If one were to examine Brody Brown’s catalog as a songwriter, producer, composer, and instrumentalist, one would conclude that he’s intentionally selective with his collaborators and projects. Based on the number of timeless songs he has helped to create, who would blame him?
These moments of magic have led to eight Grammy wins. Brown served as a songwriter and bass player on the 2021 hit. Earlier this month, he added two more golden trophies to his case for Silk Sonic’s “Leave The Door Open.”
Before his pen and instruments were put on wax to make classic music, the Compton native was a touring musician who sought a better way to provide for himself and his family using his creative output. After dropping out of high school, he became decisive and intentional about his goal.
He joined Inglewood-based creative collective “1500 or Nothin’” as a teenager, which he notes is “tatted on his stomach.”
Through 1500 or Nothin’ founder Larrance Dopson, Brown was later introduced to music publishing executive Steve Lindsey, who had also signed a teenage Bruno Mars to a publishing deal at the time as well.
“When Steve Lindsey signed me and Bruno (Mars), he taught us about lyrics and melody as the most important things in song composition, but to also rival our competitors,” says Brown.
Those lessons would later serve both Brown and Mars as they formed a hit-making production team (The Smeezingtons and Shampoo & Press Curl), leading to several ageless songs for more than a decade.
From “Nothin’ on You, to “F**k You,” with Cee-Lo, to “Billionaire,” and”Grenade,” we were in full blitz mode,” said Brown. “Whatever opportunity we were given at the time, we took full advantage of it.”
The Def Jam signee defines success based on the continuity and execution during the creative process. It is safe to say that his collaboration’s creative chemistry has proven to be seamless.
While the 8-time Grammy winner has enjoyed the elite level of execution and success with his collaborators, he has now shifted his attention to himself as a solo artist. In 2020, he dropped “Pay For It” as a “tester” and ode to his West Coast roots.
Now he is gearing up to release his summer project entitled, Weekend at Brody’s. According to Brown, he has worked on his upcoming album over the past four years.
After a career’s worth of quality over quantitative output, Brody Brown is ready for the world to receive his work as a leading artist, with Def Jam at the helm.
