Robbins began his career as a bassist for
Government Issue, and has also led five of his own bands:
Jawbox, Rollkicker Laydown,
Burning Airlines, The band, who had been playing since 2009 and released an album on
Dischord Records in November 2011, but as of October 2016, they are not together anymore. In May 31, 2019, J. Robbins released his first solo album,
Un-Becoming. In February 2024, Robbins released
Basilisk.
Producer Robbins is also a successful producer and engineer for bands such as
War on Women,
Ponytail,
Clutch (and side project
The Bakerton Group),
Jets to Brazil,
Braid,
Hey Mercedes,
Shiner,
Mock Orange,
Bacchae (band),
The Pauses,
The Life and Times, Miranda Sound, Time Spent Driving,
Faraquet,
The Dismemberment Plan, The Monorchid,
The Promise Ring,
Dwindle,
Pilot to Gunner,
Paint It Black,
None More Black,
Jawbreaker,
Discount,
Against Me!, Goodbye Soundscape,
Modern Life is War,
Stapleton,
Murder By Death,
mewithoutYou, Black Cross (hardcore),
Lemuria, Caustic Casanova,
The Sword, Debate (from Sao Paulo, Brazil),
Coliseum,
Hammer No More the Fingers,
Small Brown Bike, Broadcaster, Noyo Mathis and Nakatomi Plaza. == Personal life ==