J-Swift was born Juan Manuel Martinez in 1971 in Madrid, Spain. His Afro-Cuban father was a salsa bandleader and multi-instrumentalist. In 1974 the family headed to Los Angeles, California, settling in Inglewood. At age six, J-Swift enrolled in a piano conservatory, quickly proving to be a prodigy. The all-rap radio station KDAY introduced him to hip-hop in the early '80s, and the first record he ever got was by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.
Career
Around 1988 J-Swift met R&B musician Reggie Andrews, producer of Dazz Band's 1982 funk hit "Let It Whip." After J-Swift composed three new jack swing-style songs to get his attention, Andrews suggested that he concentrate on writing and producing, and set him up with a recording studio at South Central Unit, an after-school program for disadvantaged young talent. This gave J the opportunity to submit songs to A&M Record's Rondor Music publishing, while additional work came via BMI's Cheryl Dickerson. Though much of this early music went unreleased, J-Swift's official songwriting/producing debut came in 1991 with Keisha Jackson's "Feel You Out." Around this time J-Swift began making music with a crew of dancers-turned-rappers. With Reggie Andrews' record collection at their disposal, J-Swift and The Pharcyde crafted a three-song demo in '91 and subsequently a hip-hop classic, 1992's Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde. Featuring the hit singlePassin' Me By, Pharcyde's debut went certified Gold. Disputes over production and credits caused a rift between J and the group. With his own "Fat House Productions" acts Jazzyfatnastees and Quinton, J-Swift signed an ill-fated million dollar deal with Tommy Boy Records in 1993. Another of his groups, The Wascals, dropped several singles including "Class Clown" and "The Dips" in '94, but broke up before releasing their debut. The crew was started by members Alfie and Buckwheed, the latter of which met J-Swift while they were going to high school together. In the mid-'90s, J-Swift lent his signature style to a string of remixes, including Prince's "Letitgo," Massive Attack's "Protection," and Urban Thermo Dynamics' "Manifest Destiny". J-Swift was the subject of the 2007 documentary film 1 More Hit. J-Swift recorded new tracks from 2005 through 2010, providing not only the beats but also the rhymes. Featuring soul-baring rap confessionals and tales of perseverance through struggles — while still celebrating recreational drug use — J-Swift's new project began with an alter egoNegro Kanevil.
