Known throughout the world of independent rap for his production skills, J. Rawls has built tracks for Mos Def and Talib Kweli and El da Sensei plus his day job, Lone Catalysts, with J. Sands. The Essence of J. Rawls, his first solo album, featured guests J-Live, Doseone, and Asheru, among many others. The Essence of Soul followed in 2005. Rawls went on to release Liquid Crystal Project in 2006 and Rawls and Middle in 2008.