Rodney Jerkins
Rodney Jerkins |
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Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins (born July 29 1977 in Pleasantville, New Jersey) is a Grammy Award-winning songwriter, record producer, and musician. Working largely with his brother Fred Jerkins III & writer LaShawn Daniels, Jerkins has been an extremely in-demand producer for over a decade,[citation needed] being requested by such artists as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Lionel Richie. The words "Darkchild" appear in some form in many of his tracks. He is currently working on forthcoming albums from Brandy,[1] Ciara, Beyoncé, LeToya, Teairra Marí, Anastacia, Melanie Brown[2] and Korean pop sensation Se7en.
Biography
Jerkins was born into a religious family as the youngest son of a minister and choir director mother. He grew up in Pleasantville, New Jersey.[3] He began taking classical music lessons on the piano as a small child. As a teenager he had already decided to become a record producer. At 15, he and his brother Fred Jerkins III wrote and produced their own gospel rap album - On the Move. He began making more demos, one of which caught the attention of idol Teddy Riley, who gave him advice on the music industry. Finally, his first professional writing and producing job came in 1994 when he contributed two tracks to the debut album of R&B artist Casserine. Riley also subsequently let Jerkins share writing and production duties on tracks by Pure Soul, Men Of Vizion & Wreckx-N-Effect in 1995 & 1996.[4]
In his current personal life, a formerly overweight Jerkins has stated that a change in lifestyle is responsible for a new slender physique - previously it had been rumored this was achieved via GBP. He has also been married to pop/gospel/R&B singer Joy Enriquez since April 4, 2004. Additionally, in 2006 Jerkins was appointed VP of A&R for The Island Def Jam Group. Their first child, named Rodney David, Jr. was born May 28, 2008. They currently reside in Brooklyn, New York.
Darkchild Records and label ventures
1999 venture
Jerkins has made two attempts to bring his label to prominence. The first was in 1999 when he joined with Sony/Epic Records to promote such signees as Whitney Houston-style power vocalist Rhona, Pop/R&B girl group So Plush and rapper Fats. Male vocalists K-Young, Lil' Zal and J. Mathis also made frequent collaborations with Rodney Jerkins around this time, although it is not known if they were actually signed to the label. Buzz was created about artists with Fats appearing on two tracks Jerkins produced for Michael Jackson's Invincible album and So Plush releasing the single "Things I've Heard Before" with a Hype Williams-directed video. Singles such as So Plush's "Damn (Should Have Treated You Right)" and Rhona's "Satisfied" were also released and made fair impact on charts. Subsequently, So Plush albums and "Things I've Heard Before" singles were pressed (and made available as promos) and Rhona's album was even released in Japan, output from the label stopped from this point however. It seemed that eventually artists were released from the label as Rhona reappeared in 2003 joining infamous R&B group En Vogue[5] and Fats released an album as part of the duo F.A.T.S. & Bathgate in 2006.[6]
2005 venture
In 2005 Darkchild Records reappeared when Jerkins signed brand new acts including Shamari Fears formerly of R&B group Blaque, female MC Asia Lee, Dancehall artist Atiba and Gospel singer Anesha Birchett. Joy Enriquez also briefly appeared as an artist on the site before her album release on new sister gospel label JoyFul Child Records. The website was redesigned and relaunched with artist bios and track samples and a new Darkchild Members "Platinum" Club was set up which gave access to Jerkins' Versatility instrumental album and other exclusives. It seems the label has again had problems however, as a track recorded by Shamari - "The One U Need" was used by Jerkins as a single for Def Jam singer Megan Rochell without her consent or awareness. Other tensions formed and according to her Official Website she is no longer signed to the label. Additionally Asia Lee has apparently not heard from the record company or Jerkins for a long time and Atiba has now left the label and is looking to get his album released elsewhere after Jerkins refused a deal from Def Jam to do so. Anesha Birchett seems to be the only successful member of Darkchild Records being that she has co-written several recent Darkchild Productions, including those for Beyoncé, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Shareefa, Joy Enriquez, Natasha and Tamia, although she is currently in artist development and her recording career has yet to start. Anesha's sister Antea Birchett and Delisha Thomas are also part of a frequently active in-house roster of writers for Darkchild Records.
JoyFul Child and Darkchild Gospel Records
Seemingly one of his only successful recent label ventures, Jerkins released his wife Joy Enriquez' second album Atmosphere Of Heaven, which features a religious direction, on his independent gospel imprint JoyFul Child Records. The album is available to purchase through Joy's Official Website although she was formerly featured on the Darkchild Records Site with its other artists. The Darkchild name has also been lent to a record company run by Jerkins brother Fred Jerkins III, Darkchild Gospel.[7] which released the latest album from Virtue - Testimony.
Def Jam and other ventures
After Jerkins being appointed VP of A&R for The Island Def Jam Group in 2006, Darkchild Records will apparently now be distributed as an imprint under the label. It is rumoured that new female R&B artist Megan Rochell will now have her music distributed through this imprint. A second upcoming female R&B artist, Natasha, will have her music distributed through a collaboration between the label and Jive Records. Jerkins composed the opening theme music to I Married a Baller. Appearing in a segment where he recorded the theme song with 90s R&B girl-group SWV, he suggested he could help them acquire an indie distribution deal if they were to reunite. (although this does not necessarily entail Darkchild Records)
Music Mogul, Inc.
