J.Hollins is a Chicago native, whose smooth vocals, often laced with heavy harmonies, create an ingenious musical sound. He masterfully fuses the traditions of rock, gospel, funk, hip-hop, blues, and soul, while keeping his lyrics fresh and reflective. As the lead singer of a local group, J.Hollins landed a lucrative recording deal with a major record label. As a writer he went on to enjoy success in the UK, after releasing a 4-song EP and contributing to a compilation album entitled Urban An...
J.Hollins is a Chicago native, whose smooth vocals, often laced with heavy harmonies, create an ingenious musical sound. He masterfully fuses the traditions of rock, gospel, funk, hip-hop, blues, and soul, while keeping his lyrics fresh and reflective. As the lead singer of a local group, J.Hollins landed a lucrative recording deal with a major record label. As a writer he went on to enjoy success in the UK, after releasing a 4-song EP and contributing to a compilation album entitled Urban Anthems. After years of feeling creatively unfulfilled and fed up with making records to please everyone at the label J.Hollins opted to walk away from it all. Armed with nothing but his own creativity, J.Hollins set out in search of a new start. Enter long time friend and colleague Rhasheem Mohammed PKA “The Grind King”. In January 2004 he and J.Hollins started Block Bleeders Entertainment L.L.C. (derived from a street term for hustling) Mohammed and Hollins set out to make their company about bringing quality creative music into the mainstream market. Block Bleeders Entertainment L.L.C. released J.Hollins debut mixtape “This is Me” in May of 2004. This mixtape offered a deep look into the life of J.Hollins and touched on all of his experiences (good and bad) growing up in LeClaire Courts (a low-income housing project located on Chicago’s southwest side). “This is Me” is considered a classic by many and sold over 4000 copies to date. In November 2005 J.Hollins first full length album “The Chronicles” was released to rave reviews and stellar sales for an upstart indie label. Using club DJs and live performances as the main marketing and promotional tool “The Chronicles” has sold more than 12,220 copies to date. In June of 2008 the highly anticipated “Untitled” the second full length album from J.Hollins was released. Shortly thereafter J.Hollins and his associates realized that some of those same influences that he had opted to walk away from in the past were rearing their head once again. Now fresh from a 6 month hiatus J.Hollins is back with new found vigor. Off to a running start with a soulful radio/club friendly love song “Because of You” produced by super producers Emmaculate and Jamahl Rashid. This song is the first offering from J.Hollins upcoming project “The Soul Renaissance LP ”. J.Hollins states “I wanted to get back to what I do best, what the people and the DJs came to love about my music. I know I do my best work when I’m doing what’s in my heart. That’s what Soul Renaissance is about, I’m a soul singer no question about it. No matter what I’m singing you can hear the soul in it, the renaissance part is more of a personal thing. I feel like I’m going through a renaissance as a person right now as well as creatively”. The term you’ll hear to best describe J.Hollins lately is “Rock n Soul Star” he thinks it’s hilarious but willingly accepts the title because he says “There are widespread opinions about many artists, a lot of those opinions aren’t good ones! Lol! If “Rock n Soul Star” is the collective opinion about me, then I’m not doing too bad, I gladly accept!” “The Chronicles” and “Untitled” available on itunes & cdbaby.com NOW!!! “ The Soul Renaissance LP" coming soon.
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