Trackmasters
Encyclopedia
The Trackmasters are the successful production duo of Poke (Jean-Claude Olivier) and Tone (Samuel Barnes), sometimes credited as Poke & Tone, best known for their commercial hit records in the late 90s and early 2000s. Throughout their career they have worked with various hip-hop and R&B artists including R. Kelly
, Nas
, Jay-Z
, Mariah Carey
, and 50 Cent
.
Known for their commercially successful singles and many remixes, they have earned collectively over 7 gold & 20 platinum plaques throughout their career. They were ranked 6th in Vibe Magazine's "Greatest Hip-Hop Producer of All Time" in the 'Mass Appeal' category.
had become an A&R at Uptown Records, and when he met up with the duo it was rumored that he bought every beat they had made.
After producing for artists such as Kool G Rap
, LL Cool J
, Roxanne Shante
, Big Daddy Kane
and Kool Moe Dee
, Trackmasters were signed to Columbia Records
and were given their own imprint/vanity label "Trackmasters Entertainment". At the time they were working with MC Serch of rap group 3rd Bass
and Tone also had a side project as a rapper under the name Red Hot Lover Tone.
They were soon introduced to a young rapper named Nasty Nas (later known as simply Nas
) and signed him to their Trackmasters Entertainment imprint. The label's first release was Nas' critically acclaimed debut "Illmatic
" in 1994, although Poke & Tone did not contribute beats to the album.
Around this time, Poke had also worked with Puff Daddy
to produce the hit singles "Juicy
" and "Represent" for The Notorious B.I.G.
's debut album
, and "Be Happy
" for Mary J. Blige
, as well as producing for other artists including Heavy. D, Soul for Real
and Faith Evans
.
" featuring Poke & Tone as main producers. Although it was criticised for having a more mainstream or commercialized sound, it was highly successful, topping the Billboard 200
chart for a month straight and is Nas' best selling album to date. The two singles "Street Dreams" and "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)
" also helped the Trackmasters establish their position as prominent hip hop producers of that era. They also were heavily involved with Foxy Brown's "Ill Na Na
", producing the majority of the album including the hit singles "Get me Home" featuring Blackstreet
and "I'll Be" which also featured Jay-Z
.
Capitalizing on recent success and taking adivce from manager Steve Stoute
, Trackmasters and Nas
created hip-hop supergroup The Firm which also included Foxy Brown, AZ
and Nature. Teaming up with Dr. Dre
, the group released their debut album
on Aftermath Recordings with production shared between Trackmasters and Dre. However, the group disbanded after just one album and continued solo careers.
Towards the late 90s, a new commercial sound had emerged in the hip-hop scene. Sometimes referred to as the "Jiggy Era" or "Shiny Suit Era", it was characterized by upbeat instrumentals which featured samples of many recognizable 80s hits. The Trackmasters were in high demand from many record labels for their ability to create radio-friendly records which were not deemed to be "selling out", and around this time they produced singles such as Will Smith
's "Miami
" and "Men in Black
", Jay-Z
's "Wishing on a Star", R. Kelly
's "Did You Ever Think", and the Trackmasters Remix to Ricky Martin
's "Livin' la Vida Loca
" which featured Big Pun
and Fat Joe
.
to their Trackmasters imprint at Sony/Columbia Records and had produced the majority of what would have been his debut album Power of the Dollar, which included the controversial singles "Ghetto Qu'ran (Forgive Me)
" and "How to Rob
". However, three days before the filming of the video for "Thug Love
", which also featured Destiny's Child
, 50 Cent was infamously shot nine times near his home in New York. Columbia Records forced Trackmasters to drop the artist from their label due to bad publicity surrounding the shooting, and as a result the album was shelved leading to a falling out between 50 and Poke & Tone.
In 2001, the Trackmasters Remix to Jennifer Lopez
's "I'm Gonna Be Alright", which featured a then relatively unknown 50 Cent, was to be released as a single. However, Lopez and Epic Records
decided they would rather have Nas
feature on the song due to his popularity on the music charts at the time, so a new version was recorded and the 50 Cent verses were scrapped. This caused further tension between 50 and Trackmasters, and also lead to a rift between then-friends, 50 Cent and Nas. The version of the Remix which features 50 Cent can be heard online as it was leaked to radio before the official release.
Despite being unable to break new artist 50 Cent to the mainstream, Poke & Tone continued to produce hits for established artists including LL Cool J
's "Paradise", Michael Jackson
's "You Rock My World [Trackmasters Remix]", "Fiesta" by R. Kelly
and Jay-Z
, and Jennifer Lopez
's R&B number 1 single "Jenny from the Block
".
Also In 2001, Tone produced two hit singles for slain rapper 2Pac. Tone's remixed versions of "Until The End Of Time" & "Letter 2 My Unborn
" were big contributors to making 2Pac's album sell more than three million copies.
