RedZone Entertainment
Encyclopedia
RedZone Entertainment is an Atlanta-based, music-production entity. Redzone's discography includes collaborations with many artists, producers, and composers of note, and is responsible for over 25 million records sold. RedZone Entertainment has produced acts such as P!nk
, Britney Spears
, Celine Dion
, Mary J. Blige
, Usher, Ciara
, Sting, Rihanna
, and Justin Bieber
.
Founded in 1995 by music producer Christopher “Tricky” Stewart
and artist manager Mark E. Stewart, RedZone Entertainment serves as both the parent company and production arm of the Stewart brothers’ music business. This includes two publishing companies, an Atlanta recording studio, and an artist management company.
and Curtis Mayfield
, and the trio were also jingle singers featured on many national ad campaigns. Their father and his brother operated a jingle company in Chicago whose clients included Ford Motor Company
, McDonalds, Coca-Cola
, Bud Light, and many others.
In 1989, Big brother Laney Stewart
opened his own jingle company, Minute Men Music. This was the company that gave Mark, Tricky and Judi (Tricky's sister-in-law) their start as professionals in the music business, Tricky in the area of recording and music production, Mark and Judi in the area of business. In 1989 when Laney Stewart
signed an exclusive publishing agreement with Famous Music, and the family left jingles and began writing and producing records full time for major artists.
recording artist, Troy Hinton. In the next two years Tricky went on to produce records for Aaron Hall, Damion Hall, Immature
and others.
In 1994, the Stewarts met record producer and songwriter L.A. Reid of LaFace records. Reid offered them a deal to move their production company to Atlanta, and the brothers accepted.
's single "Who Dat", which featured female rapper Solé
. "Who Dat" reached #1 on the Billboard Rap chart and #5 on Billboards "Hot 100" in 1999. In 1998 Stewart and his writers penned Mýa
's "Case of the Ex
". The single debuted at #12 on the Hot Singles Sales and peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It remains Mýa's highest-charting solo single on the Hot 100 to date.
Solé went on to sign with RedZone, who produced her album "Skin Deep" released in September 1999. "Skin Deep" peaked at #127 on the Billboard 200, and #27 on the top hip-hop albums chart. The single off the album "4,5,6" was Ascap's "Female Rap Song of the Year." 1998 was also the year RedZone discovered producer Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs, who produced TLC
’s “No Scrubs
” & Destiny’s Child’s “Bills, Bills, Bills
”. During this time, Redzone signed R&B singer Sam Salter
, and R&B singer/songwriter Blu Cantrell.
on a demo recording and helped her break into the business singing back up for such artists as Diddy
, Gerald Levert
, Aaron Hall and Faith Evans
. Once the demo was complete L.A. Reid was invited to hear Blu Cantrell, and he signed her immiediately to Arista Records
. Reid was quoted as saying
Cantrell's first album, "So Blu
", was released on July 31, 2001. The album went to number 8 on the soundscan charts in its first week. In 2001, Blu Cantrell
received nominations for Best New Artist from both the Grammys and the American Music Awards
as well as a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance and the song “Hit Em Up Style”. The song was written and produced by Dallas Austin
, and spent weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart. In 2002, Cantrell was nominated for a Grammy Award
and an American Music Award. She collaborated with RedZone on her follow-up album "Bittersweet
".
, P. Magnet, Traci Hale
, Tab, B. Cox, Kuk Harrell
, Jazze Pha
, Dallas Austin
, Battery Five, Jermaine Dupri, Dean, J "Q" of The Clutch, Todd Herfindel, J.B. of "the Movement", Zeke and Ciara
. RedZone has served as the springboard for many influential writers, artists, producers, and music industry professionals.
In 2003 RedZone produced Britney Spears
' "Me Against the Music
" which featured Madonna
. The song went on to become the first single off her record "In The Zone
" and won the Billboard Music Award for Best-Selling Dance Single of the Year. This led to the enlistment of RedZone founder Tricky Stewart and one of his production partners P. Magnet to work on several more songs for the album. They wrote the lyrics for the Moby
produced "Early Morning", recorded vocals for the R. Kelly
-produced "Outrageous" and wrote and produced "The Hook Up", which had a reggae feel.
Tricky described the Britney Spears project as "the tip of the iceberg" of RedZone's new style.
joined and became a key player on the RedZone team. He would go on to co-write RedZone's production Rihanna's "Umbrella", as well as produce the now iconic vocal. He is considered on of the most sought after Vocal Producers in the industry, with a client list that includes Chris Brown, Mary J. Blige, Lionel Richie, Karina, Usher, Sting, and Celine Dion.
