Christopher Stewart (music producer)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Chris "Tricky" Stewart


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Background = non_performing_personnel
Birth_name = Christopher Alan Stewart
Alias = "Tricky", "Trixster", "Trixstar", 'C. "Tricky" Stewart'
Born = Birth date and age|1974|1|4|mf=y
Markham, Illinois
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Genre = R&B Hip hop Alternative hip hop Hip pop Pop
Occupation = Music Impresario, Executive Producer, Record Producer, Musical Arranger,
Composer, Entertainment Industry Executive, Recording Studio Owner,Musician
Years_active = 1992 – present
Label =
Associated_acts = The-Dream, Ciara, Mary J. Blige, Usher, Britney Spears, Mya, Blu Cantrell, and Jesse McCartney, Rihanna, Shawn Desman
URL =
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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. [2008 Business Wire "UOMO Media Signs International Management Dear With Grammy Nominated Tricky Stewart and RedZone Entertainment] He is noted for producing many pop and R&B chart topping singles, such as JT Money’s “Who Dat”, Mýa’s “Case Of The Ex”, Britney Spears and Madonna’s “Me Against the Music”, Rihanna’s “Umbrella”, Mary J. Blige’s “Just Fine”, The-Dream’s “Falsetto”, Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body", Jesse McCartney’s “Leavin'” [MSN Music, MSN.com "Tricky Stewart Discography"] , Ciara's "High Price", and many others.

Biography

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. [PeerMusic.com "Tricky Stewart"]

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. [Dale Kawashima, Songwriteruniverse.com, "C. Tricky Stewart Co-Writes "Case Of The Ex" for Mya, Plus Other Top R&B Hip=Hop Hits"] 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. [Dale Kawashima, SongwriterUniverse.com, "C. Tricky Stewart Co-Writes "Case Of The Ex" for Mya, Plus Other Top R&B/Hip Hop Hits"] . 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!)".

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. [PeerMusic.com, "B2K No. 1 for 10 Straight Weeks"] 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. [PeerMusic.com, "B2K #1 for 10 Straight Weeks"]

2003 saw the release of Blu Cantrell's second album "Bittersweet", featuring a Tricky Stewart production; the single "Breathe". "Breathe" peaked at #8 on the United World Chart. This same year Stewart Co-wrote and co-produced Britney Spears' "Me Against The Music" featuring Madonna, which stayed at the top of the United World Chart for four weeks. He also produced Mya's single "My Love Is Like...Wo" off of her album "Moodring", which peaked at number 13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

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.

Stewart executive produced The-Dream's debut album "Love Hate", which launched with the single "Shawty Is a 10", a single peaking on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at #6. Stewart co-wrote and produced the two follow up singles, "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 recently produced a song called High Price featuring Ludacris for Ciara's new album. He has also just finished co-executive producing the 'Groove City' section of her upcoming three-disc compilation album, Fantasy Ride, which will be released on December 9.

Discography/Credits

Produced Singles

* 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: "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)" (Beyonce)

Credits

Awards and Nominations

References