Died On This Date (October 3, 2008) Johnny J. / Produced Tupac Shakur
themusicsover Johnny J (Born Johnny Jackson)
August 28, 1969 – October 3, 2008
“Johnny J” Jackson was a hip hop producer and rapper who, over the course of his career, produced albums and records that sold in the millions. Born in Mexico and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Jackson’s career kicked into high gear in 1990 when he produced a “one-hit-wonder” for his friend Candall Mason, better known as Candyman. That song was “Knockin’ Boots,” which helped Candyman’s Shame In The Game album go platinum. The success of “Knockin’ Boots” opened the door for Jackson to meet Tupac Shakur, giving him the opportunity to produce tracks on Shakur’s All Eyez On Me and Me Against The World abums. In all, Jackson produced approximately 100 songs for Shakur. In later years, he collaborated with Bizzy Bone and Tatyana Ali. “Johnny J” Jackson was 39 years old when he allegedly commited suicide by leaping from an upper tier of L.A.’s Twin Towers Jail where he was serving time for DUI.
Tupac Shakur was a hip hop artist whose professional career basically began as a roadie and backup dancer for Digital Underground in the late ’80s, and ended as one of the biggest selling artists of all time. He has sold upwards of 75 million albums before and since his untimely death. Shakur’s albums generally portrayed a life growing up with violence, racism and the hardships some face growing up in the inner city. For the most part, his songs professed social and racial equality. Shakur was no stranger to the judicial system. In 1995, he was convicted for sexual assault, which many believe never happened, and was sentenced to prison. While serving his time, his album Me Against The World was released. He became the only artist in history to have a #1 album while incarcerated. On September 7, 1996, was involved in an altercation following a Mike Tyson fight in Las Vegas. Later that evening while riding in a car driven by Suge Knight, a car pulled up beside Knight’s vehicle. At least one occupant fired around a dozen shots into the car, hitting Shakur four times. The 25 year-old Tupac Shakur died from injuries sustained during the shooting six days later. His murder has never been solved.
