Dru Castro
Encyclopedia
Dru Castro is a Grammy Award Winning recording engineer, producer and songwriter in Atlanta, Georgia
. He has produced or engineered songs for artists such as Ciara
, Keyshia Cole
, Usher
, R.Kelly, T-Pain
, Trina
, Jamie Foxx
and India.Arie
. Recently, Dru produced and wrote songs with the Grammy award winning singer/songwriter India.Arie on her recently released album Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics
. Her 2006 album, Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
, for which Castro recorded and/or produced seven songs, debuted and peaked at number one on the Billboard 200
and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and was nominated for three Grammy Awards, including "Best R&B Album". To date Dru has worked on 9 Grammy nominated projects. In 2010 Dru won a Grammy with India.Arie as a Producer/Engineer for Best Urban Alternative Performance on the song "Pearls".
, New York
and was raised in the Lower East Side. His father and mother, who are both of Puerto Rican descent, were also born in Manhattan. From an early age Castro grew up in a musical home, where his father played piano and was the musical director of a local church. This musical influence lead Dru to start playing piano at age 5. In 1990, Dru was sent to study at Suncoast Community High School
, a magnet school
in Riviera Beach, Florida
. While there, he was active in the Jazz, Concert and Marching bands, where he played bass and French horn respectively.
, Anthony Dent, and Tricky Stewart offered him his first break. Dru has recorded, amongst others, Usher
, Keyshia Cole
, Ciara
, T-Pain
, Jamie Foxx
, India.Arie
, Trina
, Raven Symone, Joe, Kelly Rowland
, Stacie Orrico
, and Keri Hilson
. Dru has also worked on nine Grammy nominated albums.
and Nelly
have worked at the Music House.
for India.Arie
. He produced and co-wrote the upbeat "I Choose" and a more reflective "This Too Shall Pass". This was followed in July 2008 with the production of the single entitled "Radio" on Musiq Soulchild's fifth album release "On my Radio". In February 2009 India.Arie's Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics
was released. Castro produced and recorded 12 songs with .Arie, including the singles "Chocolate High" and "Therapy". Dru continues to produce and record in Atlanta.
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. He has produced or engineered songs for artists such as 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...
, Keyshia Cole
Keyshia Cole
Keyshia Myeshia Cole Gibson born October 15, 1981) is an American singer–songwriter and actress. She gained nationwide acclaim when her 2005 debut album, The Way It Is went platinum. Her sophomore album Just Like You went into production shortly after that and was released in September 2007...
, 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...
, R.Kelly, T-Pain
T-Pain
Faheem Rasheed Najm , better known by his stage name T-Pain, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor, currently signed to Young Money Entertainment. His debut album, Rappa Ternt Sanga, was released in 2005. In 2007, T-Pain released his second studio album Epiphany,...
, Trina
Trina
Katrina Laverne Taylor , better known by her stage name Trina, is an American rapper, songwriter and model from Miami, Florida. Trina first gained notoriety in 1998 with her appearance on Trick Daddy's second studio album www.thug.com to the single "Nann Nigga"...
, 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...
and India.Arie
India.Arie
India.Arie is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter and record producer . She has sold over 3.3 million records in the U.S. and 10 million worldwide. She has won four Grammy Awards from her 21 nominations, including Best R&B Album.-Background:Simpson was born in Denver, Colorado...
. Recently, Dru produced and wrote songs with the Grammy award winning singer/songwriter India.Arie on her recently released album Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics
Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics
Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics is the fourth studio album by American R&B and neo soul singer-songwriter India.Arie, released February 10, 2009 on Universal Republic Records....
. Her 2006 album, Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship is the third studio album by American soul/R&B singer India.Arie. It was released in the United States on June 27, 2006 on Motown Records...
, for which Castro recorded and/or produced seven songs, debuted and peaked at number one on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and was nominated for three Grammy Awards, including "Best R&B Album". To date Dru has worked on 9 Grammy nominated projects. In 2010 Dru won a Grammy with India.Arie as a Producer/Engineer for Best Urban Alternative Performance on the song "Pearls".
Early years
Dru Castro was born in ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and was raised in the Lower East Side. His father and mother, who are both of Puerto Rican descent, were also born in Manhattan. From an early age Castro grew up in a musical home, where his father played piano and was the musical director of a local church. This musical influence lead Dru to start playing piano at age 5. In 1990, Dru was sent to study at Suncoast Community High School
Suncoast Community High School
Suncoast Community High School is a public magnet high school in Riviera Beach, Florida routinely ranked as one of the best high schools in the United States....