In 2007, the release of the RedZone production "Umbrella
" sung by pop star Rihanna
on the Def Jam release Good Girl Gone Bad, was to have a great impact on the careers of all involved with the project. The song, co-written by Terius "The-Dream
" Nash, Kuk Harrell, and Tricky Stewart, was produced by Tricky Stewart, with vocal production provided by Kuk Harrell. The song, which featured a rap intro by renowned rapper Jay-Z
, would go on to win many music industry awards and to break industry records. Released in late March 2007, the song broke the iTunes record for biggest debut ever. The song climbed 40 spots to reach number one on the Billboard charts, and stayed there for 7 weeks. The video for the song received five nominations for MTV
's 2007 Video Music Awards, including the win for Smash Single Of The Year. The song had an impressive chart run around the world and a received and over-all positive reception from music critics.
Entertainment Weekly magazine placed "Umbrella" at the top of their list of the Ten Best Singles of 2007, and Rolling Stone magazine declared it number three of the 100 Best Songs of the year; it was also named Song of the Year in Blender magazine's Readers' Poll 2007. In 2008 "Umbrella" won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in addition to receiving nominations for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
The RedZone team suddenly found themselves in great demand. Stewart, Nash, and Harrell finished out the year working with such notable artists as Janet Jackson
("Greatest X" off Discipline), Jesse McCartney
("Leavin'
" off the record Departure
), 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
).
". The song was released June 19, 2007, it written by Terius Nash ("The-Dream) and sung/performed by J. Holiday on his debut album "Back of My Lac'
". "Bed" debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in the issue week of July 4, 2007 at number 89 and peaked at number 5. It was number 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for five weeks in a row. On Tuesday July 31, 2007 the song/single debuted on BET's 106 & Park countdown at number 9. On Wednesday, August 15, 2007,--its 11th day on the countdown-- "Bed" hit number one! The song was #70 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007. The video for "Bed" was ranked the #11 video of 2007 on BET's notorized.
Tricky Stewart co-wrote and produced the follow-up single "Suffocate", released on October 2, 2007. The song peaked at #2 on Billboards "Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs", #5 on U.S. Billboards Rhythmic Top 40, and #55 on the U.S. Billboard Pop 100. J. Holiday
was subsequently nominated for BET's "Best Male R&B Singer 2008".
's "Bed
", RedZone writer/producer "The-Dream" went on to artistic success with his own certified gold record "Love Hate
". The album, executive produced by Tricky Stewart, was released on December 11, 2007 on the Def Jam label. "Love Hate" spawned three singles, "Shawty Is a 10
", "Falsetto
", and "I Luv Your Girl
". The singles peaked on the Billboard hot R&B/Hip Hop song charts at #6, #3, and #3 respectively. "The-Dream" is currently featured on Plies
single "Please Excuse My Hands
", which also features Jamie Foxx
, as well as L.L. Cool J's "Baby", and Gym Class Heroes
"Cookie Jar
".
The RedZone team was nominated in 2007 for a Grammy for "Best Female R&B Vocal Performance" on Mary J. Blige
's "Just Fine
". "Just Fine", released October 16, 2007, was the leading single off Mary J.'s most recent album "Growing Pains", and was written by Tricky Stewart and Terius "The-Dream" Nash. It was produced by Tricky Stewart, and Kuk Harrell produced the vocals. Stewart also co-wrote and produced many of the tracks on the album "Growing Pains
", Terius "The-Dream" Nash wrote on 6 of the album's tracks, and the vocals on all of the tracks but one were produced by Kuk Harrell.
The album, released on Dec 17, 2007, debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and number one on the R&B chart. In its second week the album climbed to number one on the Billboard 200 with 204,000 copies sold. In the UK, the album entered the charts at Number 6, making it her highest charting album there since "No More Drama" in 2001 with first week sales of 21,755.
" is a song co-written by American singer Mariah Carey, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Crystal "Cri$tyle" Johnson and Terius "The-Dream" Nash for Carey's eleventh studio album, E=MC². Produced by Carey, Stewart and Nash, it was released as the lead single off the album. The song is Carey's eighteenth number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 and nominated for a 2008 MTV Video Music Awards.
A review in Billboard Magazine stated that "this sensual jam is 100% Mariah, packed with satisfying harmonic layers and hooky background 'oh's,' supersonic verses and a chorus as catchy as a winter sniffle", and Blender stated that it was a "pop genius making genius pop". Bill Lamb from About.com also gave "Touch My Body" a positive review, giving it 4 out of 5 stars, stating that the single "is simple, sexy elegance from one of the most enduring of pop stars". Newsday also named it as the "Song of the Week", commenting that it was "the best opening single she's had since "Heartbreaker". Digital Spy was also positive, saying "its cooing, sensual charms soon take hold, suggesting the wind's still very much behind the Carey comeback bandwagon".
