Christopher Stewart (music producer)

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Chris "Tricky" Stewart
Background information
Birth name	Christopher Alan Stewart
Also known as	"Tricky", "Trixster", "Trixstar", 'C. "Tricky" Stewart'
Born	January 4, 1974 (1974-01-04) (age 35) Markham, Illinois
Genres	R&B Hip hop Alternative hip hop Hip pop Pop
Occupations	Music Impresario, Executive Producer, Record Producer, Musical arranger, Composer, Entertainment Industry Executive, Recording Studio Owner, Musician
Years active	1992 – present
Associated acts	The-Dream, Jennifer Lopez, Blu Cantrell, Mýa, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Ciara, Usher, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Jesse McCartney, Rihanna, Utada, and Shawn Desman

Christopher "Tricky" Stewart (born January 4, 1974) is an American songwriter, music producer, music publisher, executive producer, recording industry executive and recording studio owner. In a career spanning 16 years, Stewart, at the helm of his company RedZone Entertainment, is responsible for over 25 million records sold.^[1] He is noted for producing many pop and R&B chart topping singles, such as Jennifer Lopez's "Louboutins", Britney Spears's "Me Against the Music", Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) ”, Mýa’s “Case Of The Ex”, Rihanna’s “Umbrella”, Mary J. Blige’s “Just Fine”, Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body" and "Obsessed", Jesse McCartney’s “Leavin'”^[2], Justin Bieber's "One Time" and many others.

[edit] Biography

[edit] Childhood/Early Years

Tricky Stewart, was born Christopher Alan Stewart in Markham, Illinois. Raised in a musical family, Stewart was playing guitar, playing keyboards and writing songs by the age of 12. Stewart's older brother, record producer Laney Stewart, introduced him to one of his first music business mentors, the late Louil Silas, Jr.. Silas fostered Tricky’s music career by giving him the opportunity to contribute to the projects of several major artists. Before graduating high school, Stewart had placements with artists such as Aaron Hall, rhythm and blues trio Immature, and Chanté Moore. Stewart credits his work with Chanté Moore with opening many doors for him in his burgeoning music career.^[3]

[edit] 1994-2000

In 1994, Stewart produced "Treat U Right" for Blackgirl. Around this time,Stewart met record producer and songwriter L.A. Reid, who offered him a deal to move his production company to Atlanta. In 1995, with the support of Reid, in partnership with his brother Laney Stewart, his brother Mark Stewart, and his sister-in-law Judi Stewart, Tricky established RedZone Entertainment and Triangle Sound studios in West Buckhead, Atlanta, GA.

Stewart's career and reputation continued to grow, achieving a major breakthrough in 1999 when he co-wrote the single "Who Dat" for JT Money. "Who Dat" was a #1 rap single, ASCAP's "Song Of The Year", and reached #5 on the Billboard pop chart.^[4] As a talent scout and manager, Stewart and RedZone helped grow the careers of such artists as Solé and Sam Salter.

In 2000 Tricky co-wrote and produced Interscope artist Mya's breakthrough "Case of the Ex", a song about a strong woman who won't tolerate her boyfriend going back to his ex-girlfriend. "Case of the Ex" hit number 2 on the Billboard "Hot 100" in December 2000, and stayed in the Top 10 for a full three months.^[5]. Around this time, Stewart discovered and signed Blu Cantrell, and went on to executive produce her debut album "So Blu" on Arista Records. "So Blu" peaked at #8 on the U.S. Billboard 200 charts and spawned the #2 hit "Hit 'em Up Style (Oops!)".

[edit] 2001-2005

In 2002, Tricky produced and cowrote the single "Uh-Huh" on B2K's self titled album, which entered the Billboard Top 200 at number two and went platinum.^[6] The single, "Uh-Huh" was the number one selling Single in the U.S.. The video for the song went to number one on MTV's TRL, and won the Viewers Choice Award at the BET Awards.^[7] 2003 saw the release of Blu Cantrell's second album "Bittersweet", featuring a Tricky Stewart production; the single "Breathe".

