Rodney Jerkins
Rodney Jerkins | |
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Darkchild |
| Born | July 29, 1977 Pleasantville, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | |
| Website | darkchild |
Rodney Jerkins (born July 29, 1977), also known by his stage name Darkchild, is an American record producer, rapper, and songwriter. He has collaborated with a broad range of popular artists, including Ashanti, Janet Jackson, Jason Neubauer, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Brandy, Aaliyah, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Luther Vandross, Jennifer Lopez, Toni Braxton, Destiny's Child, Spice Girls, and The Pussycat Dolls.
Songs and albums which Jerkins has produced have sold over 160 million records worldwide. Jerkins has also won four Grammy Awards. Among his most successful productions are "The Boy Is Mine" for Brandy and Monica, "You Rock My World" for Michael Jackson, "Holler" for the Spice Girls, "It's Not Right but It's Okay" for Whitney Houston, "Say My Name" for Destiny's Child, "If You Had My Love" for Jennifer Lopez, "Déjà Vu" for Beyoncé, "He Wasn't Man Enough" for Toni Braxton, "Telephone" for Lady Gaga and "Overprotected (The Darkchild Remix)" for Britney Spears.[1][2][3]
Contents
Early life[edit]
Jerkins' father, Frederick, is an Evangelical pastor. Jerkins began playing piano at age five. He would follow his brother and father, who both played at church gatherings. At age 14, Jerkins was mentored by his idol, Teddy Riley, but he did not accept a contract offer to work with the producer due to an aspiration to build an "empire" without such support.[4]
Career[edit]
Jerkins' first recorded output was a "gospel rap" collaboration with his brother, Fred Jerkins III, entitled On the Move. He later incorporated the name "Darkchild", at the age of 17, subsequently accepting a worldwide publishing deal with the EMI Music Corporation. The producer then proceeded to establish a commercial music career, initially working with artists such as Joe, Mary J. Blige and Brandy.[4]
Production[edit]
Jerkins has produced and written for Brandy, Patti LaBelle, Joe, The Saturdays, Toni Braxton, Vanessa Williams, Will Smith, Keyshia Cole, Monica, Michael Jackson, Ayumi Hamasaki, Cher, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Aaliyah, Britney Spears, Mary Mary, The Black Eyed Peas, Destiny's Child, Spice Girls, TLC, Janet Jackson, Danity Kane, Beyoncé, Linda Király, Lady Gaga, Cascada, Tamia, Pussycat Dolls, Whitney Houston, Natasha Bedingfield, Mary J. Blige, Lionel Richie, Tiffany Evans, JYJ, Wonder Girls, Austin Brown, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Utada Hikaru, Hala Al Turk, Nelly Furtado, Justin Bieber, Brian McKnight and LMFAO.[5][6]
In the 2010s, he has produced songs for Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis, JLS, Kylie Minogue, Ayumi Hamasaki, The Saturdays' . Jerkins was a music executive and mentor on season 10 of American Idol.
When asked by Ryan Seacrest in 2013 the favourite people he's produced for he said "Definitely The Saturdays. Without a doubt. I had a lot of fun working with them and was really impressed with their voices. They were very down to earth and I like that a lot in an artist. I wish them all the best in America and think they could end up as big as The Spice Girls."[7]
In preparation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony, Jerkins produced a song featuring the Palestinian 2013 Arab Idol winner Mohammed Assaf.
Record labels[edit]
In 1999, Jerkins joined Sony/Epic Records to promote power vocalist Rhona, Pop/R&B girl group So Plush and rapper Fats. Fats appeared on two tracks Jerkins produced for Michael Jackson's album Invincible, and So Plush released the single "Things I've Heard Before". Subsequently, So Plush's singles, "Damn" and "Things I've Heard Before", were pressed and made available as promos, and Rhona's album was even released in Japan. 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.