Leavin' stayed in the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 20 weeks.
. The single was released on July 7, 2009. It peaked at #12 in Canada, and #17 in the U.S. and also did well internationally. They also produced "Baby
for his My World (Part II) which charted at #3 in Canada and #5 in the U.S.
", which was released on May 5, 2009. They both co-wrote and produced five songs titled "High Price", "Like a Surgeon", "Ciara to the Stage", "Lover's Thing", and "Keep Dancin' On Me" on the album.
In 2010, Tricky Stewart and The-Dream went in the studio at work on Ciara
's fourth studio album titled "'Basic Instinct
'", which is set for a release on December 14, 2010. The two executive-produced the entire album. The lead single from the album titled "Ride
, was produced by the duo, the single was released on April 26, 2010. The single went on to become her twelfth top ten hit on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
chart. Tricky, The-Dream and Ciara are currently putting the finishing touches on the highly anticipated album.
P!nk
Alecia Beth Moore , better known by her stage name Pink , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actress....
, Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
, Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
, Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
, Usher, Ciara
Ciara
Ciara Princess Harris , known mononymously as Ciara, is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, actress and fashion model. Born in Austin, Texas, she traveled around the world during her childhood, only to land in Atlanta, Georgia where she met music producer, Jazze Pha...
, Sting, Rihanna
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
, and Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber
Justin Drew Bieber is a Canadian pop/R&B singer, songwriter and actor. Bieber was discovered in 2008 by Scooter Braun, who came across Bieber's videos on YouTube and later became his manager...
.
Founded in 1995 by music producer Christopher “Tricky” Stewart
Christopher Stewart (music producer)
Christopher "Tricky" Stewart 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...
and artist manager Mark E. Stewart, RedZone Entertainment serves as both the parent company and production arm of the Stewart brothers’ music business. This includes two publishing companies, an Atlanta recording studio, and an artist management company.
Family beginnings
The Stewart brothers grew up in a family heavily involved in the business of making music. Their mother and her two sisters were background singers for such artists as Aretha FranklinAretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
and Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer.He is best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's and for composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly, Mayfield is highly...
, and the trio were also jingle singers featured on many national ad campaigns. Their father and his brother operated a jingle company in Chicago whose clients included Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
, McDonalds, Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
, Bud Light, and many others.
In 1989, Big brother Laney Stewart
Laney Stewart
Laney Stewart is an American songwriter, music producer, musician, music publisher, music executive, manager and youth mentor....
opened his own jingle company, Minute Men Music. This was the company that gave Mark, Tricky and Judi (Tricky's sister-in-law) their start as professionals in the music business, Tricky in the area of recording and music production, Mark and Judi in the area of business. In 1989 when Laney Stewart
Laney Stewart
Laney Stewart is an American songwriter, music producer, musician, music publisher, music executive, manager and youth mentor....
signed an exclusive publishing agreement with Famous Music, and the family left jingles and began writing and producing records full time for major artists.
Record Production
In 1990, at the age of 16, Tricky got his first major label placement when he produced a song entitled "Hold Me Tight" for MCAMCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
recording artist, Troy Hinton. In the next two years Tricky went on to produce records for Aaron Hall, Damion Hall, Immature
IMx
IMx , are an American R&B group, managed by record producer Chris Stokes. Its members include Marques "Batman" Houston , Jerome "Romeo" Jones , and Kelton "LDB" Kessee , all natives of Los Angeles, California, where the group was formed...
and others.
Company Moves
In the fall of 1992 Mark and Tricky moved the RedZone base of operations from Chicago to Los Angeles.In 1994, the Stewarts met record producer and songwriter L.A. Reid of LaFace records. Reid offered them a deal to move their production company to Atlanta, and the brothers accepted.
RedZone Established in Atlanta
In 1995, with the support of Reid, his brother Mark Stewart, and his sister-in-law Judi Stewart, Tricky established RedZone Entertainment and Triangle Sound studios in West Buckhead, Atlanta, GA.Early years
1998 was a pivotal year for RedZone Entertainment. Christopher "Tricky" Stewart wrote and produced JT MoneyJT Money
Jeff Thompkins, known by his stage name JT Money, is an American rapper and was the leader of the Miami-based hip hop group, Poison Clan.-Music career:...
's single "Who Dat", which featured female rapper Solé
Sole
Sole may refer to:* Sole , the bottom of the foot* Sole , the bottom supporting member of the shoe-Business:* Sole proprietorship, a business which legally has no separate existence from its owner...
