Early life
A Paterson, New Jersey native, Justin Smith became a key in-house producer at Roc-A-Fella Records during its early-2000s peak.
Career
He crafted soulful, anthemic beats for Jay-Z ("Public Service Announcement"), Kanye West, and Freeway, defining the Roc-A-Fella sound alongside Kanye.
Major achievements
He produced numerous platinum hits and is regarded as one of the great soul-sampling producers of the 2000s.
Legacy
Just Blaze's explosive, chipmunk-soul anthems helped define the sound of 2000s New York rap.
References
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