A Chicago native, J. Hollins is highly respected amongst his peers for his ability to masterfully fuse the traditions of rock, gospel, funk, hip-hop, blues, and soul, all while keeping his lyrics fresh and reflective. He has worked with a number of industry heavyweights including, Grammy award-winning singer Mary J. Blige and Grammy-nominated producer Chucky Thompson. After much success in the UK as a writer, J. Hollins stepped away from a lucrative deal with a major recording company to release his first full-length solo album, The Chronicles, in 2005. Despite the album not reaching mainstream success, J.Hollins captured a faithful audience that resulted in unbelievable sales for an indie artist. In 2010, he released his second album, The Soul Renaissance LP. The album produced a number of radio hits, including Toast and the international smash Because of You. His third album, Casanova Black is slated for release in 2016.