. "Who Dat" reached #1 on the Billboard Rap chart and #5 on Billboards "Hot 100" in 1999. In 1998 Stewart and his writers penned Mýa
Mya
-A person:* Bo Mya , Chief Commander of the Karen National Union* Mýa , American R&B singer-songwriter and actress** Mýa , a 1998 album by Mýa-A code:* Burmese language, ISO 639-3 code is mya* Moruya Airport's IATA code...
's "Case of the Ex
Case of the Ex
"Case of the Ex" is an R&B/Dance Pop song by American singer-songwriter Mýa. The track was produced by Tricky Stewart for Harrison's sophomore studio album Fear of Flying. Case of The Ex was written by Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, Traci Hale, and Tab. The lyrics speak about an ex lover who will...
". The single debuted at #12 on the Hot Singles Sales and peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It remains Mýa's highest-charting solo single on the Hot 100 to date.
Solé went on to sign with RedZone, who produced her album "Skin Deep" released in September 1999. "Skin Deep" peaked at #127 on the Billboard 200, and #27 on the top hip-hop albums chart. The single off the album "4,5,6" was Ascap's "Female Rap Song of the Year." 1998 was also the year RedZone discovered producer Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs, who produced TLC
TLC (band)
TLC is an American musical trio whose repertoire spanned R&B, hip-hop, soul, funk, and new jack swing. Originally consisting of singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, rapper-singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and singer Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas it found success in the 1990s while also enduring a series of spats...
’s “No Scrubs
No Scrubs
"No Scrubs" is a 1999 song recorded by R&B girl groupTLC for their album FanMail. Released as the album's first single, "No Scrubs" became TLC's third number-one single and eighth top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100. It also earned them their second Grammy nomination for Record of the Year...
” & Destiny’s Child’s “Bills, Bills, Bills
Bills, Bills, Bills
"Bills, Bills, Bills" is a 1999 hit single by Destiny's Child, released as the first single from their second album The Writing's on the Wall. It echoed the female empowerment sentiments of TLC's single "No Scrubs", and featured the same producer and songwriter...
”. During this time, Redzone signed R&B singer Sam Salter
Sam Salter
Sam Salter is an African-American R&B artist. He grew up singing gospel music at Faithful Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles. Growing up, Salter won several local talent shows, with a vocal style that was influenced by Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder....
, and R&B singer/songwriter Blu Cantrell.
Blu Cantrell
In 2000, Tricky Stewart and producer/writer Tab started working with Blu CantrellBlu Cantrell
Blu Cantrell is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter.-Biography:Tiffany Cobb was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1976. Her father was a Narragansett Native American and Cape Verdean, and played in the National Basketball Association...
on a demo recording and helped her break into the business singing back up for such artists as Diddy
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
, Gerald Levert
Gerald Levert
Gerald Levert was an American R&B singer. Gerald Levert sang with his brother, Sean Levert, and friend Marc Gordon in the R&B trio LeVert. He was also a part of LSG, an R&B supergroup comprising Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill, and Levert...
, Aaron Hall and Faith Evans
Faith Evans
Faith Renée Evans is an American singer-songwriter, recording artist, record producer, actress and author. Born in Florida and raised in New Jersey, Evans relocated to Los Angeles during 1993 for a career with the music business. After working as a backing vocalist for Al B...
. Once the demo was complete L.A. Reid was invited to hear Blu Cantrell, and he signed her immiediately to Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
. Reid was quoted as saying
Cantrell's first album, "So Blu
So Blu
So Blu is the debut album by American R&B-soul singer-songwriter Blu Cantrell, released in the United States on July 31, 2001 by Arista Records. The album was primarily produced by Chris "Tricky" Stewart, with additional production from Dallas Austin, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Jason Rome, Don...
", was released on July 31, 2001. The album went to number 8 on the soundscan charts in its first week. In 2001, Blu Cantrell
Blu Cantrell
Blu Cantrell is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter.-Biography:Tiffany Cobb was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1976. Her father was a Narragansett Native American and Cape Verdean, and played in the National Basketball Association...
received nominations for Best New Artist from both the Grammys and the American Music Awards
American Music Awards
-Conception:The AMAs were created by Dick Clark in 1973 to compete with the Grammys after the move of that year's show to Nashville, Tennessee led to CBS picking up the Grammy telecasts after its first two in 1971 and 1972 were broadcast on ABC...
as well as a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance and the song “Hit Em Up Style”. The song was written and produced by Dallas Austin
Dallas Austin
Dallas Austin is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Some of his most notable clients include Michael Jackson, TLC, Boyz II Men, Pink, Monica, Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Stacie Orrico, Another Bad Creation, Fishbone, Sugababes, Anastacia, Namie Amuro, Kim...
