| Jason Nevins | |
| Background: | non_performing_personnel |
| Birth Date: | 15 December 1972 |
| Birth Place: | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Years Active: | 1993–present |
Jason Nevins (born December 15, 1972) is an American songwriter, record producer and remixer, who is most widely known for his pop and dance productions, including his multi-platinum, multi-million selling production of "It's Like That" by American hip-hop group Run–D.M.C. and his multi-million selling production of "Cruise" by Florida Georgia Line featuring Nelly.
In the 1990s, Nevins began releasing singles under various monikers through every big underground dance labels, but achieved global recognition in 1998 with his remix production of Run–D.M.C.'s "It's Like That", which was released under the title 'Run–DMC vs. Jason Nevins', reaching number-one on the pop chart in over 30 countries, with close to 5 million worldwide sales and over 1 million in sales in both Germany and the United Kingdom.[1] As of 2025, the official video, which features Nevins, has over 100 million views on YouTube.[2]
In the UK, the single also halted the Spice Girls' (then record) run of six consecutive number ones with their first six singles, holding the Spice Girls' seventh release, "Stop", at number 2.[3] "It's Like That" was the third highest selling single of 1998 in the UK behind "Believe" by Cher and "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion.[4] Nevins is also on the coveted list of 'The UK's Official Best-Selling Songs Of All Time' for "Its Like That" as listed on the BBC Radio 1 Official charts website.[5]
In 1998, Nevins won an RTL television number-one single award for the TV series Top of the Pops.[6] The same year he also won a VIVA.
Nevins followed up "It's Like That" with a string of hip house remixes, with Run–D.M.C.'s "It's Tricky", 2 Live Crew's "We Want Some P&%$#!", Insane Clown Posse's "Hokus Pokus", Cypress Hill's "Insane in the Brain"; all featuring on his 1999 Sony album, Uni-Vs-Al (Universal).[7] In 2001, he continued the "dance-rock sound" by adding big beat and rock influences to his remixes and productions, working on tracks for artists as varied as N.E.R.D, Duran Duran and the Bloodhound Gang. Nevins has also revisited producing his own work, with a release on the UK based Sanctuary Records, entitled The Funk Rocker, in October 2004, and reached top 5 airplay in Europe with his pseudonym, UKNY, with the track "I'm in Heaven", featuring vocals by Holly James. "Heaven" went to number 9 on the UK Singles Chart.[8] Also taken from The Funk Rocker album, I'm the Main Man, which featured parts from T-Rex's Marc Bolan, landed a Coors Light Beer ad throughout the UK and Ireland. Coors launched the massive ad campaign using Nevins' track as the featured music for their commercial and campaign.[9] In 2007, Nevins collaborated with Dannii Minogue on "Touch Me Like That", with a video being shot at the legendary Pinewood Studios in London.
Over the years, Nevins has had numerous songs, productions and remixes of his used in films, TV ads and video games. Jason has had 37 top 10 remixes and productions in the Billboard charts. In 2012, Nevins produced and co-wrote "I Believe in This Life" with Marius Moga (who has a song with Maroon 5) and Greg Holden (who wrote the hit song "Home" for Phillip Phillips)—a U.S. single for Jermaine Paul, the winner of the second season of the massively popular TV show The Voice on NBC. The song was used in a commercial for the Samsung Galaxy and their "Next Big Thing" campaign also featuring Blake Shelton.[10]
In 2013, Nevins produced the Top 40 version for the American country group Florida Georgia Line's hit single "Cruise" featuring American singer/rapper Nelly. Nevins' idea of adding Nelly to the record also helped propel it to the top of the charts. The song peaked at number 2 on iTunes and at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has amassed 7.48 million in sales.[11] [12]
In 2013, Nevins, along with Florida Georgia Line and Nelly won the award for Song of the Year at the American Musics Award for the remix of "Cruise".[13]
In 2013, Nevins produced the main version of Ariana Grande and Mika's "Popular Song", which was certified gold in the US by the RIAA (500,0000 copies). Nevins was hired by Rich Issacson, Mika's manager and Republic Records. The official YouTube video has reached 185 million views.[14]
In 2014, Nevins, along with Florida Georgia Line and Nelly were nominated for Vocal Event of the Year at the 2014 Academy of Country Music Awards.[15]
In 2015, Nevins again came up with the idea of pairing Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" with rapper Jehry Robinson, who was signed to Tech N9Ne's Strange Music.[16] The song has not yet been officially released, but the remix instrumental and hook was used for the television campaign for the Paramount feature film, .[17]
On November 10, 2016, Nevins' remix of Nelly's "Work It" was played at the Golden State Warriors basketball game and became part of the viral video clip of Robin Schreiber dancing in the stands. The mega-viral video has achieved 130 million views.[18]
As of April 2023, Florida Georgia Line & Nelly "Cruise" has been certified diamond and is the first country song to achieve that feat. The RIAA said the song has matched the success of others such as Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" and Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie". Nielsen Music says the Nevins version including Nelly has sold 7.48 million tracks. The band's record label, Big Machine Records, says the song has been streamed more than 155 million times.[11]
In December 2024, Nevins teamed up with María Becerra to release a new duet version of the holiday song "Jingle Bell Rock", featuring vocals from the original singer, Bobby Helms. The hit song was released via Warner Music Latina, Becerra's record label, headed up by Alejandro Duque.[19] Similar to previous productions by Nevins, it was his idea for a duet merging the vocals of Helms with a fresh, new artist.[20] The deal was put together by Nevins and Armando Lozando, Becerra's manager and founder of Big Bad Wolf Management. Even with a late release for the season, the official video[21] had gained three million views in just a few weeks.[22]
In January 2025, McDonalds in Australia launched an television advertisement called "Macca's Squad have arrived Down Under!", which featured "Its Like That".[23]
| Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [29] | GER [30] | NZ [31] | UK [32] | ||||
| "It's Like That" | 1997 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| "We Want Some Pussy" | 1998 | 52 | — | 44 | — | ||
| "(It's) Tricky" | 15 | 23 | 5 | 74 | |||
| "Hold on Tight" | — | — | — | 93 | |||
| "Insane in the Brain" | 1999 | 35 | 27 | 31 | 19 | ||
| "I'm in Heaven" | 2003 | 38 | — | — | 9 | ||
| "I'm the Main Man" | 2004 | — | — | — | 78 | ||
| "Touch Me Like That" | 2007 | — | — | — | 48 | ||