, a magnet school
Magnet school
In education in the United States, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities as school zones that feed into certain schools.There are magnet schools at the...
in Riviera Beach, Florida
Riviera Beach, Florida
Riviera Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, U.S.A. which was incorporated September 29, 1922. Because of where its eastern boundary lies, it is also the easternmost municipality in the South Florida metropolitan area. The population was 29,884 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the...
. While there, he was active in the Jazz, Concert and Marching bands, where he played bass and French horn respectively.
Recording and mixing
Dru moved to Atlanta in 1999, where he worked at Magic Audio (now Atlanta Pro Audio) selling and installing studio equipment for local studios and producers. In 2001, Dru left Magic Audio and began engineering full time in the booming Atlanta R&B and Hip-Hop music scene. Many of his former Atlanta Pro Audio clients, including Bryan Michael CoxBryan Michael Cox
Bryan-Michael Cox is a GRAMMY award winning American songwriter and record producer.-History:Bryan-Michael Cox was born in Miami and grew up in Houston, where he attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. While in the eleventh grade he met and was mentored by Greg Curtis...
, Anthony Dent, and Tricky Stewart offered him his first break. Dru has recorded, amongst others, 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...
, Keyshia Cole
Keyshia Cole
Keyshia Myeshia Cole Gibson born October 15, 1981) is an American singer–songwriter and actress. She gained nationwide acclaim when her 2005 debut album, The Way It Is went platinum. Her sophomore album Just Like You went into production shortly after that and was released in September 2007...
, 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...
, T-Pain
T-Pain
Faheem Rasheed Najm , better known by his stage name T-Pain, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor, currently signed to Young Money Entertainment. His debut album, Rappa Ternt Sanga, was released in 2005. In 2007, T-Pain released his second studio album Epiphany,...
, 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...
, India.Arie
India.Arie
India.Arie is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter and record producer . She has sold over 3.3 million records in the U.S. and 10 million worldwide. She has won four Grammy Awards from her 21 nominations, including Best R&B Album.-Background:Simpson was born in Denver, Colorado...
, Trina
Trina
Katrina Laverne Taylor , better known by her stage name Trina, is an American rapper, songwriter and model from Miami, Florida. Trina first gained notoriety in 1998 with her appearance on Trick Daddy's second studio album www.thug.com to the single "Nann Nigga"...
, Raven Symone, Joe, Kelly Rowland
Kelly Rowland
Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child...
, Stacie Orrico
Stacie Orrico
Stacie Joy Orrico is a Contemporary Christian and R&B singer-songwriter and occasional actress. In 1998, she signed to ForeFront Records when she was 12 years old, and recorded her first album Genuine , which sold 13,000 in the first week of release.After her first album she signed to a new record...
, and Keri Hilson
Keri Hilson
Keri Lynn Hilson is an American R&B singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Decatur, Georgia, Hilson began her music career as a songwriter, penning tracks for several artists in the mid-2000s as part of the five-person production and songwriting team, The Clutch...
. Dru has also worked on nine Grammy nominated albums.
Music House Studios
On May 23, 2006, Dru Castro opened Music House Studios with fellow Atlanta engineer and friend Alec Newell. The opening of "The Music House" was the fulfillment of a life-long dream. In addition to state of the art recording equipment, the two room 6800 sq ft (631.7 m²) facility features four fireplaces, two complete kitchens and a swinging coffee table. Many artists including Keyshia Cole, Usher, Ciara, New Kids on the BlockNew Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block are an American boy band from Boston, Massachusetts, assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. The band currently consists of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood.New Kids on the Block enjoyed success in the late 1980s and...
and Nelly
Nelly
Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr. , better known by his stage name Nelly, is an Grammy Award winning American rapper and actor. He has performed with the rap group St. Lunatics since 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999. Under Universal, Nelly began his solo career in 2000 with his debut album...
have worked at the Music House.
Production
Beginning production work in 2003, his first major release as a producer came in June 2006 on the US #1 Debut Album Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & RelationshipTestimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship is the third studio album by American soul/R&B singer India.Arie. It was released in the United States on June 27, 2006 on Motown Records...
for India.Arie
India.Arie
India.Arie is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter and record producer . She has sold over 3.3 million records in the U.S. and 10 million worldwide. She has won four Grammy Awards from her 21 nominations, including Best R&B Album.-Background:Simpson was born in Denver, Colorado...