, and spent weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart. In 2002, Cantrell was nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
and an American Music Award. She collaborated with RedZone on her follow-up album "Bittersweet
Bittersweet (album)
Bittersweet is the second studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter Blu Cantrell, released in the United States on June 24, 2003 by Arista Records. It debuted at number thirty-seven on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart selling 29,000 units in its opening week and spawned the international hit...
".
A Creative Community
In 2003, RedZone expanded from just a producer driven company to a creative community, fostering and collaborating with many writers and producers. The list over the years includes, but is not limited too, The-DreamThe-Dream
Terius Youngdell Nash , better known by his stage name The-Dream, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is known for co-writing "Umbrella" for Rihanna and "Single Ladies " for Beyoncé, as well as for his three solo albums, Love Hate, Love vs...
, P. Magnet, Traci Hale
Traci Hale
Traci Hale is a Atlanta-based American Pop, R&B songwriter and vocalist. She began her career as a back up singer for R&B superstars Keith Sweat and Aaliyah before becoming a songwriter for artists including Rihanna, Blu Cantrell, Mýa and Brandy...
, Tab, B. Cox, Kuk Harrell
Kuk Harrell
Thaddis "Kuk" Harrell is an American songwriter, vocal producer, arranger and engineer. He is managed by RedZone Entertainment, and is a member of a songwriting–production team composed of himself, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and Terius "The Dream" Nash...
, Jazze Pha
Jazze Pha
Phalon Anton Alexander , also known as Jazze Pha , is an American singer, and songwriter.raised in Memphis, TN; son of James Alexander ....
, Dallas Austin
Dallas Austin
Dallas Austin is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Some of his most notable clients include Michael Jackson, TLC, Boyz II Men, Pink, Monica, Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Stacie Orrico, Another Bad Creation, Fishbone, Sugababes, Anastacia, Namie Amuro, Kim...
, Battery Five, Jermaine Dupri, Dean, J "Q" of The Clutch, Todd Herfindel, J.B. of "the Movement", Zeke and Ciara
Ciara
Ciara Princess Harris , known mononymously as Ciara, is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, actress and fashion model. Born in Austin, Texas, she traveled around the world during her childhood, only to land in Atlanta, Georgia where she met music producer, Jazze Pha...
. RedZone has served as the springboard for many influential writers, artists, producers, and music industry professionals.
Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
' "Me Against the Music
Me Against the Music
"Me Against the Music" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears from her fourth album, In the Zone, featuring American recording artist Madonna. It was released on October 20, 2003 as the lead single from the album by Jive Records. After bonding with Spears during a night in New York...
" which featured Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
. The song went on to become the first single off her record "In The Zone
In the Zone
In the Zone is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Britney Spears, released on November 16, 2003, by Jive Records. Following the end of the Dream Within a Dream Tour in July 2002 and her break-up with Justin Timberlake, Spears announced she would take a six-month break from her...
" and won the Billboard Music Award for Best-Selling Dance Single of the Year. This led to the enlistment of RedZone founder Tricky Stewart and one of his production partners P. Magnet to work on several more songs for the album. They wrote the lyrics for the Moby
Moby
Richard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
produced "Early Morning", recorded vocals for the R. Kelly
R. Kelly
Robert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play...
-produced "Outrageous" and wrote and produced "The Hook Up", which had a reggae feel.
Tricky described the Britney Spears project as "the tip of the iceberg" of RedZone's new style.
Kuk Harrell, Vocal Producer, Songwriter, and Engineer
In 2004 vocal producer, songwriter and engineer Kuk HarrellKuk Harrell
Thaddis "Kuk" Harrell is an American songwriter, vocal producer, arranger and engineer. He is managed by RedZone Entertainment, and is a member of a songwriting–production team composed of himself, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and Terius "The Dream" Nash...
joined and became a key player on the RedZone team. He would go on to co-write RedZone's production Rihanna's "Umbrella", as well as produce the now iconic vocal. He is considered on of the most sought after Vocal Producers in the industry, with a client list that includes Chris Brown, Mary J. Blige, Lionel Richie, Karina, Usher, Sting, and Celine Dion.
Rihanna "Umbrella"
Umbrella (song)
"Umbrella" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna, featuring a rap verse by Jay-Z. The song was written by The-Dream, Christopher Stewart, Kuk Harrell and Jay-Z, and was produced by Stewart and The-Dream for Rihanna's third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad...
