RODNEY JERKINS

'Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins' (born September 14 1977 in Pleasantville, New Jersey) is an African-American 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, being requested by such legends as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston & Lionel Richie. Most recently he has produced the second single from Keyshia Cole's upcoming "Just Like You" album, "Shoulda Let U Go" and the debut single from another female vocalist, Linda Kiraly. The word "Darkchild" appears in some form in many of his tracks.

Contents

Biography

Darkchild Records & Label Ventures

1999 Venture

2005 Venture

JoyFul Child & Darkchild Gospel Records

Def Jam & Other Ventures

Appearances

Singles & Notable Darkchild Production Credits

Album Productions (5 or more tracks)

Guest Raps

Video Cameos

References

External links

Biography

Jerkins was born into a religious family as the youngest son of a minister and choir director mother. He began taking classical music lessons on the piano as a small child and 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.^[1]
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 rumoured 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.

Darkchild Records & 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^[2] and Fats released an album as part of the duo F.A.T.S. & Bathgate in 2006.^[3]

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 & 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.^[4] which released the latest album from Virtue - ''Testimony''.

Def Jam & 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 also recently appeared on and composed the theme music to the reality TV show ''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)

Appearances

Singles & Notable Darkchild Production Credits

See links for extensive discography.

★ 1994: Casserine - "If You're Ready", "Unconditional Love"

★ 1994: Horace Brown - "Taste Your Love (Ballad Mix)"

★ 1994: Patti LaBelle - "All This Love (Darkchild Remix)"

★ 1994: Vanessa Williams - "The Way That You Love (Darkchild Remix)"

★ 1995: Veronica - "Without Love"

★ 1996: Gina Thompson - "The Things That U Do"

★ 1996: Total - "No One Else (Darkchild/Puff Daddy Remix)" (Featuring Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown & Da Brat)

★ 1996: Jesse Powell - "You (Darkchild Remix)"

★ 1996: New Edition - "Something About You (Darkchild Remix)" (Featuring AZ)

★ 1996: Aaliyah - "One In a Million (Darkchild Remix)"

★ 1996: The Tony Rich Project - "Like a Woman (Rodney Jerkins Mix)"

★ 1997: Vanessa Williams - "Happiness (Darkchild Remix)"

★ 1997: Simone Hines - "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah"

★ 1997: Jason Weaver - "Stay With Me"

★ 1997: No Authority - "Don't Stop"

★ 1997: Joe - "Don't Wanna Be A Player"

★ 1997: Mary J. Blige - "I Can Love You" (Featuring Lil' Kim)

★ 1997: Brownstone - "5 Miles To Empty (Darkchild Remix)"

★ 1997: MQ3 - "Everyday"

★ 1997: Tasha Holiday - "Just The Way You Like It (Darkchild Remix)"

★ 1998: Kenny Lattimore - "Days Like This (Darkchild Remix)"

★ 1998: Tyrese - "Sweet Lady (Darkchild Remix)"

★ 1998: Tatyana Ali - "Daydreamin'" (Featuring Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz)

★ 1998: Brandy - "Top Of The World" (Featuring Mase)

★ 1998: Brandy & Monica - "The Boy Is Mine"

★ 1998: Whitney Houston - "It's Not Right, But It's Okay"

★ 1998: Will Smith - "Just the Two of Us (Rodney Jerkins Remix)" (Featuring Brian McKnight)

★ 1998: Monica - "Angel of Mine"

★ 1999: Brian McKnight - "Stay Or Let It Go"

★ 1999: Tevin Campbell - "Another Way (Darkchild Remix)"

★ 1999: Destiny's Child - "Say My Name"

★ 1999: Coko (from SWV) - "Sunshine"

★ 1999: Ashley Ballard & So Plush - "It Was You" (from )

★ 1999: Keith Sweat - "I Put U On" (Featuring Da Brat)

★ 1999: So Plush - "Damn" (Featuring Ja Rule)

★ 1999: Jennifer Lopez - "If You Had My Love"

★ 1999: Countess Vaughn - "The Parkers" (Theme Song)

★ 2000: Whitney Houston & George Michael - "If I Told You That"

★ 2000: Toni Braxton - "He Wasn't Man Enough"

★ 2000: Spice Girls - "Holler"

★ 2000: Mýa - "That's Why I Wanna Fight"

★ 2000: Lionel Richie - "Tonight"

★ 2000: Utada Hikaru - "Time Limit"

★ 2001: Michael Jackson - "You Rock My World"

★ 2001: So Plush - "Things I've Heard Before"

★ 2001: Rhona - "Satisfied"

★ 2001: Canela - "Everything"

★ 2003: Tyra Banks - "Shake Ya Body"

★ 2001: Britney Spears - "Overprotected (Darkchild Remix)"

★ 2002: Britney Spears - "I Love Rock 'N Roll"

★ 2002: TLC - "Turntable"

★ 2002: Cher - "A Different Kind of Love Song (Darkchild Remix)"

★ 2002: Brandy - "What About Us?"