In 2002, Trackmasters worked on The Best of Both Worlds
, a collaboration album between Jay-Z
and R. Kelly
where they produced 10 of 13 songs and where Tone was credited as executive producer. This was followed up in 2004 by another collaboration album between the two called Unfinished Business, where again the duo handled the majority of the production. However, both albums were met with poor commercial and critical success, and as mainstream production was being handled by producers who relied less on samples and had a more synth-based keyboard sound such as The Neptunes
, the Trackmasters sound became less popular. In 2005, they produced the track "Dunn Natt" (Done That) with Vanilla Ice
.
Although they did produce some new music around the time, for example Rihanna
's "If It's Lovin' That You Want
" (the second single of her debut album), Trackmasters were not highly regarded as the sought after producers they once were.
.
However, in 2007 the two joined together again and recruited more musicians and producers including Russell "The ARE" Gonzales, Spanador, Frequency, Ace 21 and Just Nyce to reform Trackmasters from a duo to a full production team with songwriters and musicians, with Poke and Tone overseeing each project. The reformed group reportedly spent three months working at Battery Studios, leaving with over 230 completed songs ready to be sold.
They have recorded songs with Lil' Kim
for her upcoming 2010 album including the songs "Shook Hands", and "Download
" featuring T-Pain
and Charlie Wilson.
Since the group reformed, they have produced on Ray J
's 2008 album All I Feel
on the song "Boyfriend", and on Ludacris
' 2008 album Theater of the Mind
with the single "One More Drink
" featuring T-Pain
. They also worked on rapper The Game's 2008 album LAX however, the song "Ain't Fuckin' With You" which they produced was only featured on the Deluxe Edition as a bonus track. The team also worked on various tracks from Wiz Khalifa
's 2009 album Deal or No Deal
, including the single "This Plane" and the 2011 track "Motivated (Tired of Playing Games)" by Harlem, NY rapperVado
.
, "Street Dreams" by Nas
, "Just Crusin'" by Will Smith
and "The Roof (Remix)" by Mariah Carey
and Mobb Deep
.
Also, layering different sounds has been a key technique used by the duo. It has been noted that Poke's version of "Juicy
" is has a layered bassline over the sample, giving more rhythm and making it easier to dance to, as opposed to Pete Rock
's version which relies more on the heavy drums, giving a "boom-bap" sound.
As the mainstream trending sound started to change in the early 2000s, the Trackmasters adopted new techniques into their production style. They characterised their newer beats with the use of a Spanish guitar sound used in beats such as R. Kelly
and Jay-Z
's "Fiesta", "Pretty Girls" and "Get This Money", and also Nas
' "Money Is My Bitch". Additionally, they experimented with different percussion sounds as shown on Fabolous
' "Damn", and frequently incorporated turntable scratches at the end of every 8 bar on beats including Jennifer Lopez
's "Im Gonna Be Alright (Trackmasters Remix)", and "Jenny From the Block".
Since Trackmasters expanded to a full production team, Tone emphasises the importance of layering instruments over samples to create a more full beat. “The key to big-sounding records is layering. If you can layer a sample with live instruments, you're taking your track to a level that, sonically, is going to surpass what most hip-hop producers are doing.” This technique has been used on the song "Boyfriend" by Ray J
with the piano sounds.
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...
, Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
, Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
, Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
, and 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
.
Known for their commercially successful singles and many remixes, they have earned collectively over 7 gold & 20 platinum plaques throughout their career. They were ranked 6th in Vibe Magazine's "Greatest Hip-Hop Producer of All Time" in the 'Mass Appeal' category.
Early career and Trackmasters Entertainment label
The duo started producing music in 1989 when Poke gained access to a friend's uncle's studio. With Tone (known then as Red Hot Lover Tone), the two would learn to use the equipment, programming and sequencing on drum machines such as the E-mu SP-1200 and the Akai S950. Puff DaddySean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
had become an A&R at Uptown Records, and when he met up with the duo it was rumored that he bought every beat they had made.
After producing for artists such as Kool G Rap
Kool G Rap
Nathaniel Thomas Wilson , better known by his stage names Kool G Rap , Kool G. Rap, and Giancana , is an American rapper, from the Corona neighborhood of Queens, New York. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as a member of the Juice Crew...
, LL Cool J
LL Cool J
James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
, Roxanne Shante
Roxanne Shanté
Roxanne Shanté is an American hip-hop pioneer. Born and raised in the Queensbridge Projects, Shanté first gained attention through the Roxanne Wars and her association with the Juice Crew....
