Just Blaze

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}

{{Short description|American hip hop producer (born 1978)}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Just Blaze

| image = Just Blaze Broccoli City 2014 (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Smith performing in 2014

| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist

| birth_name = Justin Gregory Smith

| alias =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=y|1978|01|8}}

| birth_place = Paterson, New Jersey, U.S.

| genre = {{flatlist|

• Hip hop
• East Coast hip hop
• chipmunk soul

}}

| discography = Just Blaze production discography

| occupation = {{hlist|Record producer|disc jockey}}

| years_active = 1998–present

| label = {{hlist|Fort Knocks|HHS78|F.O.B.|N.Q.C.|Roc The World}}

| associated_acts = {{hlist|Beanie Sigel|Freeway|Jay Electronica|Jay-Z|Saigon}}

| website =

}}

Justin Gregory Smith (born January 8, 1978), known professionally as Just Blaze, is an American record producer and DJ. Born in Paterson, New Jersey, Smith attended Rutgers University for three years before dropping out to pursue a career in music production.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2013/08/ltwl-musician-just-blaze/|title=How a Producer for Hip-Hop's Biggest Names Hacked His Way Into the Industry|magazine=Wired|language=en-US|access-date=August 22, 2016|last1=Scott|first1=Damien}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rapbasement.com/rap/032211-producer-just-blaze-will-take-part-in-the-red-bull-music-academy-watch-mannie-freshs-here.html |title=Learn Straight From Producer Just Blaze (Video) | Rap |work=Rap Basement |date=March 22, 2011 |access-date=April 2, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2011/03/just-blaze-to-give-live-qa-in-nyc-tomorrow/ |title=Just Blaze to Give Live Q&A in NYC Tomorrow |publisher=Xxlmag.Com |date=March 22, 2011 |access-date=April 2, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://vibe.com/hiphopproducerblog/just-blaze-is-putting-finishing-touches-on-eminems-recovery |title=Just Blaze Is Putting Finishing Touches On Eminem's 'Recovery' |publisher=VIBE |date=April 27, 2010 |access-date=April 2, 2011}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/interviews/producer-just-blaze-talks-games-and-crashing-e3-with-kanye-w477771|title=Hip-Hop Producer Just Blaze On Games, Switch and Crashing E3 With Kanye|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-date=April 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410072516/https://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/interviews/producer-just-blaze-talks-games-and-crashing-e3-with-kanye-w477771|url-status=dead}} He gained recognition as an in-house producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the early 2000s, developing the "chipmunk soul" sampling style that was prominent in hip hop during that time.{{Cite web|title=What Was Chipmunk Soul?|url=https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2018/08/chipmunk-soul|access-date=November 30, 2021|website=daily.redbullmusicacademy.com|language=en}}{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/entertainment/music/review/2007/11/06/jay_z/ |title=Crazy for Jay-Z - Bomani Jones |work=Salon.com |date=November 6, 2007 |access-date=April 2, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504103007/http://www.salon.com/entertainment/music/review/2007/11/06/jay_z |archive-date= May 4, 2011 }}

Smith produced Eminem's 2010 single "No Love" and appeared in its accompanying music video. He has composed soundtracks for video games, and was a character in NBA Street Vol. 2. His stage name was inspired by the character Blaze Fielding from the Streets of Rage video game series.{{Cite book|title=Decoded|last=Carter|first=Shawn|publisher=Spiegel & Grau|year=2010|isbn=978-1-4000-6892-0|pages=[https://archive.org/details/decoded00jayz_0/page/n41 22]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/decoded00jayz_0}} Smith founded the record label Fort Knocks Entertainment in 2004, through which he has signed artists including Saigon and Ms. Jade.{{cite web|last=Sidman |first=Amanda P. |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-11-04/entertainment/27080165_1_blaze-resident-deejay-bet |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724105814/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-11-04/entertainment/27080165_1_blaze-resident-deejay-bet |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 24, 2012 |title=BET puts new spin on NYC underground deejay scene in 'Masters of the Mix' with Just Blaze |work=New York Daily News |date=November 4, 2010 |access-date=April 2, 2011}} He was awarded a key to the city by Paterson in July 2018, in recognition of his "outstanding cultural contribution" to his hometown.Kuperinsky Amy. [https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2018/08/just_blaze_gets_key_to_paterson_resolution.html "Oh boy: Just Blaze gets key to Paterson, recognition for 'outstanding cultural contribution'"], NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 1, 2018. Accessed August 8, 2019. "The music producer Just Blaze has been the pride of Paterson for a while, but now he has the key to the city.... Earlier this month, Smith collected his latest accolade when Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh presented him with a key to the city 'for outstanding cultural contribution' and the city council passed a resolution recognizing his achievements."