In late 2008, Jerkins joined Nicholas Longano, Ray Brown and Jonathan E. Eubanks in creating Music Mogul, Inc. [8] MusicMogul.com, the world’s first online music world with real rewards, represents an entirely browser-based online destination where celebrity artists can unite with their fans and aspiring artists have a chance for discovery to become the next superstars. Every quarter members vote for the best video performances. [9] The top performers are then flown to Los Angeles to compete in front of a panel of celebrity judges. The winner gets a demo deal with Dark Child Productions.[10]
Appearances
Singles discography
See links for extensive discography.
Album Productions (5 or more tracks)
- 1996: Gina Thompson - Nobody Does It Better
- 1997: No Authority - Keep On
- 1998: Brandy - Never Say Never
- 1998: Whitney Houston - My Love Is Your Love
- 1999: Coko - Hot Coko
- 2000: Spice Girls - Forever
- 2001: Rhona - Rhona
- 2001: So Plush - So Plush
- 2001: Michael Jackson - Invincible
- 2001: Canela - Canela
- 2002: Brandy - Full Moon
- 2004: Blaque - Torch
- 2005: Joy Enriquez - Atmosphere Of Heaven
- 2005: Ray J - Raydiation
- 2005: Rodney Jerkins - Versatility
- 2008: Janet Jackson - Discipline
- 2008: Brandy - Human
- 2009: Melanie B - Reimagined
- 2009: Rock City - Wake The Neighbors
Guest raps
- 1995: Hodge - "Head Nod" (Darkchild Remix)
- 1997: Tasha Holiday - "Just The Way You Like It (Darkchild Remix)" w/ Lil' Cease, Peter Gunz and Mike Nitty
- 1997: MQ3 - "Everyday"
- 1997: Immature - "I Can't Wait" with Mike Nitty
- 1997: Mary J. Blige - "Everything (Darkchild Remix)"
- 1997: K-Ball - "On The Weekend", "Love Matters"
- 1998: Kirk Franklin & The Nu Nation Project - "Revolution"
- 1998: Keith Washington - "Bring It On (Darkchild Remix)"
- 1999: Brandy - "Top of the World" (Darkchild Remix) with Fat Joe and Big Pun
- 2000: Natalie Wilson & The S.O.P. Chorale - "Act Like You Know" with LaShawn Daniels
- 2001: So Plush - "What You Do To Me" with 50 Cent and Fats, "Ain't My Fault"
- 2001: Rhona - "Satisfied (Another Darkchild Remix)" with Fats
- 2002: Jay Mathis - "Kiss" with Pain and Fats
- 2002: Mary Mary - "He Said" with Fats
- 2002: K-Young - "Ballinest Player" with Lil' Zal
- 2002: K-Young - "Ooh Wee"
- 2002: Shawn Desman - "Sexy"
- 2003: Natalie Wilson & The S.O.P. Chorale - "Good Life"
- 2004: Kierra "Kiki" Sheard - "You Don't Know"
- 2005: Joy Enriquez - "Don't You Let Go"
- 2005: Anesha Birchett - "Get Ready" with Mase
- 2006: The Darkchild Allstars - "We Are Family"
- 2008: The Pussycat Dolls With Diddy, Lil Wayne, & Fatman Scoop - When I Grow Up (Darkchild Remix)
Video cameos
- 1996: Gina Thompson - "The Things That U Do (Bad Boy Remix)"
- 1997: No Authority - "Don't Stop"
- 1998: Kirk Franklin & The Nu Nation Project - "Revolution"
- 2001: So Plush - "Things I've Heard Before"
- 2001: Rhona - "Satisfied"
- 2002: Monica - "All Eyez on Me"
- 2006: Natasha - "Hey, Hey, Hey" and "So Sick"
- 2006: Shareefa - "Cry No More"
- 2006: J. Holiday - "Be with Me"
- 2008: Brandy - "Right Here (Departed)"
References
- ^ [http://www.rap-up.com/2008/06/30/rap-up-tv-rodney-jerkins-on-britney-spears-and-brandys-new-albums/ Rap-Up TV: Rodney Jerkins on Britney Spears
- ^ Monica Mania:// The Suga Mama of Music Blogs
- ^ Norment, Lynn. "Rodney Jerkins: music maestro on a mission.", Ebony (magazine), June 1, 2002. Accessed December 19, 2007. "Jerkins is pop music's newest and youngest hit-making wiz. At age 24, the Pleasantville, N.J., native is a fascinating coming-of-age success story and stands out among hundreds of rags-to-riches tales."
- ^ Rodney Jerkins: music maestro on a mission - Interview | Ebony | Find Articles at BNET.com
- ^ En Vogue Soul Flower CD
- ^ F A T S & Bathgate Split Decision CD
- ^ Darkchild Gospel
- ^ Billboard.biz
- ^ Wall Street Journal
- ^ Virtual World News