In 2006, he was appointed VP of Artists & repertoire (A&R) for The Island Def Jam Group. Jerkins released his wife Joy Enriquez's second album Atmosphere of Heaven, which features a religious direction, on his independent gospel imprint JoyFul Child Records. The Darkchild name has been loaned to Darkchild Gospel, a record company run by Jerkins' brother, Fred Jerkins III.[8] which released the latest album from Virtue – Testimony.
Music Mogul, Inc.[edit]
In late 2008, Jerkins joined Nicholas Longano, Ray Brown, and Jonathan E. Eubanks in creating Music Mogul, Inc.[9] MusicMogul.com represents an entirely browser-based online destination where celebrity artists can unite with their fans. Aspiring artists, songwriters and producers have a chance to be discovered as the next superstar. It is responsible for discovering up and coming producer/songwriter Keri Malena out of Dallas Texas who is making a good name for himself producing quality music. As a result of this exposure, Mr. Malena, as he is called, is now appearing on major label releases such as, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Keyshia Cole, Jamie Foxx, among others. Each quarter, members vote for the best video performances.[10] 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 Darkchild Productions.[11]
Personal life[edit]
Jerkins has been married to singer Joy Enriquez since April 4, 2004, and they have four children:
- Rodney David Jerkins, Jr., born on May 28, 2008.
- Heavenly Joy Jerkins, born on November 17, 2009.[5]
- Hannah Joy Jerkins, born on October 19, 2012
- Royal David Jerkins, born in 2015.[12] He has resided in Galloway Township, New Jersey.[13]
In 2015, his daughter Heavenly Joy was a contestant on season 10 of America's Got Talent.[14]
Singles discography[edit]
| Year | Song | Artist | Chart position | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R&B | Hot 100 | UK | |||
| 1995 | "The Way That You Love" (Remix) | Vanessa Williams | 23 | 67 | 52 |
| 1996 | "The Things That You Do" | Gina Thompson | 12 | 41 | — |
| 1997 | "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!" | Simone Hines | 38 | — | — |
| "Don't Wanna Be a Player" | Joe | 5 | 25 | 16 | |
| "I Can Love You" | Mary J. Blige (featuring Lil' Kim) | 2 | 28 | — | |
| "Don't Stop" | No Authority | — | — | 54 | |
| 1998 | "Our Love is Stronger" | Simbi Khali | - | - | 30 |
| "Let Me Return the Favor" | Andrea Martin | 32 | 82 | — | |
| "Daydreamin'" | Tatyana Ali | 5 | 6 | 6 | |
| "The Boy Is Mine" | Brandy and Monica | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| "Top of the World" | Brandy (featuring Mase) | — | — | 2 | |
| "Revolution" | Kirk Franklin (featuring Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins) | 59 | — | — | |
| "Angel of Mine" | Monica | 2 | 1 | 55 | |
| "It's Not Right but It's Okay" | Whitney Houston | 7 | 4 | 3 | |
| "Angel in Disguise" | Brandy | 17 | 72 | — | |
| 1999 | "If You Had My Love" | Jennifer Lopez | 6 | 1 | 4 |
| "Sunshine" | Coko | 19 | 70 | — | |
| "Say My Name" | Destiny's Child | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| "U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)" (Darkchild Mix) | Brandy (featuring Shaunta & Da Brat) | 25 | 79 | — | |
| "Damn" | So Plush (featuring Ja Rule) | 41 | — | — | |
| 2000 | "He Wasn't Man Enough" | Toni Braxton | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| "Let Love Lead the Way" | Spice Girls | — | — | 1 | |