" sung by pop star Rihanna
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
on the Def Jam release Good Girl Gone Bad, was to have a great impact on the careers of all involved with the project. The song, co-written by Terius "The-Dream
The-Dream
Terius Youngdell Nash , better known by his stage name The-Dream, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is known for co-writing "Umbrella" for Rihanna and "Single Ladies " for Beyoncé, as well as for his three solo albums, Love Hate, Love vs...
" Nash, Kuk Harrell, and Tricky Stewart, was produced by Tricky Stewart, with vocal production provided by Kuk Harrell. The song, which featured a rap intro by renowned rapper Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
, would go on to win many music industry awards and to break industry records. Released in late March 2007, the song broke the iTunes record for biggest debut ever. The song climbed 40 spots to reach number one on the Billboard charts, and stayed there for 7 weeks. The video for the song received five nominations for MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's 2007 Video Music Awards, including the win for Smash Single Of The Year. The song had an impressive chart run around the world and a received and over-all positive reception from music critics.
Entertainment Weekly magazine placed "Umbrella" at the top of their list of the Ten Best Singles of 2007, and Rolling Stone magazine declared it number three of the 100 Best Songs of the year; it was also named Song of the Year in Blender magazine's Readers' Poll 2007. In 2008 "Umbrella" won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in addition to receiving nominations for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
The RedZone team suddenly found themselves in great demand. Stewart, Nash, and Harrell finished out the year working with such notable artists as Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
("Greatest X" off Discipline), Jesse McCartney
Jesse McCartney
Jesse McCartney is an American singer-songwriter, actor and voice actor. McCartney achieved fame in the late 1990s on the daytime drama All My Children as JR Chandler. He later joined boy band Dream Street, and eventually branched out into a solo musical career...
("Leavin'
Leavin'
"Leavin" is a song written and produced by Tricky Stewart, and The-Dream, and recorded by American singer Jesse McCartney. It is the lead single from McCartney's third studio album Departure , and it was sent to the U.S. mainstream radios on March 10, 2008...
" off the record Departure
Departure (Jesse McCartney album)
Departure is the third studio album by American recording artist Jesse McCartney. It was released on May 20, 2008, through Hollywood Records. The album was re-released on April 7, 2009, under the name Departure: Recharged...
), Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
("Skies of L.A." off her new album Taking Chances
Taking Chances
Taking Chances is an English language studio album by Canadian singer Céline Dion, released on November 7, 2007 on CD and CD/DVD. It is her 13th English album and 36th in total. The album was released physically worldwide during the month of November 2007 in CD edition. The album was also released...
), and Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
("Moving Mountains
Moving Mountains (song)
"Moving Mountains" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Usher. It was released on May 23, 2008, as the third single from his fifth studio album, Here I Stand. It was written by Usher with Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Kuk Harrell and The-Dream, and was produced by Stewart and The-Dream....
" and "This Ain't Sex" of his new album Here I Stand
Here I Stand (Usher album)
Here I Stand is the fifth studio album by American R&B recording artist Usher, released on May 13, 2008 by LaFace Records. Inspired by love for his new wife—Tameka Foster—and son, Usher recorded many ballads for the album. Prior to the album's recording, Usher split with his...
).
J. Holiday "Bed"
2007 saw another successful release for RedZone with the single "Bed (song)Bed (song)
"Bed" is a song by American R&B singer J. Holiday. It is the second single released from his debut album Back of My Lac. The song was produced by Los Da Mystro and written by The-Dream....
". The song was released June 19, 2007, it written by Terius Nash ("The-Dream) and sung/performed by J. Holiday on his debut album "Back of My Lac'
Back of My Lac'
- External links :* * * * * * * * * *...
". "Bed" debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in the issue week of July 4, 2007 at number 89 and peaked at number 5. It was number 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for five weeks in a row. On Tuesday July 31, 2007 the song/single debuted on BET's 106 & Park countdown at number 9. On Wednesday, August 15, 2007,--its 11th day on the countdown-- "Bed" hit number one! The song was #70 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007. The video for "Bed" was ranked the #11 video of 2007 on BET's notorized.
Tricky Stewart co-wrote and produced the follow-up single "Suffocate", released on October 2, 2007. The song peaked at #2 on Billboards "Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs", #5 on U.S. Billboards Rhythmic Top 40, and #55 on the U.S. Billboard Pop 100. J. Holiday
J. Holiday
Nahum Grymes better known by his stage name J. Holiday, is an American R&B singer-songwriter. He came into prominence in 2007 with his breakthrough hit "Bed" peaking at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.-Discography:...
was subsequently nominated for BET's "Best Male R&B Singer 2008".