★ 2002: Monica - "All Eyez on Me"

★ 2003: Tyra Banks - "America's Next Top Model" (Theme Song)

★ 2004: Kierra "Kiki" Sheard - "You Don't Know"

★ 2004: Destiny's Child - "Lose My Breath"

★ 2004: Christina Milian - "Get Loose"

★ 2005: Destiny's Child - "Cater 2 U"

★ 2005: Ray-J - "One Wish"

★ 2005: Ray-J - "What I Need"

★ 2005: Ray-J - "Keep Sweatin" (Featuring Fat Joe)

★ 2005: Dream - "Hard 2 Stop"

★ 2005: Mary J. Blige - "Enough Cryin"

★ 2005: Mariah Carey & Twista - "So Lonely (One & Only Pt. 2)"

★ 2006: Megan Rochell - "The One U Need" (Featuring Fabolous)

★ 2006: Beyoncé Knowles - "Deja Vu" (Featuring Jay-Z)

★ 2006: Shareefa - "Need a Boss" (Featuring Ludacris)

★ 2006: Shareefa - "Cry No More"

★ 2006: Danity Kane - "Hold Me Down"

★ 2006: Bobby Valentino - "Turn The Page"

★ 2006: Ciara - "Can't Leave 'Em Alone" (Featuring 50 Cent)

★ 2006: Ciara - "Make It Last Forever"

★ 2006: Natasha - "So Sick" (Featuring Clipse)

★ 2006: Natasha - "Hey, Hey, Hey"

★ 2007: Tamia - "Too Grown For That", "Can't Get Enough", "The Way I Love You"

★ 2007: Taj & SWV - "I Married Myself a Baller (Theme Song)"

★ 2007: Linda Kiraly - "Can't Let Go"

★ 2007: Samantha Jade - "Boyfriend"

★ 2007: J. Holiday - "Be With Me"

★ 2007: Keyshia Cole - "Shoulda Let You Go" (Featuring Amina)

Album Productions (5 or more tracks)

★ 1996: Gina Thompson - "Nobody Does It Better"

★ 1997: No Authority - "Keep On"

★ 1998: Brandy - "Never Say Never"

★ 1999: Coko (from SWV) - "Hot Coko"

★ 2000: The Spice Girls - "Forever"

★ 2001: Rhona - "Rhona"

★ 2001: So Plush - "So Plush"

★ 2001: Michael Jackson - "Invincible"

★ 2001: Canela - "Canela"

★ 2002: Brandy - "Full Moon"

★ 2005: Joy Enriquez - "Atmosphere Of Heaven"

★ 2005: Ray J - "Raydiation"

★ 2005: Rodney Jerkins - "Versatility"

★
★ An album of instrumentals. Buyers were asked to send in demos^[5] recorded over the tracks with a view to gaining Jerkins attention.

Guest Raps

★ 1995: Hodge - Head Nod (Darkchild Remix)

★ 1997: Tasha Holiday - "Just The Way You Like It (Darkchild Remix)" w/ Lil' Cease, Peter Gunz & Mike Nitty

★ 1997: MQ3 - "Everyday"

★ 1997: Immature - "I Can't Wait" w/ Mike Nitty

★ 1997: Mary J. Blige - "Everything (Darkchild Remix)"

★ 1997: K-Ball - "On The Weekend", "Love Matters"

★ 1998: Keith Washington - "Bring It On (Darkchild Remix)"

★ 1999: Brandy - Top of the World (Darkchild Remix) w/ Fat Joe & Big Pun

★ 2000: Natalie Wilson & The S.O.P. Chorale - "Act Like You Know" w/ LaShawn Daniels

★ 2001: So Plush - "What You Do To Me" w/ 50 Cent & Fats, "Ain't My Fault"

★ 2001: Rhona - "Satisfied (Another Darkchild Remix)" w/ Fats

★ 2002: Jay Mathis - "Kiss" w/ Pain & Fats

★ 2002: Mary Mary - "He Said" w/ Fats

★ 2002: K-Young - "Ballinest Player" w/Lil' Zal

★ 2002: K-Young - "Ooh Wee"

★ 2002: Shawn Desman - "Sexy"

★ 2003: Natalie Wilson & The S.O.P. Chorale - "Good Life"

★ 2005: Joy Enriquez - "Don't You Let Go"

★ 2005: Anesha Birchett - "Get Ready" w/ Mase

★ 2006: The Darkchild Allstars - "We Are Family"

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" featuring Rodney Jerkins

★ 2001: So Plush - "Things I've Heard Before"

★ 2001: Rhona - "Satisfied"

★ 2002: Monica - "All Eyez on Me"

★ 2006: Natasha - "Hey, Hey, Hey"

★ 2006: Shareefa - "Cry No More"

★ 2006: J. Holiday - "Be with Me"

References

1. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_8_57/ai_87148277
2. http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=6668457&BAB=E
3. http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/6974548/a/Split+Decision.htm
4. http://www.darkchildgospel.com/
5. http://www.darkchild.com

External links

★

★ Ebony Magazine Interview

★ AllHipHop.com Interview

★ MixOnline Technical Interview

★ Darkchild official website

★ MySpace Page of Darkchild Music

★ Fred Jerkins' Darkchild Gospel