. He produced and co-wrote the upbeat "I Choose" and a more reflective "This Too Shall Pass". This was followed in July 2008 with the production of the single entitled "Radio" on Musiq Soulchild's fifth album release "On my Radio". In February 2009 India.Arie's Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics
Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics
Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics is the fourth studio album by American R&B and neo soul singer-songwriter India.Arie, released February 10, 2009 on Universal Republic Records....
was released. Castro produced and recorded 12 songs with .Arie, including the singles "Chocolate High" and "Therapy". Dru continues to produce and record in Atlanta.
Discography
| Artist | Album | Credit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | |||
| Loon Loon (rapper) Amir Junaid Muhadith best known by his stage name Loon, is an African-American rapper that was formerly part of P. Diddy's Bad Boy Records, where he released his self-titled debut album, Loon. He has also made many guest appearances on songs of the R&B and hip hop genres. He is best known for his... |
Loon Loon (album) Loon is the first album by rapper, Loon. It was released on October 21, 2003, through Bad Boy Records and was produced by Sean Combs, Scott Storch, Mario Winans and Loon. The album was a success, peaking at #6 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums... |
Engineer | |
| Stacie Orrico Stacie Orrico Stacie Joy Orrico is a Contemporary Christian and R&B singer-songwriter and occasional actress. In 1998, she signed to ForeFront Records when she was 12 years old, and recorded her first album Genuine , which sold 13,000 in the first week of release.After her first album she signed to a new record... |
Stacie Orrico Stacie Orrico (album) Stacie Orrico is the second studio album and self-titled album by American singer and songwriter Stacie Orrico, which was released on March 25, 2003 by ForeFront Records and Virgin Records... |
Engineer | |
| 702 702 (band) 702 , named after the area code of their hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada, is an American platinum-selling R&B trio. Originally a quartet, the group became a trio, which includes sisters Irish , and LeMisha 'Misha' Grinstead, and lead singer Kameelah 'Meelah' Williams... |
Star | Engineer | |
| 2004 | |||
| Allure Allure (group) Allure is a New York-based R&B girl group that formed in the early 1990s as a quartet, now a trio. Original members were Alia Davis, Linnie Belcher, Lalisha McClean and Akissa Mendez.-Career:... |
Chapter III Chapter III (Allure album) -Track listing:# Intro - 1:06 # Hate 2 Luv U - 3:40 # Relax and Unwind - 4:03 # Let Em Go - 3:56 # Long Lost Love - 4:32... |
Mixing | |
| Young Buck Young Buck David Darnell Brown , also known as Young Buck, is an American Southern rapper. Buck is a former member of the New York City Hip-Hop group G-Unit, also a former artist of G-Unit Records as of Nov 26, 2011... |
Cashville: G-Unit G-Unit G-Unit is an American hip hop group originating from New York City formed by 50 Cents. G-Unit emerged on the New York scene by independently releasing several mix tapes... Edition |
Engineer | |
| Young Buck | Straight Outta Cashville Straight Outta Cashville -Samples:*"Prices On My Head"**"If You Were My Woman" by Latimore*"Bonafide Hustler"**"If Loving You Is Wrong by Bobby Blue Bland*"Bang, Bang"**"Bang, Bang" by Nancy Sinatra*"Thou Shall"**"Smokey Rainclouds" by Andrey Vinogradov... |
Engineer | |
| Raven-Symoné Raven-Symoné Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman , known professionally as Raven-Symoné , or simply Raven, is an American actress, singer, songwriter, comedian, dancer, television producer and model. Symoné launched her successful career in 1989 after appearing in The Cosby Show as Olivia... |
This Is My Time | Engineer | |
| Shawnna Shawnna Rashawnna Guy , better known by her stage name Shawnna is an American rapper. She was the first female artist signed to Def Jam through Ludacris' Disturbing tha Peace Records... |
Worth tha Weight Worth tha Weight Worth tha Weight is the debut album by female rapper Shawnna. It was originally scheduled to be released in 2002, but was delayed until 2004. "Let's Go" was featured on the video game Def Jam: Fight for NY... |
Mixing | |
| 2005 | |||
| T-Pain T-Pain Faheem Rasheed Najm , better known by his stage name T-Pain, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor, currently signed to Young Money Entertainment. His debut album, Rappa Ternt Sanga, was released in 2005. In 2007, T-Pain released his second studio album Epiphany,... |
Rappa Ternt Sanga Rappa Ternt Sanga -Chart positions:... |
Engineer | |
| Maceo | Straight Out da Pot | Engineer, Mixing | |