Chris Brown, "Exclusive"
The RedZone team contributed to two songs off Chris Brown's album "Exclusive" which was released on Oct 30, 2007. Terius "The-Dream" Nash wrote on "You" and "Gimme Watcha Got" featuring Lil' Wayne.The Dream-"Love Hate"
After the success of "Umbrella", and J. HolidayJ. Holiday
Nahum Grymes better known by his stage name J. Holiday, is an American R&B singer-songwriter. He came into prominence in 2007 with his breakthrough hit "Bed" peaking at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.-Discography:...
's "Bed
Bed (song)
"Bed" is a song by American R&B singer J. Holiday. It is the second single released from his debut album Back of My Lac. The song was produced by Los Da Mystro and written by The-Dream....
", RedZone writer/producer "The-Dream" went on to artistic success with his own certified gold record "Love Hate
Love Hate
Love Hate is the debut album of American R&B and pop artist The-Dream, released December 11, 2007 on his Def Jam-imprint label Radio Killa. He has stated that the title is an abbreviation for "Love me all summer, hate me all winter". Primarily an R&B and pop outting, Love Hate was produced during...
". The album, executive produced by Tricky Stewart, was released on December 11, 2007 on the Def Jam label. "Love Hate" spawned three singles, "Shawty Is a 10
Shawty Is a 10
"Shawty Is a 10" is the first single from American singer-songwriter The-Dream's debut studio album, Love Hate. The track is produced by Los Da Mystro who also produced J. Holiday's single, "Bed". The album version features Fabolous...
", "Falsetto
Falsetto (song)
"Falsetto" is the second single from The-Dream's debut studio album, Love Hate. The song is produced by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and was released on September 28, 2007.-Music video:...
", and "I Luv Your Girl
I Luv Your Girl
"I Luv Your Girl" is the third and final single from The-Dream's debut studio album, Love Hate. The track is produced by The-Dream's production partner, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart. T-Pain samples the song on Jamie Foxx's hit "Blame It" on Foxx's Intuition .-Music video:The two music videos were...
". The singles peaked on the Billboard hot R&B/Hip Hop song charts at #6, #3, and #3 respectively. "The-Dream" is currently featured on Plies
Plies (rapper)
Algernod Lanier Washington , better known by his stage name Plies, is an American rapper and founder of Big Gates Records. Born in Fort Myers, Florida, Washington was a wide receiver on the football team of Miami University in Ohio in 1996 and 1997 before he became a rapper. After dropping out of...
single "Please Excuse My Hands
Please Excuse My Hands
"Please Excuse My Hands" is the second single off Plies's second album, Definition of Real. It features Jamie Foxx and The-Dream. It received positive reviews from music critics.-Music video:...
", which also features Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx
Eric Marlon Bishop , professionally known as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, singer-songwriter, stand-up comedian, and talk radio host. As an actor, his work in the film Ray earned him the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Actor as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a...
, as well as L.L. Cool J's "Baby", and Gym Class Heroes
Gym Class Heroes
Gym Class Heroes is an American hip hop rock band from Geneva, New York. They have collaborated with Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump on numerous occasions, notably for providing backing vocals on the song "Cupid's Chokehold." Stump also produced the majority of their album The Quilt.The group formed...
"Cookie Jar
Cookie Jar (song)
"Cookie Jar" is the second single from the Gym Class Heroes album, The Quilt. The song features The-Dream singing the chorus with Travis McCoy...
".
Mary J. Blige, "Growing Pains"
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
's "Just Fine
Just Fine
"Just Fine" is a dance song written by American recording artist Mary J. Blige released as the lead single from her eighth album, Growing Pains...
". "Just Fine", released October 16, 2007, was the leading single off Mary J.'s most recent album "Growing Pains", and was written by Tricky Stewart and Terius "The-Dream" Nash. It was produced by Tricky Stewart, and Kuk Harrell produced the vocals. Stewart also co-wrote and produced many of the tracks on the album "Growing Pains
Growing Pains (album)
Growing Pains is the eighth studio album by American R&B recording artist Mary J. Blige. The album was released on December 18, 2007 by Geffen Records. It debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 selling 629,000 copies in its first week...
", Terius "The-Dream" Nash wrote on 6 of the album's tracks, and the vocals on all of the tracks but one were produced by Kuk Harrell.
The album, released on Dec 17, 2007, debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and number one on the R&B chart. In its second week the album climbed to number one on the Billboard 200 with 204,000 copies sold. In the UK, the album entered the charts at Number 6, making it her highest charting album there since "No More Drama" in 2001 with first week sales of 21,755.
