Jay Mumford, born Jarrett A. Mumford on February 26, 1977, is an American record producer, drummer, multi-instrumentalist, former rapper, and writer from New York City. Also known as J-Zone, he gained a cult following in the late 1990s and early 2000s for his quirky lyrics, irreverent humor, and critically acclaimed hip-hop albums, including Pimps Don't Pay Taxes (2001). After leaving rap, he published the memoir Root for the Villain: Rap, Bullshit and a Celebration of Failure in 2011. Mumford returned to music with Peter Pan Syndrome (2013), which Spin hailed as the 17th best album of that year. He has since focused on drumming and production, working with Manzel, The Du-Rites, Danger Mouse, Lord Finesse, Vampire Weekend, Madlib, and Adrian Quesada.
