Jonathan Kweku Awote-Mensah (born 27 March 1992), known professionally as Jae5, is a British-Ghanaian record producer and mixing engineer from Plaistow, East London. He is a Grammy Award-winning producer and is signed to Black Butter Records.
Early life
Jonathan Mensah grew up in London as a child and moved to Ghana from age 9 to age 12 with his brothers. He is the older brother of NSG members Kruddz and OGD. When he moved back to London, he did courses at the program APE Media, where he developed production and engineering skills. His older brother also had a DJ program where he learned how to use Fruity Loops and other software tools.
Career
Jae5 was part of a production company called JOAT Music Group, started by his uncle Blemish and artist Randy Valentine. He began working with J Hus with JOAT in 2015 and produced the mixtape The 15th Day to widespread acclaim. He later began producing for other British artists such as MoStack and Dave. In 2017, he executive produced the album Common Sense by J Hus, spawning the successful single "Did You See". Following that success, he worked with Burna Boy on the songs "Sekkle Down" and "Calm Down". Also in 2018, he worked with Geko, Shakka, Mr Eazi, Rudimental, and Young T & Bugsey, as well as producing NSG's most successful single "Options". In 2019, he produced the multi platinum single "Location" and "Disaster" by Dave. His producing credits earned him accolades such as the GRM Rated Awards and MOBO Awards for Best Producer.
In 2021, Jae5 released his debut single as a lead artist called "Dimension" featuring Skepta and Rema.
Artistry
Jae5 was credited by many publications as a producer for pioneering the fusion genre of afroswing. His sound is described as a fusion between grime, afrobeats, bashment, and dancehall.
Discography
Singles
As lead artist
As featured artist
Production discography
2015
J Hus â The 15th Day
- 01. "I'm Coming" (produced with JOAT Music Group)
- 02. "Shawty Inda Bando" (featuring Baseman) (produced with JOAT Music Group)
- 03. "Bangers & Mash" (featuring Deepee) (produced with JOAT Music Group)
- 04. "Warm It Up" (produced with JOAT Music Group)
- 05. "No Way" (produced with N2theA)
- 06. "Dubai" (featuring Locz) (produced with JOAT Music Group)
- 07. "Drive Me" (featuring Fekky) (produced with JOAT Music Group)
- 08. "Forget a Hater" (featuring NSG) (produced with JOAT Music Group)
- 09. "No Lie" (produced with JOAT Music Group)
- 11. "Guns and Butter" (produced with JOAT Music Group)
- 12. "Calling Me" (produced with JOAT Music Group)
- 14. "How It Goes" (featuring Randy Valentine) (produced with JOAT Music Group)
Mostack â So Paranoid â Single
2016
J Hus â Playing Sports
- 01. "Playing Sports"
- 02. "Clean It Up"
- 03. "Free Up"
2017
Dave & J Hus â Samantha â Single
J Hus â Common Sense
- 01. "Common Sense" (produced with The Compozers)
- 02. "Bouff Daddy"
- 03. "Clartin"
- 04. "Leave Me" (produced with IO)
- 05. "Closed Doors"
- 06. "Did You See"
- 07. "Like Your Style"
- 08. "Plottin"
- 09. "Sweet Cheeks" (produced with IO)
- 10. "Fisherman" (featuring MoStack & MIST) (produced with Steel Banglez)
- 11. "Good Time" (featuring Burna Boy)
- 12. "Spirit" (produced with TSB & IO)
- 13. "Mash Up" (featuring MoStack)
- 14. "Goodies"
- 15. "Good Luck Chale" (featuring Tiggs Da Author) (produced with Show N Prove)
- 16. "Who You Are"
- 17. "Friendly"
NSG â Yo Darlin â Single
French Montana â Unforgettable (J Hus Remix) â Single
2018
Burna Boy â Outside
- 04. "Sekkle Down" (featuring J Hus)
- 12. "Calm Down"
J Hus â Big Spang
- 01. "Dark Vader"
- 02. "Scene"
- 03. "Dancing Man"
Geko â 6:30 â Single
- 00. "6:30" (featuring NSG)
NSG â Natural Disaster â Single
Shakka â Tribe Tuesday â Season 2
Jess Glynne â Always in Between
Rudimental â Toast to Our Differences
Mr Eazi â Life Is Eazi, Vol. 2 â Lagos to London
Young T & Bugsey â Living Gravy â Single
2019
Dave â Psychodrama
- 05. "Location" (featuring Burna Boy)
- 06. "Disaster" (featuring J Hus)
Mark Ronson â Late Night Feelings
- 06. "Don't Leave Me Lonely" (featuring Yebba) (produced with Picard Brothers, Mark Ronson, P2J, Tom Elmhirst & Brandon Bost)
Ransom FA â Be Somebody â Single
2020
J Hus â Big Conspiracy
- 04. "Triumph"
- 05. "Play Play" (featuring Burna Boy) (produced with Nana Rogues & Scribz Riley)
- 06. "Cucumber" (produced with IO & Nana Rogues)
- 07. "Repeat" (featuring Koffee)
- 08. "Fortune Teller" (produced with IO, Levi Lennox & Maestro)
- 11. "Must Be"
- 12. "One and Only" (featuring Ella Mai)
- 13. "Love, Peace and Prosperity"
- 14. "Deeper Than Rap" (produced with IO)
Dyo â Dyologue
NSG â ROOTS
Burna Boy â Twice as Tall
Young T & Bugsey â Plead the 5th
- 03. "Madonna"
- 04. "Don't Rush" (featuring Headie One)
2021
Octavian â ALPHA
JAE5 - Dimension â Single
Dave â We're All Alone in This Together
- 06. "System" (featuring Wizkid) (produced with Kyle Evans, P2J & Joe Reeves)
- 07. "Lazarus" (featuring Boj) (produced with P2J & Joe Reeves)
- 08. "Law of Attraction" (featuring Snoh Aalegra)
Skepta â All In
- 03. "Nirvana" (with J Balvin)
- 04. "Lit Like This"
Not3s â 3 Th3 Album
Headie One â Too Loyal for my Own Good
NSG â Petite â Single
NSG â Headliner
- 02. "Suzanna" (featuring Patoranking)
2022
Koffee â Gifted
- 03. "Shine"
- 09. "Pull Up"
King Promise â 5 Star
M Huncho â Chasing Euphoria
- 08. "Pray 2 The East" (featuring BNXN fka Buju) (produced with Emmanuel Asamoah & Nana Pokes)
Burna Boy - Love, Damini
- 09. "It's Plenty" (produced with ElementZ)
JAE5 - Propeller â Single
- 00. "Propeller" (featuring Dave & Bnxn)
Zakhar - Scars On My Mind
D-Block Europe - Lap 5
Black Sherif - The Villain I Never Was
Blaqbonez - Young Preacher
- 04. "FashionNova"
- 05. "Back in Uni"
Zakhar & JAE5 - Devil's Enemy - Single
BNXN fka Buju - Omo Elewa - Single
2023
Libianca - People - Single
2024
Unknown T - Blood Diamond
Awards and nominations
References