J. Rhodes

J. Rhodes is a music producer, composer, filmmaker, artist, author, public speaker, and educator. He co-wrote and produced, Welcome to America, recorded by Lecrae, which charted at #16 on Billboards Hot Gospel chart and earned him a Dove Award in 2015. He has composed and produced music for artists including Killer Mike, Talib Kweli, the Game, and Royce da 5′9″.

He wrote, directed, and produced, the hip hop musical It's a Wonderful Plight, and wrote the book These Beats Ain't Free. He began writing lyrics and poetry while attending Carter High School. During his sophomore year at the University of North Texas, he began experimenting with beat machines and music production.

Career Rhodes’ music career began while he was in college. In 2007, he opened the 808 Studio in downtown Dallas where he was a producer and engineer. His song "Hello", which he produced and rapped on, was featured on MTV's RapFix Live in 2010. He won the IStandard ASCAP Producer Battle, that same year.

He is a Dove Music Award winner, and has composed and produced music for artists including Killer Mike, Lecrae, the Game, Slim Thug, Talib Kweli, Royce da 5′9″, and Styles P. Rhodes' music has been featured in television and films including The Recruit, America to Me, FreeRayshawn, Coffee & Kareem, Black and Blue, and Between the World and Me, and at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. In 2020, Rhodes wrote, directed, and produced the hip hop musical It’s a Wonderful Plight, which received favorable reviews and was listed among USA Todays "The Summer Movies You Need to See" in 2021.

Rhodes authored These Beats Ain't Free, and has been a speaker and panelist at SXSW, ASCAP's I Create Music, and CD Baby's DIY music conference.

He is an associate professor at the Berklee College of Music.

Selected discography 2023 – YES! – Killer Mike – composer, producer 2019 – S.P. the GOAT: Ghost of All Time – Styles P – producer 2018 – Dime Bag – Styles P – composer, producer 2017 – Chips – Talib Kweli (featuring Waka Flocka Flame) – composer 2016 – Tabernacle – Royce da 5′9″ – producer 2016 – Head Up Eyes Open – Talib Kweli (featuring Rick Ross and Yummy Bingham) – composer, producer 2012 – Blood Diamonds – The Game – composer, producer