the Nuwaubian Nation during the 1980s. Nuwaubian beliefs and symbolism were prominent in the earlier years of his music career, and Nuwaubian fashion influenced his wardrobe.
Discography
Studio albums
- Word to the Jaz (1989)
- To Your Soul (1990)
- Kingz Kounty (2002) (with the Immobilarie)
Extended plays
- Ya Don't Stop (1991)
- The Warmup (2020)