| "Holler" | — | 107 | 1 | ||
| "Shining Star" | Backstreet Boys | — | — | — | |
| "If I Told You That" | Whitney Houston & George Michael | — | — | 9 | |
| "Time Limit" | Hikaru Utada | — | — | — | |
| 2001 | "I Sings" | Mary Mary (featuring BB Jay) | 68 | — | — |
| "You Rock My World" | Michael Jackson | 13 | 10 | 2 | |
| "Unbreakable" | — | — | — | ||
| "Heartbreaker" | — | — | — | ||
| "Invincible" | — | — | — | ||
| "Privacy" | — | — | — | ||
| "Threatened" | — | — | — | ||
| "Satisfied" | Rhona | — | — | — | |
| "Everything" | Canela | — | — | — | |
| "I Remember" (Remix) | Debelah Morgan | — | — | — | |
| "Celebrity" | *NSYNC | — | — | — | |
| 2002 | "Overprotected" (Darkchild Remix) | Britney Spears | — | 86 | 4 |
| "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" | — | — | 13 | ||
| "What About Us?" | Brandy | 3 | 7 | 4 | |
| "All Eyez on Me" | Monica | 32 | 69 | — | |
| "Get with Me" | 3rd Storee | 85 | — | — | |
| "If Only You Knew" | Prymary Colorz | 78 | — | — | |
| "Turntable" | TLC | — | — | — | |
| 2003 | "I'm Good" | Blaque | 95 | — | — |
| "All I Do" | B5 | 71 | — | — | |
| 2004 | "You Don't Know" | Kierra "Kiki" Sheard | 84 | — | — |
| "Lose My Breath" | Destiny's Child | 10 | 3 | 2 | |
| "One Wish" | Ray J | 3 | 11 | 13 | |
| 2005 | "Cater 2 U" | Destiny's Child | 3 | 14 | — |
| "What I Need" | Ray J | 58 | — | — | |
| 2006 | "Enough Cryin'" | Mary J. Blige | 2 | 32 | 46 |
| "Hold Me Down" | Danity Kane | — | — | — | |
| "Need a Boss" | Shareefa | 10 | 67 | — | |
| "Cry No More" | 43 | — | — | ||
| "Déjà Vu" | Beyoncé (featuring Jay-Z) | 1 | 4 | 1 | |
| "So Lonely" | Mariah Carey (featuring Twista) | 65 | — | — | |
| "The One You Need" | Megan Rochell (featuring Fabolous) | 41 | — | — | |
| "Can't Get Enough" | Tamia | 26 | — | — | |
| "Turn the Page" | Bobby Valentino | 63 | — | — | |
| 2007 | "Be with Me" | J. Holiday | 83 | — | — |
| "Can't Leave 'Em Alone" | Ciara (featuring 50 Cent) | 10 | 40 | 109 | |
| "Shoulda Let You Go" | Keyshia Cole | 6 | 41 | — | |
| "Hey Hey Hey" | Natasha | — | — | — | |
| "So Sick" | — | — | — | ||
| "Feedback" | Janet Jackson | 39 | 19 | — | |
| 2008 | "What Them Girls Like" | Ludacris (featuring Chris Brown & Sean Garrett) | 17 | 33 | — |
| "I'm Grown" | Tiffany Evans (featuring Bow Wow) | 98 | — | — | |
| "Luv" | Janet Jackson | 34 | 101 | — | |
| "So Over You" | Ashanti | — | 9 | 3 | |
| "Angel" | Natasha Bedingfield | — | 63 | — | |
| "Right Here (Departed)" | Brandy | 22 | 34 | — | |
| "Long Distance" | 42 | 101 | — | ||
| "The Definition" | 116 | — | — | ||
| 2009 | "I Look So Good (Without You)" | Jessie James | — | 104 | — |
| "Girls" | Se7en (featuring Lil' Kim) | — | — | — | |
| "Make Me" | Janet Jackson | 71 | — | 73 | |
| "Telephone" | Lady Gaga (featuring Beyoncé) | — | 3 | 1 | |
| "The One" | Mary J. Blige (featuring Drake) | 32 | 63 | — | |
| 2010 | "Shake My" | Three 6 Mafia (featuring Kalenna) | — | 75 | — |
| "Perfect Nightmare" | Shontelle | — | — | — | |
| "I Hate That You Love Me" | Dirty Money | — | — | — | |
| "Target Practice" | Austin Brown | — | — | — | |
| 2011 | "The One You Call" | Keke Palmer | — | — | — |
| "Taking His Girl" | Clyde McKnight | — | — | — | |
| "What Are Words" | Chris Medina | — | 83 | — | |
| "Just Can't Get Enough" | The Black Eyed Peas | — | 3 | 3 | |
| "Stitch by Stitch" | Javier Colon | — | 17 | — | |
