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Biography

Jae5
Born
Jonathan Kweku Awote-Mensah

(1992-03-27) 27 March 1992 (age 32)
Plaistow, Newham, England
Relatives
Musical career
Genres
Occupations
Years active2015–present
LabelsBlack Butter Records

Jonathan Kweku Awote-Mensah (born 27 March 1992), professionally known as Jae5 is a British-Ghanaian record producer and mixing engineer from Plaistow, East London. He is a Grammy Award-winning producer and is signed to Black Butter Records.

Early life

Jonathan Mensah grew up in London as a child and moved to Ghana from age 9 to age 12 with his brothers. He is the older brother of NSG members Kruddz and OGD.[1] When he moved back to London, he did courses at the program APE Media, where he developed production and engineering skills. His older brother also had a DJ program where he learned how to use Fruity Loops and other software tools.[2]

Career

Jae5 was part of a production company called JOAT Music Group, started by his uncle Blemish and artist Randy Valentine.[2] He began working with J Hus with JOAT in 2015 and produced the mixtape The 15th Day to widespread acclaim.[3] He later began producing for other British artists such as MoStack and Dave. In 2017, he executive produced the album Common Sense by J Hus, spawning the successful single "Did You See".[4] Following that success, he worked with Burna Boy on the songs "Sekkle Down" and "Calm Down". Also in 2018, he worked with Geko, Shakka, Mr Eazi, Rudimental, and Young T & Bugsey, as well as producing NSG's most successful single "Options". In 2019, he produced the multi platinum single "Location" and "Disaster" by Dave. His producing credits earned him accolades such as the GRM Rated Awards and MOBO Awards for Best Producer.[5][6]

In 2021, Jae5 released his debut single as a lead artist called "Dimension" featuring Skepta and Rema.[7][8]

Artistry

Jae5 was credited by many publications as a producer for pioneering the fusion genre of afroswing.[2] His sound is described as a fusion between grime, afrobeats, bashment, and dancehall.[9]

Discography

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[10] 		IRE
[11] 		NZ
Hot
[12]
"Dimension"
(featuring Skepta and Rema) 		2021 58 — — TBA
"Propeller"
(featuring Dave and BNXN fka Buju) 		2022 38 59 28

As featured artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[10]
"Who's True"
(Tion Wayne featuring Davido & Jae5) 		2021 50 Green With Envy
"Back In Uni"
(Blaqbonez & Jae5) 		2022 – Young Preacher
"Devil's Enemy"
(Zakhar & Jae5) 		– —

Production discography

2015

J Hus – The 15th Day
  • 01. "I'm Coming" (produced with JOAT Music Group)
  • 02. "Shawty Inda Bando" (featuring Baseman) (produced with JOAT Music Group)
  • 03. "Bangers & Mash" (featuring Deepee) (produced with JOAT Music Group)
  • 04. "Warm It Up" (produced with JOAT Music Group)
  • 05. "No Way" (produced with N2theA)
  • 06. "Dubai" (featuring Locz) (produced with JOAT Music Group)
  • 07. "Drive Me" (featuring Fekky) (produced with JOAT Music Group)
  • 08. "Forget a Hater" (featuring NSG) (produced with JOAT Music Group)
  • 09. "No Lie" (produced with JOAT Music Group)
  • 11. "Guns and Butter" (produced with JOAT Music Group)
  • 12. "Calling Me" (produced with JOAT Music Group)
  • 14. "How It Goes" (featuring Randy Valentine) (produced with JOAT Music Group)
Mostack – So Paranoid – Single
  • 00. "So Paranoid"

2016

J Hus – Playing Sports
  • 01. "Playing Sports"
  • 02. "Clean It Up"
  • 03. "Free Up"

2017

Dave & J Hus – Samantha – Single
  • 00. "Samantha"
J Hus – Common Sense
  • 01. "Common Sense" (produced with The Compozers)
  • 02. "Bouff Daddy"
  • 03. "Clartin"
  • 04. "Leave Me" (produced with IO)
  • 05. "Closed Doors"
  • 06. "Did You See"
  • 07. "Like Your Style"
  • 08. "Plottin"
  • 09. "Sweet Cheeks" (produced with IO)
  • 10. "Fisherman" (featuring MoStack & MIST) (produced with Steel Banglez)
  • 11. "Good Time" (featuring Burna Boy)
  • 12. "Spirit" (produced with TSB & IO)
  • 13. "Mash Up" (featuring MoStack)
  • 14. "Goodies"
  • 15. "Good Luck Chale" (featuring Tiggs Da Author) (produced with Show N Prove)
  • 16. "Who You Are"
  • 17. "Friendly"
NSG – Yo Darlin' – Single
  • 00. "Yo Darlin'"
French Montana – Unforgettable (J Hus Remix) – Single

2018

Burna Boy – Outside
  • 04. "Sekkle Down" (featuring J Hus)
  • 12. "Calm Down"
J Hus – Big Spang
  • 01. "Dark Vader"
  • 02. "Scene"
  • 03. "Dancing Man"
Geko – 6:30 – Single
  • 00. "6:30" (featuring NSG)
NSG – Natural Disaster – Single
  • 00. "Natural Disaster"
Shakka – Tribe Tuesday – Season 2
  • 02. "Long Ting"
Jess Glynne – Always in Between
  • 06. "123"
Rudimental – Toast to Our Differences
  • 04. "Walk Alone"
Mr Eazi – Life Is Eazi, Vol. 2 – Lagos to London
  • 13. "Yard & Chill"
Young T & Bugsey – Living Gravy – Single
  • 00. "Living Gravy"

