B I O

Jacob “Jay Q.” is an artist’s artist. Although the Pasadena native has made a name for himself through his musical production, he began exploring the art of expression via multiple channels. What started as casual beat-making with friends eventually morphed into bona fide music production as he lost interest in the simplicity of looping and turned to the organic creation of riffs and drum patterns. Logically, the next step for Jacob was building instrumentals from scratch, all with the masterful use of an array of software. Jacob left his hometown for Pomona, where he pursued his higher education by earning his B.S. in Business Administration from the California State Polytechnic University. Regardless of his academic interest in corporate America, the beat-making never rested, and Jacob continued to cultivate his skills with the help of recording technique classes. Now that his collegiate career has ended, Jacob has placed his music on the front burner, working tirelessly to establish his brand.

In 2009, he and fellow Pasadenian Yancy Deron teamed up for a collaborative LP entitled “The Underdogs,” which showcased the versatility and lyrical craftsmanship of the producer-emcee duo. His most recent project “Live Now,” Yancy Deron’s first installment of the two-part LP “LiveNow|DieLater,” was released November 11, 2011.

The trickle effect has become palpable, and since that release, Jacob has become involved in countless projects with up-and-coming artists and has even dabbled in television and film, landing a role in the show “Blue Mountain State” and 2012’s “96 Minutes.”  His multi-tiered game plan to success is evident in his self-proclaimed lack of a genre when it comes to his music, as well as his continued effort to express himself on multiple levels, through multiple media. His unabashed versatility is reflected most visibly in his influences, some of which included Battlecat, DJ Quik, and Ryan Leslie. As the blossoming of his career continues, Jacob maintains a concerted effort to collaborate with artists hailing from all over the globe while keeping the sound intricate.