| "I Forgive You" | Kelly Clarkson | — | — | — | |
| "Turn the Lights Out" | Priscilla Renea | — | — | — | |
| 2012 | "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" | Nelly Furtado | — | — | 14 |
| "Spirit Indestructible" | — | — | — | ||
| "Parking Lot" | — | — | — | ||
| "Got Me Good" | Ciara | — | — | — | |
| "Die in Your Arms" | Justin Bieber | — | 17 | 34 | |
| "As Long as You Love Me" | 116 | 6 | 22 | ||
| 2013 | "Waiting for the Night" | Nelly Furtado | — | — | — |
| "Bucket List" | — | — | — | ||
| "The Art of Letting Go" | Mariah Carey | 46 | — | — | |
| "Perfect World" | Tone Damli | — | — | — | |
| "My Heart Is Open" | Maroon 5 (featuring Gwen Stefani) | — | — | — | |
| "Roller Coaster" | Justin Bieber | — | — | — | |
| "Lease My Love" | The Saturdays | — | — | — | |
| 2014 | "Xscape" | Michael Jackson | — | — | — |
| 2017 | "Blind" | Tamar Braxton | — | — | — |
| 2018 | "Dose" | Ciara | — | — | — |
| "The Makings Of You" | Tamar Braxton | — | — | — | |
Appearances and production discography[edit]
Notable productions[edit]
- 1996: Aaliyah - "Everything's Gonna Be Alright"
- 1998: Brandy and Monica – "The Boy Is Mine"
- 1998: Brandy – "Angel in Disguise"
- 1998: Monica – "Angel of Mine"
- 1998: Whitney Houston – "It's Not Right but It's Okay"
- 1999: Destiny's Child – "Say My Name"
- 1999: Jennifer Lopez – "If You Had My Love"
- 2000: Toni Braxton – "He Wasn't Man Enough"
- 2000: Spice Girls – "Holler"
- 2001: Michael Jackson – "You Rock My World"
- 2001: Britney Spears – "Overprotected" (The Darkchild Remix)
- 2001: Jessica Simpson – "I Never"
- 2002: Brandy – "What About Us?"
- 2002: Monica – "All Eyez on Me"
- 2002: TLC – "Turntable"
- 2004: Destiny's Child – "Lose My Breath"
- 2005: Destiny's Child – "Cater 2 U"
- 2006: Beyoncé (featuring Jay-Z) – "Déjà Vu"
- 2006: Ciara (featuring 50 Cent) – "Can't Leave 'em Alone"
- 2008: Janet Jackson – "Feedback"
- 2008: Brandy – "Right Here (Departed)"
- 2008: The Pussycat Dolls – "When I Grow Up"
- 2008: Beyoncé – "Scared of Lonely"
- 2009: Lady Gaga – "Telephone"
- 2011: The Black Eyed Peas – "Just Can't Get Enough"
- 2011: Kelly Rowland (featuring Lil' Playy)- "Work It Man"
- 2012: Justin Bieber – "As Long as You Love Me"
- 2012: Leona Lewis – "Shake You Up"
- 2014: Mariah Carey – "You're Mine (Eternal)"
- 2014: Mary J. Blige – "A Night To Remember"
- 2017: Tamar Braxton – "Blind"
- 2018: Chromeo (featuring French Montana and Stefflon Don) - "Don't Sleep"
Guest raps[edit]
- 1995: Hodge – "Head Nod" (Darkchild Remix)
- 1996: New Edition with AZ – "Something About You" (Darkchild Remix)
- 1997: Tasha Holiday – "Just The Way You Like It" (Darkchild Remix) with 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) with Fat Joe
- 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
- 2005: Atiba – "Flossin" with Francisco
- 2006: The Darkchild Allstars – "We Are Family"
- 2007: Linda Király - "Can't Let Go"
- 2008: The Pussycat Dolls With Diddy, Lil Wayne, & Fatman Scoop – "When I Grow Up" (Darkchild Remix)
- 2008: Lady Gaga - "Reloaded" (unreleased song)
Video cameos[edit]
- 1996: Gina Thompson (featuring Missy Elliott) – "The Things That U Do (Bad Boy Remix)"
- 1997: No Authority – "Don't Stop"
- 1998: Kirk Franklin & The Nu Nation Project – "Revolution"
- 1998: J'Son - I Should've Cheat on You
- 2000: So Plush – "Things I've Heard Before"
- 2001: Rhona – "Satisfied"
- 2002: Brandy – "What About Us?"