, Big Daddy Kane
Big Daddy Kane
Antonio Hardy better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper who started his career in 1986 as a member of the rap group the Juice Crew. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential and skilled MC's in Hip Hop...
and Kool Moe Dee
Kool Moe Dee
Mohandas Dewese , better known as Kool Moe Dee, is an American Hip Hop MC prominent in the late 1970s through the early 1990s. He was born in Manhattan, New York...
, Trackmasters were signed to Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
and were given their own imprint/vanity label "Trackmasters Entertainment". At the time they were working with MC Serch of rap group 3rd Bass
3rd Bass
3rd Bass was an American hip-hop group that rose to fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and was notable for being one of the first successful interracial hip-hop groups.-Career:...
and Tone also had a side project as a rapper under the name Red Hot Lover Tone.
They were soon introduced to a young rapper named Nasty Nas (later known as simply Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
) and signed him to their Trackmasters Entertainment imprint. The label's first release was Nas' critically acclaimed debut "Illmatic
Illmatic
Illmatic is the debut album of American rapper Nas, released April 19, 1994, on Columbia Records. Following his signing to Columbia with the help of MC Serch, recording sessions for the album took place during 1992 to 1993 at Chung King Studios, D&D Recording, Battery Studios, and Unique Recording...
" in 1994, although Poke & Tone did not contribute beats to the album.
Around this time, Poke had also worked with Puff Daddy
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
to produce the hit singles "Juicy
Juicy (The Notorious B.I.G. song)
"Juicy" is a song by hip hop artist The Notorious B.I.G. and his solo debut single from his 1994 debut album Ready to Die. It was produced by Poke of Trackmasters & Sean "Puffy" Combs. Its melody is sampled from Mtume's "Juicy Fruit", and has an alternative chorus sung by R&B girl group Total...
" and "Represent" for The Notorious B.I.G.
The Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
's debut album
Ready to Die
Ready to Die is the debut album of American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., released September 13, 1994 on Bad Boy Records. The first release on the label, it features production by record producer and Bad Boy founder Sean "Puffy" Combs, Easy Mo Bee, Chucky Thompson, DJ Premier, and Lord Finesse,...
, and "Be Happy
Be Happy (song)
"Be Happy" is a song co-written and performed by American R&B recording artist Mary J. Blige. Alongside Blige, the song was written with Chucky Thompson, Diddy, Arlene DelValle and J.C. Olivier, and produced by both Thompson and Combs. The song is featured on her second album, My Life...
" for 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...
, as well as producing for other artists including Heavy. D, Soul for Real
Soul for Real
Soul for Real is an R&B group from Wheatley Heights, New York, made up of brothers Andre , Brian , Christopher , and Jason Dalyrimple...
and Faith Evans
Faith Evans
Faith Renée Evans is an American singer-songwriter, recording artist, record producer, actress and author. Born in Florida and raised in New Jersey, Evans relocated to Los Angeles during 1993 for a career with the music business. After working as a backing vocalist for Al B...
.
Commercial success
In 1996, Nas released his second album "It Was WrittenIt Was Written
It Was Written is the second studio album by American rapper Nas, released July 2, 1996 on Columbia Records in the United States. Following the moderate sales success of his acclaimed debut album, Illmatic , Nas chose to focus his efforts in a more mainstream direction...
" featuring Poke & Tone as main producers. Although it was criticised for having a more mainstream or commercialized sound, it was highly successful, topping 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...
chart for a month straight and is Nas' best selling album to date. The two singles "Street Dreams" and "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)
If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)
"If I Ruled the World " is a 1996 hit hip hop single by Nas featuring Lauryn Hill of The Fugees. It is based on the 1985 hit of the same name by rapper Kurtis Blow and samples the beat of "Friends" by Whodini. The single was Nas's first Top 20 R&B hit, and was also nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award...
" also helped the Trackmasters establish their position as prominent hip hop producers of that era. They also were heavily involved with Foxy Brown's "Ill Na Na
Ill Na Na
Ill Na Na is the debut album by American rapper Foxy Brown. It was released in the United States on November 19, 1996, and on September 29, 1997 in the United Kingdom. The album spawned Brown's first hit single, "I'll Be", featuring hip-hop artist Jay-Z...
", producing the majority of the album including the hit singles "Get me Home" featuring Blackstreet
Blackstreet
Blackstreet is an American R&B group founded in 1991 by Thomas Taliaferro and Teddy Riley, the inventor of New Jack Swing known for his work as a member of Guy. Chauncey Hannibal and Levi Little were signed under production and management contracts with Thomas Taliaferro and were merged into what...
and "I'll Be" which also featured Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
.
Capitalizing on recent success and taking adivce from manager Steve Stoute
Steve Stoute
Steve Stoute is an author, entrepreneur, advertising executive and American record executive and artist manager.-Music Executive:From 1990 to 1999, Stoute was an executive at several leading labels in the music industry...