| Original Soundtrack | Diary of a Mad Black Woman | Engineer | |
| 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... |
Unpredictable | Engineer | |
| Jamie Foxx | Unpredictable [DualDisc] | Engineer | |
| 2006 | |||
| Paulina Rubio Paulina Rubio Paulina Susana Rubio Rue is a Mexican singer and actress. Rubio achieved international stardom with her fifth studio album, Paulina... |
Ananda Ananda (album) Ananda is the seventh Spanish-language album by the Mexican singer Paulina Rubio and Rubio's eighth studio album as a solo artist and was released on September 18 in Latin America and Spain and September 19 in the United States.... |
Engineer | |
| Young Buck | Buck the World | Engineer | |
| Avant Avant Myron Avant , better known as Avant is an American R&B singer-songwriter. He is best known for hits such as "Separated" , "My First Love," which one version features KeKe Wyatt, and "Read Your Mind"... |
Director Director (album) Director is the fourth studio album by R&B singer Avant. The album reached number one on the Billboard magazine's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and peaked at number four on the Billboard 200... |
Engineer | |
| Fergie | The Dutchess The Dutchess The Dutchess is the debut and only studio album by American recording artist Fergie, who is a member of The Black Eyed Peas. The album was released on September 19, 2006. As of 2008, the album has sold more than six million copies worldwide... |
Engineer | |
| Eminem Eminem Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition... |
Eminem Presents: The Re-Up | Engineer | |
| 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... |
Ciara: The Evolution Ciara: The Evolution Ciara: The Evolution is the second studio album by American recording artist Ciara. It was released on December 5, 2006, by LaFace Records. The album is separated into five sections, with each showcasing a different side of Ciara's artistry... |
Engineer | |
| Jagged Edge Jagged Edge (band) Jagged Edge is an American R&B group, with the lead singers, Brandon & Brian, born in Hartford, CT on October 13, 1975, Kyle Norman of Decatur, GA born on February 26,1976 and Richard Wingo of College Park, GA born on September 3, 1975. Wingo was a late addition to the group, added after Kandi... |
The Hits The Hits (Jagged Edge album) The Hits is a compilation album by American R&B group Jagged Edge. It includes their biggest singles, plus a few album tracks from their 2006 self-titled release. While not being primarily a singles collection, it does not seem to be a release approved by the group itself... |
Piano Engineer | |
| Jagged Edge | Jagged Edge | Piano Engineer | |
| Lloyd Banks Lloyd Banks Christopher Charles Lloyd , better known by his stage name Lloyd Banks, is an American rapper and member of the rap group G-Unit. Raised in South Jamaica, Queens, he dropped out of high school in 1998. G-Unit released two albums, Beg for Mercy in 2003 and T.O.S. in 2008... |
Rotten Apple Rotten Apple (Lloyd Banks album) The album received positive reviews. Rolling Stones Evan Serpick gave it 3 out of 5 stars and said that "Eminem, Mobb Deep’s Havoc and a host of G-Unit regulars produce an album’s worth of chunky, ominous beats to fit Banks’ foul mood, but it runs a little thin over sixteen tracks".But XXL gave it... |
Engineer | |
| Sammie Sammie Sammie Bush , better known by Sammie, is an American soul and pop singer. He is best known for his hit, "I Like It" from his debut album, From the Bottom to the Top . He returned with his second studio album, Sammie in 2006... |
Sammie Sammie (album) -Musicians:* Alonzo "Novel" Stevenson - keyboards* Sammie - backing vocals* Bryan-Michael Cox - programming* Andre Harris - programming* Jazze Pha - programming* Tony Reyes - guitar* Alonzo "Novel" Stevenson - backing vocals-Production:... |
Engineer | |
| Stacie Orrico | Stacie Orrico [Korean Tour] | Engineer | |
| India.Arie India.Arie India.Arie is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter and record producer . She has sold over 3.3 million records in the U.S. and 10 million worldwide. She has won four Grammy Awards from her 21 nominations, including Best R&B Album.-Background:Simpson was born in Denver, Colorado... |
Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship is the third studio album by American soul/R&B singer India.Arie. It was released in the United States on June 27, 2006 on Motown Records... |
Producer, Engineer, Vocal Engineer | |
| 2007 | |||
| Joe Joe (singer) Joseph Lewis Thomas , usually credited simply as Joe, is an American R&B singer and record producer.-Early life:Joe is a native of Cuthbert, Georgia and later moved to Opelika, Alabama. The son of two preachers, Joe spent much time in church singing, playing guitar, and even directing the choir... |