- 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)"
Web series[edit]
Jerkins is currently starring with Johnny Wright in a number of episodes of the YOBI.tv Take the Stage web series.[15][16][17][18][19]
References[edit]
- ^ Daw, Robbie. "Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins Working on Unreleased Michael Jackson Material | Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on". Idolator.com. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
- ^ "Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins – Vision". Darkchild.com. Archived from the original on June 4, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
- ^ "Rodney Jerkins Nominated for a Grammy". New York: Prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
- ^ a b Lowenstein, Felicia (October 31, 1999). "Rodney Jerkins Passing the Freshness Test". BMI. Broadcast Music, Inc. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
- ^ a b "Rodney Jerkins Music Videos". Ovguide.com. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
- ^ "Max-Schneider.Org // The Largest Max Schneider Fan Resource on the Web // Daily News // News Content & Much More". Max Schneider. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
- ^ "NELLY FURTADO Announces New Album & Releases 'Big Hoops' Lyric Video". The Daily BLAM!. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
- ^ "Darkchild Gospel". Darkchild Gospel. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
- ^ Billboard.biz Archived September 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Iwatani, Yukari (November 14, 2008). "Web Start-Up Targets Music Wannabes". Wall Street Journal. New York City: Dow Jones & Company. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
- ^ "Virtual World News". Virtualworldsnews.com. November 14, 2008. Archived from the original on July 8, 2009. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
- ^ "Rodney Jerkins and Wife Joy Enriquez Welcome Daughter Hannah Joy and Another child named Michael James Jerkins with an unknown woman". hollywoodlife.com.
- ^ Jackson, Vincent. "MUSIC / Jerkins Brothers Have Shot At Winning Grammys Tonight", Press of Atlantic City, February 23, 2000. Accessed December 28, 2010. "Local record producer Rodney Jerkins – who had a half dozen hits in 1999 – should walk out of the Grammy Awards ceremony tonight with either a Grammy award or a certificate... The Galloway Township resident, whose DarkChild recording studio is in Pleasantville..."
- ^ "Rodney Jerkins' 5-Year-Old Daughter Heavenly Joy Auditions for 'America's Got Talent': Watch".
- ^ Shaw, Lucas. "MySpace Meets 'American Idol' In New Singing Competition 'Take The Stage'". TheWrap.com. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
- ^ Hampp, Andrew. "Johnny Wright, Rodney Jerkins Talk New MySpace Competition Series 'Take The Stage'". Billboard.biz. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
- ^ Wieselman, Jarrett. "Building the Perfect Reality Competition". TheInsider.com. Archived from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
- ^ "Take The Stage Singing Contest Webseries". Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
- ^ "Take The Stage". Retrieved August 28, 2012.
External links[edit]
- Rodney Jerkins on Beatbuggy
- Ebony Magazine Interview
- [ AllHipHop.com Interview]
- MixOnline Technical Interview
- Darkchild official website
- MySpace Page of Darkchild Music
- Fred Jerkins' Darkchild Gospel
- Darkchild Fansite (inc. discography)
- Thermal Soundwaves Show interview
- Le groupe SoulRnB.com consacré à Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins
- Living people
- African-American record producers
- American electronic musicians
- American hip hop record producers
- American pop keyboardists
- American rhythm and blues keyboardists
- Grammy Award winners
- Musicians from New Jersey
- People from Pleasantville, New Jersey
- People from Galloway Township, New Jersey
- Songwriters from New Jersey