Finally in 2003 Tricky became very famous producing the worldwide hit Me Against the Music by Britney Spears featuring Madonna

[edit] 2006-present

2007 was truly a breakthrough year for Stewart and RedZone Entertainment. Rihanna's single "Umbrella", co-written with The-Dream and Kuk Harrell, garnered two Grammy nominations for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, and a Grammy for "Best Rap/Song Collaboration. Originally penned with Britney Spears in mind, then on hold for Mary J. Blige who was unable to approve it in time, Stewart initially had doubts about whether or not Rihanna was the right choice for the song. That was until he heard her on the record. In an interview with MTV, Stewart said

Released in late March, 2007, "Umbrella" topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart by May, rising 40 spots in one week to land and stay seven straight weeks at number one. The song also broke the iTunes music store's record for biggest debut ever. The success brought Rihanna to a new level of fame, co-writer "The-Dream" went on to debut his own hit record"Love Hate" (executive produced by Stewart), and Stewart finished out the year working with such notable artists as Janet Jackson, Celine Dion (Skies of L.A. off her new album "Taking Chances"), and Usher ("Moving Mountains" and "This Ain't Sex" of his new album Here I Stand).

Stewart was also nominated in 2007 for a Grammy for "Best Female R&B Vocal Performance" on Mary J. Blige's "Just Fine"; that same year, Stewart also co-wrote and produced on the album Growing Pains, as well as the vocals were produced by his production and writing partner Kuk Harrell. This writing and production team, composed of Tricky, The-Dream, and Kuk Harrell, proved to be a winning combination.

Monti Olson, Tricky Stewart, Kuk Harrell and Mark Stewart
Feb 11, 2008 Los Angeles, C.A.

Stewart executive produced The-Dream's debut album Love Hate, which included the hit single "Shawty Is a 10", peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Stewart also co-wrote and produced Dream's, "Falsetto" and "I Luv Your Girl".

The single "Touch My Body" off of Mariah Carey's album E=MC², produced by Stewart and Carey was described as "...a No. 1 just waiting to pounce the Billboard Hot 100" by Chuck Taylor of Billboard Magazine. On April 2, 2008 it was announced that "Touch My Body" became Carey's 18th #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100, pushing her to second place among artists with the most #1 singles in the rock era and first place as a solo artist in the same category, surpassing Elvis Presley. The achievement was attributed to a record-breaking digital sales debut, as 286,000 copies were sold in its first week of availability.

He produced a High Price featuring Ludacris for Ciara's 2009 album, Fantasy Ride. Tricky won his first Grammy for his work on Mary J. Blige's 2007 album Growing Pains 2009. He also worked with Japanese-American singer-songwriter Utada on her third English studio album This Is The One which he produced four songs from the record.

Tricky and The-Dream almost exclusively co-wrote (with Mariah) and produced the entirety of Mariah Carey's 2009 album, "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel" and are both currently in the studio at work on Ciara's yet-to-be-titled fourth studio album. The two are set to produce the entire album, and it is slated to be released sometime between the end of this year and the top of 2010. As Stewart confirmed himself, they are already 14 songs into the album.^[8]

Stewart has contributed to the new Christina Aguilera album due early 2010 and is also producing the score for her debut film, Burlesque (film) due for a fall 2010 release.

Tricky Stewart is currently in the studio working with the multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter Katy Perry. Her album is scheduled for a Spring 2010 release.

[edit] Discography/Credits

[edit] Produced Singles

• 1999: "Who Dat" (JT Money featuring Solé)
• 1999: "4, 5, 6" (Solé featuring JT Money & Kandi)
• 2000: "It Wasn't Me" (Solé featuring Ginuwine)
• 2000: "Case Of The Ex" (Mýa)
• 2003: "Me Against the Music (Britney Spears featuring Madonna)
• 2007: "Umbrella" (Rihanna featuring Jay-Z)
• 2007: "Just Fine" (Mary J. Blige)
• 2007: "Ridin'" (Mýa)
• 2007: "Suffocate" (J. Holiday)
• 2007: "Falsetto" (The-Dream)
• 2007: "I Luv Your Girl" (The-Dream)
• 2008: "Touch My Body" (Mariah Carey)
• 2008: "Leavin'" (Jesse McCartney)
• 2008: "Moving Mountains" (Usher)
• 2008: "Cookie Jar" (Gym Class Heroes)
• 2008: "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (Beyoncé)
• 2008: "Just Like Me" (Jamie Foxx)
• 2009: "Throw it in the Bag" (Fabolous)
• 2009: "All I Really Want" (Rick Ross featuring The-Dream)
• 2009: "Like a Surgeon" (Ciara)
• 2009: "Obsessed" (Mariah Carey)
• 2009: "One Time" (Justin Bieber)
• 2009: "I Look to You" (Whitney Houston)
• 2009: "Gangsta Luv" (Snoop Dogg)
• 2009: "Louboutins" (Jennifer Lopez)
• 2009: "Albi w Omri" (Briggite Yaghi)

[edit] Credits

Ready

[edit] Awards and nominations

[edit] References