Ain't Nothin' Like Me | Engineer | |
| Various Artists | Def Jam Sessions, Vol. 1 | Engineer | |
| 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... |
Double Up Double Up (R. Kelly album) Double Up is the eighth studio album by R&B singer R. Kelly, released on May 29, 2007. The first single off the album, "I'm a Flirt Remix", which features T.I., and T-Pain, attained prominence on the Billboard Top 40 charts, peaking at #1 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart.The album features guest... |
Engineer | |
| 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... |
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... |
Engineer | |
| Keyshia Cole Keyshia Cole Keyshia Myeshia Cole Gibson born October 15, 1981) is an American singer–songwriter and actress. She gained nationwide acclaim when her 2005 debut album, The Way It Is went platinum. Her sophomore album Just Like You went into production shortly after that and was released in September 2007... |
Just Like You Just like You (Keyshia Cole album) Just Like You is the second studio album by American R&B singer Keyshia Cole. The album was released on September 25, 2007 on Geffen Records. It was nominated in the Best Contemporary R&B Album category at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards that was held February 2008, but lost to Ne-Yo's Because of You... |
Engineer | |
| Kelly Rowland Kelly Rowland Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child... |
Ms. Kelly Ms. Kelly Ms. Kelly is the second solo studio album by American R&B singer Kelly Rowland. It was released by Columbia Records in collaboration with Music World Entertainment and Sony Music during the third quarter of 2007, beginning with most European territories on June 22... |
Engineer | |
| Rich Boy Rich Boy Marece Richards , better known by his stage name Rich Boy, is an American rapper from Mobile, Alabama. He is best known for the hit single "Throw Some D's". His self-titled debut album was released in early 2007.- Early career :... |
Rich Boy Rich Boy (album) Rich Boy is the self-titled debut album by southern rapper Rich Boy. The album was released on March 13, 2007. The original title was "Product of tha Hustle" when "Throw Some D's" played on Music Choice. A promo/street single released in 2005 was "Get to Poppin'." His debut single is "Throw Some... |
Engineer | |
| 2008 | |||
| Stacie Orrico | Best of Stacie Orrico | Engineer | |
| Raheem DeVaughn Raheem DeVaughn Raheem DeVaughn is an American singer and songwriter. His debut album, The Love Experience , reached No. 46 on the Billboard 200 album chart. It featured the singles "Guess Who Loves You More" and "You". His second album Love Behind the Melody was released in January 2008... |
Love Behind the Melody Love Behind the Melody -External links:* at Metacritic... |
Engineer | |
| Algebra Algebra (singer) Algebra is a contemporary R&B singer.-Early life:Blessett's mother was a gospel singer and bass player, and she grew up to the sounds of soul music, gospel and R&B. Like so many R&B singers, she sang in a gospel choir, when she was at school... |
Purpose | Bass | |
| Trina Trina Katrina Laverne Taylor , better known by her stage name Trina, is an American rapper, songwriter and model from Miami, Florida. Trina first gained notoriety in 1998 with her appearance on Trick Daddy's second studio album www.thug.com to the single "Nann Nigga"... |
Still da Baddest Still da Baddest Still Da Baddest is the fourth studio album by American rapper Trina. It was released on April 1, 2008.- Singles :According to Trina, "Wish I Never Met You" was to be released as the album's lead official single. For unknown reasons it was replaced in October 2008 by "Single Again"... |
Engineer | |
| Musiq Soulchild | OnMyRadio | Producer, Engineer | |
| 2009 | |||
| India.Arie | Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics is the fourth studio album by American R&B and neo soul singer-songwriter India.Arie, released February 10, 2009 on Universal Republic Records.... |
Album Producer, Album Engineer | |
| Keri Hilson Keri Hilson Keri Lynn Hilson is an American R&B singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Decatur, Georgia, Hilson began her music career as a songwriter, penning tracks for several artists in the mid-2000s as part of the five-person production and songwriting team, The Clutch... |
In a Perfect World... In a Perfect World... In a Perfect World... is the debut studio album of American singer-songwriter Keri Hilson, released March 24, 2009 on Zone 4. Originally planned for a 2007 release, it was pushed back numerous times into 2009, amid her label's budget issues and minor single releases... |
Engineer | |
