Just a Poet with a Soul

Just a Poet with Soul
Just a Poet with Soul
Studio album by Def Jef
Released	November 14, 1989
Recorded	1988–89
Genre	Hip hop
Length	51:25
Label	Delicious Vinyl
Producer	Def Jef; Dust Brothers; Michael Ross;
Def Jef chronology
Singles from Just a Poet with Soul
	"Droppin Rhymes on Drums"; Released: November 6, 1989; "Black to the Future"; Released: May 7, 1990; "Poet with Soul"; Released: July 1, 1991;

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Los Angeles Times	^[2]
The Village Voice	B+^[3]

Just a Poet with Soul is the debut studio album by American rapper and record producer Def Jef. It was released on November 14, 1989, through Delicious Vinyl. Production was handled by the Dust Brothers, Def Jef himself, and Michael Ross, who also served as executive producer. It features contributions from N'Dea Davenport and Etta James on vocals, Kevin O'Neal on bass, Michael Kory on piano, and Julio G on turntables. The album produced three singles: "Droppin Rhymes on Drums", "Black to the Future" and "Poet with Soul".

Track listing[edit]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Droppin' Rhymes on Drums" (featuring Etta James)	Jeffrey Fortson Eric Harris	Def Jef	4:21
2.	"Givin'em Rhythm"	Fortson Erick Vaan	Def Jef D.J. Eric Vaan^[a]	4:09
3.	"On the Real Tip"	Fortson	Def Jef	4:09
4.	"Poet with Soul"	Fortson	Def Jef	4:12
5.	"Give It Here"	Fortson Peter Brown	Def Jef The Dust Brothers^[c]	4:07
6.	"Do You Wanna Get Housed"	Fortson	Def Jef	4:42
7.	"Black to the Future"	Fortson	Def Jef	5:16
8.	"Do It Baby" (featuring N'Dea Davenport)	Fortson John King Matt Dike Michael Simpson	The Dust Brothers	6:17
9.	"God Made Me Funky"	Fortson Kevin O'Neal King Simpson	The Dust Brothers Def Jef^[c]	3:57
10.	"Downtown"	Fortson Dike Michael Ross	Def Jef	4:30
11.	"Just a Poet"	Fortson King Dike Ross	The Dust Brothers Michael Ross	5:26

Notes

^{^[a]} signifies an assistant producer.
^{^[c]} signifies a co-producer.

Personnel[edit]

Jeffrey "Def Jef" Fortson – vocals, producer (tracks: 1-7, 10), co-producer (track 9), sleeve notes
Etta James – additional vocals (track 1)
Julio "Julio G." Gonzalez – scratches (track 5)
N'Dea Davenport – vocals (track 8)
Kevin O'Neal – bass (track 9)
Michael Kory – piano (track 11)
DJ Erick Vaan – assistant producer (track 2)
John "King Gizmo" King – producer (tracks: 8, 9, 11), co-producer (track 5)
Matt Dike – producer (tracks: 8, 9, 11), co-producer (track 5)
Michael "E.Z. Mike" Simpson – producer (tracks: 8, 9, 11), co-producer (track 5)
Michael Ross – producer (track 11), executive producer
Brian Foxworthy – engineering
Mario Caldato Jr. – engineering
Darren Mora – additional engineering
Salomon Emquies – art direction, photography

References[edit]

^ Henderson, Alex. "Def Jef - Just a Poet with Soul Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
^ Gold, Jonathan (January 28, 1990). "*** 1/2 DEF JEF "Just a Poet With Soul" Delicious Vinyl : Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to five stars (a classic)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
^ Christgau, Robert (December 26, 1989). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved June 25, 2023 – via www.robertchristgau.com.

External links[edit]

Def Jef – Just A Poet With Soul at Discogs (list of releases)

[1] Henderson, Alex. "Def Jef - Just a Poet with Soul Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved June 25, 2023.

[2] Gold, Jonathan (January 28, 1990). "*** 1/2 DEF JEF "Just a Poet With Soul" Delicious Vinyl : Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to five stars (a classic)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 25, 2023.

[3] Christgau, Robert (December 26, 1989). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved June 25, 2023 – via www.robertchristgau.com.

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