Justin Smith (born in Paterson, New Jersey on January 8, 1978), better known as Just Blaze, is an American hip hop music producer from Paterson, New Jersey. Blaze is also the CEO of Fort Knocks Entertainment.

Smith began producing for well known musicians in the late 1990s. This production would earn him a spot on Jay-Z’s The Dynasty: Roc La Familia. His production on this album, along with the work of Kanye West earned them both jobs as in-house producers at Roc-A-Fella Records. His production work earned him the name Just Blaze, which would become his production name. Smith then went on to produce for many of the acts signed to the Roc-A-Fella roster.

In 2002, Just Blaze became a household name for the production of Cam’ron’s summer smash “Oh Boy.” Smith went on to produce for Snoop Dogg, Shawnna, Usher, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Talib Kweli, Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss, Memphis Bleek, Cam’ron, Saigon, Young Gunz, Grafh, Beanie Sigel, The Game, DMX, T.I., Fat Joe, Juelz Santana, Rhymefest, Ghostface Killah, Jin, Fabolous, Freeway (rapper), Joe Budden, MF DOOM, Kool G Rap, Rah Digga, Teriyaki Boyz, Edison Chen, and big UK MC’s JME, Skepta and Klashnekoff. He also produced an urban remix of the Janet Jackson single ‘Just A Little While’ entitled ‘Love Me.’

After the retirement of Jay-Z in 2004, Just Blaze decided to create his own label. Initially, he went to Roc-A-Fella with the idea, but they could not afford to grant a vanity label at the time, due to the Dame Dash split. Just then went to parent company Def Jam Recordings, who was not willing to take such a big risk on a pet label. Finally, Atlantic Records agreed to give him a label to be 50% owned by them. He would name the label Fort Knocks Entertainment.

In 2004, Just Blaze launched Fort Knocks Entertainment through Atlantic Records. He would go on to sign New York mixtape rapper Saigon. In 2007, the label released Saigon’s debut mixtape “The Moral of the Story”. Saigon’s first album is tentatively titled “The Greatest Story Never Told”. The label’s next release will be a compilation entitled “Just Getting Warm”. Most recording for Fort Knocks takes place at Baseline Studios. More recently he works with Eminem on his new album Relapse 2.


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Justin Smith, mieux connu sous le nom de Just Blaze, est un DJ-producteur de Hip-hop venant du New Jersey. Il dirige actuellement Fort Knocks Entertainment.

Il commence à produire pour des grands noms à la fin des années 90, finissant par produire une chanson sur l’album de Jay Z « The Dynasty ». Grâce à cette prod et son travail avec Kayne West, il devient producteur régulier chez Roc-A-Fella. Il prend alors le nom de Just Blaze, et collabore avec la plus part des noms du label.

En 2002, il se fait connaitre du grand public avec la production du hit « Oh Boy » de Cam’ron. Il collabore alors avec Snoop Dogg, Shawnna, Usher, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Talib Kweli, Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss, Memphis Bleek, Cam’ron, Saigon, Young Gunz, Grafh, Beanie Sigel, The Game, DMX, T.I., Fat Joe, Juelz Santana, Rhymefest, Ghostface Killah, Jin, Fabolous, Freeway (rapper), Joe Budden, MF DOOM, Kool G Rap, Rah Digga, Teriyaki Boyz, Edison Chen, et les MC anglais JME, Skepta et Klashnekoff. Il fait aussi un remix pour Janet Jackson sur le titre « Just A Little While », rebaptisé « Love Me ».

Après le retrait de Jay-Z en 2004, Just Blaze décide de monter son propre label. Il s’associe alors avec Atlantic Records, qui lui offre un sous label, détenu à 50/50 : Fort Knocks Entertainement. En 2007, il sort la première mixtape de Saigon : « The Moral of the Story », puis son premier album « The Greatest Story Never Told ».  Il sort ensuite la compilation “Just Getting Warm”.

Actuellement, il travaille sur le prochain album d’Eminem : « Relapse 2 ».