| K Jon | On The Ocean | Mixing | |
Singles Recorded/Mixed by Dru Castro
| Artist | Song | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | |||
| India.Arie India.Arie India.Arie is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter and record producer . She has sold over 3.3 million records in the U.S. and 10 million worldwide. She has won four Grammy Awards from her 21 nominations, including Best R&B Album.-Background:Simpson was born in Denver, Colorado... |
"Purify Me" | Diary of a Mad Black Woman | |
| 2006 | |||
| 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... , 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... |
"Same Girl Same Girl "Same Girl" is a song released by R&B singer R. Kelly, from his 2007 album Double Up, with R&B singer, Usher. The song was originally recorded over a year before by upcoming R&B group Nephu. R. Kelly and Usher's version leaked to the Internet on May 2, 2007 and later leaked to radio stations... " |
Double Up | |
| Eminem Eminem Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition... |
"Smack Dat" | Eminem Presents: The Re-Up | |
| Fergie | "London Bridge London Bridge (Fergie song) "London Bridge" is a hip hop/R&B song co-written and performed by Fergie for her debut album, The Dutchess. It contains a sample taken from "Down to the Night Club" by Tower of Power. It was released as the lead single from the album on July 18, 2006, and was Fergie's first single as a solo artist... " |
The Dutchess | |
| Lloyd Banks Lloyd Banks Christopher Charles Lloyd , better known by his stage name Lloyd Banks, is an American rapper and member of the rap group G-Unit. Raised in South Jamaica, Queens, he dropped out of high school in 1998. G-Unit released two albums, Beg for Mercy in 2003 and T.O.S. in 2008... |
"Help" | Rotten Apple | |
| 2007 | |||
| Keyshia Cole Keyshia Cole Keyshia Myeshia Cole Gibson born October 15, 1981) is an American singer–songwriter and actress. She gained nationwide acclaim when her 2005 debut album, The Way It Is went platinum. Her sophomore album Just Like You went into production shortly after that and was released in September 2007... |
"Shoulda Let You Go Shoulda Let You Go "Shoulda Let You Go" is the second single from R&B singer Keyshia Cole from her second album Just like You, produced by Darkchild. It premiered on August 25, 2007, on V103, an Atlanta based radio station.- Promo CD :... " |
Just Like You | |
| Kelly Rowland Kelly Rowland Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child... , Eve Eve (rapper) Eve Jihan Jeffers , is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and actress. Her first three albums have reached a total of over 8 million albums sold worldwide. She has also achieved success in fashion as she started a clothing line titled "Fetish." She won a Grammy Award in 2002 for the... |
"Like This Like This (Kelly Rowland song) "Like This" is a R&B song by American singer Kelly Rowland. It features guest vocals by rapper Eve and was written by Sean Garrett, Rowland, Eve, Jamal Jones, Elvis "BlacElvis" Williams, and Jason Perry and co-produced by Polow da Don, S-Dot, Garrett, Perry, and Williams for Rowland's second studio... " |
Ms. Kelly | |
| Young Buck Young Buck David Darnell Brown , also known as Young Buck, is an American Southern rapper. Buck is a former member of the New York City Hip-Hop group G-Unit, also a former artist of G-Unit Records as of Nov 26, 2011... |
"Get Buck Get Buck "Get Buck" is the second single off American rapper Young Buck's second album, Buck the World. It was released on February 13, 2007 through G-Unit Records. The track was produced by Polow da Don... " |
Buck The World | |
| 2008 | |||
| India.Arie | "Heart of the Matter" | Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics is the fourth studio album by American R&B and neo soul singer-songwriter India.Arie, released February 10, 2009 on Universal Republic Records.... |
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| Keyshia Cole Keyshia Cole Keyshia Myeshia Cole Gibson born October 15, 1981) is an American singer–songwriter and actress. She gained nationwide acclaim when her 2005 debut album, The Way It Is went platinum. Her sophomore album Just Like You went into production shortly after that and was released in September 2007... |
"Heaven Sent" | Just Like You | |
| Keri Hilson Keri Hilson Keri Lynn Hilson is an American R&B singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Decatur, Georgia, Hilson began her music career as a songwriter, penning tracks for several artists in the mid-2000s as part of the five-person production and songwriting team, The Clutch... |
"My Energy" | In a Perfect World... | |