2019

Dave – Psychodrama
  • 05. "Location" (featuring Burna Boy)
  • 06. "Disaster" (featuring J Hus) (vocal engineer)
Mark Ronson – Late Night Feelings
  • 06. "Don't Leave Me Lonely" (featuring Yebba) (produced with Picard Brothers, Mark Ronson, P2J, Tom Elmhirst & Brandon Bost) (also programmer)
Ransom FA – Be Somebody – Single
  • 00. "Be Somebody"

2020

J Hus – Big Conspiracy
  • 04. "Triumph"
  • 05. "Play Play" (featuring Burna Boy) (produced with Nana Rogues & Scribz Riley)
  • 06. "Cucumber" (produced with IO & Nana Rogues)
  • 07. "Repeat" (featuring Koffee)
  • 08. "Fortune Teller" (produced with IO, Levi Lennox & Maestro)
  • 11. "Must Be"
  • 12. "One and Only" (featuring Ella Mai)
  • 13. "Love, Peace and Prosperity"
  • 14. "Deeper Than Rap" (produced with IO)
Dyo – Dyologue
  • 01. "Real"
NSG – ROOTS
Burna Boy – Twice as Tall
  • 15. "Bank On It"
Young T & Bugsey – Plead the 5th
  • 03. "Madonna"
  • 04. "Don't Rush" (featuring Headie One) (recording engineer)

2021

Octavian – ALPHA
JAE5 - Dimension – Single
Dave – We're All Alone in This Together
  • 06. "System" (featuring Wizkid) (produced with Kyle Evans, P2J & Joe Reeves)
  • 07. "Lazarus" (featuring Boj) (produced with P2J & Joe Reeves)
  • 08. "Law of Attraction" (featuring Snoh Aalegra)
Skepta – All In
  • 03. "Nirvana" (with J Balvin)
  • 04. "Lit Like This"
Not3s – 3 Th3 Album
  • 03. "3rd Eye"
Headie One – Too Loyal for my Own Good
  • 07. "Finer Things"
NSG – Petite – Single
  • 00. "Petite"
NSG – Headliner
  • 02. "Suzanna" (featuring Patoranking)

2022

Koffee – Gifted
  • 03. "Shine"
  • 09. "Pull Up"
King Promise – 5 Star
  • 08. "Ginger"
M Huncho – Chasing Euphoria
  • 08. "Pray 2 The East" (featuring BNXN fka Buju) (produced with Emmanuel Asamoah & Nana Pokes)
Burna Boy - Love, Damini
  • 09. "It's Plenty" (produced with ElementZ)
JAE5 - Propeller – Single
  • 00. "Propeller" (featuring Dave & Bnxn)
Zakhar - Scars On My Mind
  • 09. "Tough Love"
D-Block Europe - Lap 5
  • 03. "She's Not Anyone"
Black Sherif - The Villain I Never Was
  • 03. "45"
Blaqbonez - Young Preacher
  • 04. "FashionNova"
  • 05. "Back in Uni"
Zakhar & JAE5 - Devil's Enemy - Single
  • 09. "Devil's Enemy"
BNXN fka Buju - Omo Elewa - Single
  • 00. "Omo Elewa"

2023

Libianca - People - Single

2024

Unknown T - Blood Diamond

Awards and nominations

Year Event Prize Recipient Result Ref
2020 Rated Awards Best Producer Himself Won [5]
MOBO Awards Producer of the Year Himself Won [6]
2021 Grammy Awards Best Global Music Album Twice as Tall Won [13]
MOBO Awards Best Producer Himself Won [14]
2023 A&R Awards Producer Of The Year Himself Pending [15]

References

  1. ^ Rose, Ajay (7 May 2020). "Inside the Unstoppable Rise of NSG: 'The UK's Best Group'". Vice.
  2. ^ a b c Kochhar, Nazuk (26 April 2017). "Meet Jae5, The East London Genre Blender Behind J Hus's Out Of This World Afrobeats Sound". The Fader.
  3. ^ "Why J Hus Is A Rare Breed Of Sick Rapper and Anthem Factory". Link Up TV. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  4. ^ Mosanya, Lola (18 October 2017). "Meet JAE5, the producer behind J Hus' Common Sense album". BBC.
  5. ^ a b "Wizkid, JAE5 and M1llionz win at the MOBO Awards". Sony Music.
  6. ^ a b "J Hus and JAE5 win at the 2020 GRM Daily Rated Awards". Sony Music.
  7. ^ Kavuma, Jason (19 March 2021). "After Shaping The UK's Afroswing Sound, JAE5 Is Stepping Out Solo". Vice.
  8. ^ Keith, James (19 March 2021). "JAE5 Calls On Skepta, Rema For Feel-Good Debut Single "Dimension"". Complex.
  9. ^ Ababio, Jesse (8 June 2021). "Get Familiar With Ghanaian Producer Jae5 With These Exciting Projects". Kuulpeeps.
  10. ^ a b "Jae5". Official Charts Company. Peak positions for the singles in the UK:
  11. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  12. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 8 August 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  13. ^ Shafer, Ellise (14 March 2021). "Grammys 2021 Winners List". Variety. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  14. ^ "MOBO AWARDS 2021 WINNERS REVEALED!". MOBO Awards. 6 December 2021.
  15. ^ "The A&R Awards 2023: The finalists revealed!". Music Business Worldwide. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jae5

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