Mariah Carey, "Touch My Body"
Released February 4, 2008, "Touch My BodyTouch My Body
"Touch My Body" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, taken from her eleventh studio album, E=MC² . It was written and produced by Carey, along with Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Crystal "Cri$tyle" Johnson and Terius "The Dream" Nash, and was released as the album's lead single on...
" is a song co-written by American singer Mariah Carey, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Crystal "Cri$tyle" Johnson and Terius "The-Dream" Nash for Carey's eleventh studio album, E=MC². Produced by Carey, Stewart and Nash, it was released as the lead single off the album. The song is Carey's eighteenth number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 and nominated for a 2008 MTV Video Music Awards.
A review in Billboard Magazine stated that "this sensual jam is 100% Mariah, packed with satisfying harmonic layers and hooky background 'oh's,' supersonic verses and a chorus as catchy as a winter sniffle", and Blender stated that it was a "pop genius making genius pop". Bill Lamb from About.com also gave "Touch My Body" a positive review, giving it 4 out of 5 stars, stating that the single "is simple, sexy elegance from one of the most enduring of pop stars". Newsday also named it as the "Song of the Week", commenting that it was "the best opening single she's had since "Heartbreaker". Digital Spy was also positive, saying "its cooing, sensual charms soon take hold, suggesting the wind's still very much behind the Carey comeback bandwagon".
Jesse McCartney, "Leavin'"
On March 10, 2008, Tricky Stewart, Terius "The-Dream" Nash, and Kuk Harrell co-created the single entitled "Leavin'" for Jesse McCartney's album "Departure" which was subsequently released on May 20, 2008. "Leavin'" peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, #2 on the Billboard Pop 100 chart, #1 on Billboard Hot Dance Club Play, and #1 on Billboard Mainstream Top 40 singles chart.Leavin' stayed in the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 20 weeks.
Justin Bieber, "One Time" and "Baby"
Tricky Stewart, Terius "The-Dream" Nash, and Kuk Harrell wrote and produced the hit single "One Time" for Canadian singer Justin Bieber's debut album, My WorldMy World (Justin Bieber album)
My World is the first release by Canadian singer Justin Bieber. It is considered to be the first part of a two-part debut release. My World, being the first part is considered an extended play standalone. It was released on November 17, 2009, via Island Records, and its follow up was released on...
. The single was released on July 7, 2009. It peaked at #12 in Canada, and #17 in the U.S. and also did well internationally. They also produced "Baby
Baby (Justin Bieber song)
"Baby" is a song by Canadian recording artist Justin Bieber. It was released as the lead single from the latter half of Bieber's debut album, My World 2.0. The track was written by Bieber with Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and Terius "The-Dream" Nash, both of whom worked with Bieber on "One Time",...
for his My World (Part II) which charted at #3 in Canada and #5 in the U.S.
Ciara, "Fantasy Ride" (2009) and "Basic Instinct" (2010)
In early 2009, Tricky Stewart and Terius "The-Dream" Nash wrote and produced numerous songs on Ciara's third studio album, "Fantasy RideFantasy Ride
Fantasy Ride is the third studio album by American R&B singer Ciara. It was released on May 3, 2009 in the UK by RCA Records and May 5 in the United States on LaFace Records. The album combines R&B and hip hop sound from her previous albums along with a new pop and dance direction.The album...
", which was released on May 5, 2009. They both co-wrote and produced five songs titled "High Price", "Like a Surgeon", "Ciara to the Stage", "Lover's Thing", and "Keep Dancin' On Me" on the album.
In 2010, Tricky Stewart and The-Dream went in the studio at work on Ciara
Ciara
Ciara Princess Harris , known mononymously as Ciara, is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, actress and fashion model. Born in Austin, Texas, she traveled around the world during her childhood, only to land in Atlanta, Georgia where she met music producer, Jazze Pha...
's fourth studio album titled "'Basic Instinct
Basic Instinct (album)
Basic Instinct is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Ciara, released from December 10, 2010 by LaFace Records . Executively produced by A&R agent Mark Pitts, Ciara, Tricky Stewart and The-Dream, Basic Instinct returnes Ciara to her urban roots with mid-tempo R&B cuts and...
'", which is set for a release on December 14, 2010. The two executive-produced the entire album. The lead single from the album titled "Ride
Ride (Ciara song)
"Ride" is a song performed by American recording artist Ciara. The song features American rapper Ludacris. It was co-written by Ciara, Ludacris, Tricky Stewart, and The-Dream, and produced by the latter two. The song serves as the lead single from her fourth studio album, Basic Instinct. The song...
, was produced by the duo, the single was released on April 26, 2010. The single went on to become her twelfth top ten hit on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart. Tricky, The-Dream and Ciara are currently putting the finishing touches on the highly anticipated album.