Def Jef, born Jeffrey Fortson, is an American hip-hop artist and record producer who emerged during the Golden Age of hip-hop in the late 1980s. His style blends jazz-influenced beats with socially conscious lyrics, contributing to the development of jazz rap. Jef is notable for his album "Just a Poet with Soul" (1989), which features collaborations with renowned artists like Etta James. As a producer, he has worked with notable artists like Nas and Tupac Shakur, thereby leaving a significant imprint on the hip-hop genre.