Jehst

Infobox musical artist
Name = Jehst


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Background = solo_singer, producer
Birth_name = William G. Sheilds
Alias = Jehst, The High Plains Drifter, Jay Star, Billy Brimstone
Born = 25 December 1979
Died =
Origin = Kent, England
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Genre = Hip hop
Occupation = musician, singer, songwriter, record producer
Years_active = 1998–present
Label = Low Life Reprezent YNR
Associated_acts = Champions of Nature
URL = www.myspace.com/jeh5t
Notable_instruments =

William G. Shields (born 25 December 1979), better known as Jehst or a slew of aliases including The High Plains Drifter and Jay Star, is an English rapper and co-founder of hip hop label YNR.

Biography

Born in Kent in the summer of '79, Jehst spent his early childhood in Crowborough in Sussex before moving to Huddersfield where he experienced the bleak realities of the post-industrial north, which have been such an influence on his lyrical style.Fact|date=January 2008 After schooling Jehst moved to the Harrow Campus of the University of Westminster to study illustration and English Literature.Fact|date=January 2008

His debut release came in 1999 with the "Premonitions EP" on YNR, which he co-founded. [citenews| url=http://www.britishhiphop.co.uk/features/articles/jehst_-_biography.html |title=Jehst Biography |work=britishhiphop.co.uk|date=2007-08-09|accessdate=2008-08-06] His solo career extended further when he appeared on Task Force's EP "Voice of the Great Outdoors" (2000) with the track 'Cosmic Gypsies', which resulted in a long time association with Low Life Records. The release of four 12" records on the same label soon followed, while at around the same time in 2002 Jehst was also a pivotal member of the seven man group 'Champions of Nature', whose members included AM, Apollo, L. Dolo, Lewis Parker, Profound and Supa T. The group eventually released two EP's before disbanding, but not before the final release of the highly acclaimed full-length The Return of the Drifter. Issued in June 2002, it was a double release with an accompanying 11-track CD of the same name. This was essentially a collection of previously released tracks and a cross-section of Jehst's work up to that point.

Following a steady rise of success in the underground hip hop scene, a handful of guest appearances soon followed. Furthermore, Shield's had begun collaborating with producers such as Evil Ed, Harry Love and Lewis Parker to further enhance his status as an established figure within the British hip hop scene. In 2003 he unveiled his debut album Falling Down, which featured guest appearances from Lewis Parker, The Sundragon, Usmaan and Klashnekoff. Jehst's next solo installment came in the form of the 2005 effort, Nuke Proof Suit. The following year saw Jehst's production project, come to fruition. In 2007 The Mengi Bus Mixtape was released, accompanied by a string of live shows including a detour of Australia.

Sheild's has also released material under the name 'Billy Brimstone' on his own label, YNR; the same label responsible for many up and coming and established British hip hop artists.

Discography

Albums

*"The Return of the Drifter" (2002, Low Life)
*"Falling Down" (2003, Low Life)
*"" (2006, Low Life) (Various Artists/Handles production duties)

ingles and EPs

*"Premonitions EP" (1999, YNR)
*"Nuke Proof Suit" (2005, Reprezent)

Mixtapes

*"The Mengi Bus Mixtape" (2007)

Appearances

* 'Alien' from Evil Ed's 12" "The Tournament Round One" (2000)
* 'Cosmic Gypsies' from Task Force's "Voice of the Great Outdoors EP" (2000)
* 'Riviera Hustle' from Braintax's album Biro Funk (2001)
* 'Communications', 'Cold Sun' and 'Seasons Of Espionage' from the Lewis Parker album "It's all happening Now" (2002)
* 'It's All Live' from DJ MK's compilation "Westwood UK Hip Hop 2002 Vol. 1"
* 'Adventures In New Bohemia' and 'City Sickness' from the Low Life Records compilation "Food" (2003)
* 'Freedom Fighters' from The Answer & Genesis mixtape "FTP Radio Vol 17" (2003)
* 'Weed' from Evil Ed's mixtape "The Enthusiast" (2004)
* 'Freestyle Exclusive' from DJ Louis Slipperz mixtape "Task Force Presents DJ Loius Slipperz: £10 Bag, Volume 1" (2004)
* 'The Guns Of Navarone' from the Micall Parknsun album "The Working Class Dad" (2005)
* 'E.V' and 'Suicide' from the LG & Biscuit album "Smoke Rings" (2006)
* 'Souls Of The Unborn' from the Kashmere album "In The Hour Of Chaos" (2006)
* 'Concrete Shoes' from the Sir Smurf Lil album "Myalpha" (2006)
* 'Money in the Bank' and 'Findaz Keepaz' from the Asaviour album "The Borrowed Ladder" (2006)
* 'Equal Portions' from the Verb T album "Bring It Back To Basics" (2006)
* 'Water Torture' from Cee Why's album "Kidulthood OST" (2006)

References

External links

*
* [http://www.leedshiphop.co.uk/2007/10/20/lhhs-exclusive-interview-with-jehst-ynr-fam/ Jehst video interview]
* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Jehst Discography at Discogs.com]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onemusic/exposed/jehst606p01.shtml BBC Radio 1 interview]