| Musiq Soulchild | "Radio Radio (Musiq Soulchild song) "Radio" is the first single from Musiq Soulchild's fifth studio album OnMyRadio, his second full-length release on Atlantic Records.It charted at #55 on Billboards Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.... " |
OnMyRadio | |
| India.Arie, Musiq Soulchild | "Chocolate High" | Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics | |
Singles Produced by Dru Castro
| Artist | Song | Album | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | |||
| Musiq Soulchild | "Radio" | On My Radio | |
| India.Arie India.Arie India.Arie is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter and record producer . She has sold over 3.3 million records in the U.S. and 10 million worldwide. She has won four Grammy Awards from her 21 nominations, including Best R&B Album.-Background:Simpson was born in Denver, Colorado... , Music Soulchild |
"Chocolate High" | Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics | |
| 2009 | |||
| India.Arie | "Therapy" | Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics | |
| K'Jon | "On The Ocean" | On The Ocean | Mixing/Additional production |
Grammys
| Artist | Song | Album | Category | Result | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | |||||
| India.Arie India.Arie India.Arie is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter and record producer . She has sold over 3.3 million records in the U.S. and 10 million worldwide. She has won four Grammy Awards from her 21 nominations, including Best R&B Album.-Background:Simpson was born in Denver, Colorado... |
Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship is the third studio album by American soul/R&B singer India.Arie. It was released in the United States on June 27, 2006 on Motown Records... |
Best R&B Album | Engineer | ||
| India.Arie | "I Am Not My Hair I Am Not My Hair "I Am Not My Hair" is a song by American soul and R&B singer–songwriter India.Arie from her third studio album, Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship . Written by Simpson, Shannon Sanders, and Drew Ramsey, it was released as the album's lead single in late 2005 to moderate chart success... " |
Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship | Best R&B Song | Engineer | |
| 2007 | |||||
| Keyshia Cole Keyshia Cole Keyshia Myeshia Cole Gibson born October 15, 1981) is an American singer–songwriter and actress. She gained nationwide acclaim when her 2005 debut album, The Way It Is went platinum. Her sophomore album Just Like You went into production shortly after that and was released in September 2007... |
Just Like You Just like You (Keyshia Cole album) Just Like You is the second studio album by American R&B singer Keyshia Cole. The album was released on September 25, 2007 on Geffen Records. It was nominated in the Best Contemporary R&B Album category at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards that was held February 2008, but lost to Ne-Yo's Because of You... |
Best Contemporary R&B Album | Engineer | ||
| 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... , 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... |
"Same Girl Same Girl "Same Girl" is a song released by R&B singer R. Kelly, from his 2007 album Double Up, with R&B singer, Usher. The song was originally recorded over a year before by upcoming R&B group Nephu. R. Kelly and Usher's version leaked to the Internet on May 2, 2007 and later leaked to radio stations... " |
Double Up Double Up (R. Kelly album) Double Up is the eighth studio album by R&B singer R. Kelly, released on May 29, 2007. The first single off the album, "I'm a Flirt Remix", which features T.I., and T-Pain, attained prominence on the Billboard Top 40 charts, peaking at #1 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart.The album features guest... |
Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals | Engineer | |
| 2008 | |||||
| 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... |
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... |
Best R&B Album | Engineer | ||
| Keyshia Cole | "Heaven Sent" | Just Like You | Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | Engineer | |
| Keyshia Cole | "Heaven Sent" | Just Like You | Best R&B Song | Engineer | |
| 2009 | |||||
| India.Arie | "Pearls" | Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics is the fourth studio album by American R&B and neo soul singer-songwriter India.Arie, released February 10, 2009 on Universal Republic Records.... |
Best Urban/Alternative Performance | Producer/Engineer | |
| India.Arie | Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics | Best Contemporary R&B Album | Engineer | ||
| India.Arie, Musiq Souldchild | "Chocolate High" | Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics | Best R&B Duo or Group with vocals | Engineer | |