, Trackmasters and Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
created hip-hop supergroup The Firm which also included Foxy Brown, AZ
AZ (rapper)
Anthony Cruz , better known as AZ is a Grammy-nominated American rapper of Dominican & African American descent. He is known for being a long time and frequent rhyme partner of Nas, and also a member of hip-hop group The Firm alongside Nas, Foxy Brown, Cormega and Nature.In a countdown of the 10...
and Nature. Teaming up with Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
, the group released their debut album
The Album (The Firm album)
The Album, also known as The Firm: The Album, is the debut studio album of American hip hop supergroup The Firm, released October 21, 1997 on the Interscope-subsidiary label Aftermath Entertainment.-Background:...
on Aftermath Recordings with production shared between Trackmasters and Dre. However, the group disbanded after just one album and continued solo careers.
Towards the late 90s, a new commercial sound had emerged in the hip-hop scene. Sometimes referred to as the "Jiggy Era" or "Shiny Suit Era", it was characterized by upbeat instrumentals which featured samples of many recognizable 80s hits. The Trackmasters were in high demand from many record labels for their ability to create radio-friendly records which were not deemed to be "selling out", and around this time they produced singles such as Will Smith
Will Smith
Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
's "Miami
Miami (Will Smith song)
"Miami" is a 1998 single from Will Smith's debut solo album Big Willie Style. It samples The Whispers' 1980 hit "And the Beat Goes On". The song charted at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 3 on the UK charts. It won an MTV VMA Best Male Video award. The video features an early...
" and "Men in Black
Men in Black (song)
"Men in Black" is a song by Will Smith from the movie Men in Black, in which he also starred. The song plays during the movie's closing credits...
", Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
's "Wishing on a Star", 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...
's "Did You Ever Think", and the Trackmasters Remix to Ricky Martin
Ricky Martin
Enrique "Ricky" Martín Morales , better known as Ricky Martin, is a Puerto Rican and Spanish pop singer and actor who achieved prominence, first as a member of the Latin boy band Menudo, then as a solo artist since 1991.During his career he has sold more than 60 million album copies worldwide...
's "Livin' la Vida Loca
Livin' la Vida Loca
"Livin' la Vida Loca" is a song by Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin. It was released on March 23, 1999 from Martin's self-titled debut English album. The song was composed by Desmond Child and Draco Rosa and topped the charts during 1999...
" which featured Big Pun
Big Pun
Christopher Lee Rios , better known by his stage name Big Pun , was an American rapper who emerged from the underground rap scene in The Bronx in the late 1990s...
and Fat Joe
Fat Joe
Joseph Antonio Cartagena , better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper, CEO of Terror Squad Entertainment, and member of musical groups D.I.T.C. and Terror Squad....
.
Early 2000s
In 2000, Trackmasters signed upcoming rapper 50 Cent50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
to their Trackmasters imprint at Sony/Columbia Records and had produced the majority of what would have been his debut album Power of the Dollar, which included the controversial singles "Ghetto Qu'ran (Forgive Me)
Ghetto Qu'ran (Forgive Me)
"Ghetto Qu'ran" is a song by 50 Cent from his unreleased, Columbia Records debut album Power of the Dollar. The song was leaked in early 2000...
" and "How to Rob
How to Rob
"How To Rob" is the first single released by 50 Cent from his album Power of the Dollar. The single also features vocals by D-Dot, also known as "The Madd Rapper"...
". However, three days before the filming of the video for "Thug Love
Thug Love (song)
"Thug Love" is the third single released by rapper 50 Cent, after "Rowdy Rowdy", and the second and final single from his unofficially released album Power of the Dollar after "How to Rob". The song features R&B girl group Destiny's Child. There was going to be a music video made for the song,...
", which also featured Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
, 50 Cent was infamously shot nine times near his home in New York. Columbia Records forced Trackmasters to drop the artist from their label due to bad publicity surrounding the shooting, and as a result the album was shelved leading to a falling out between 50 and Poke & Tone.
In 2001, the Trackmasters Remix to Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
's "I'm Gonna Be Alright", which featured a then relatively unknown 50 Cent, was to be released as a single. However, Lopez and Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
decided they would rather have Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
feature on the song due to his popularity on the music charts at the time, so a new version was recorded and the 50 Cent verses were scrapped. This caused further tension between 50 and Trackmasters, and also lead to a rift between then-friends, 50 Cent and Nas. The version of the Remix which features 50 Cent can be heard online as it was leaked to radio before the official release.
Despite being unable to break new artist 50 Cent to the mainstream, Poke & Tone continued to produce hits for established artists including LL Cool J
LL Cool J
James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
's "Paradise", Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's "You Rock My World [Trackmasters Remix]", "Fiesta" by 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...
and Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
, and Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
's R&B number 1 single "Jenny from the Block
Jenny from the Block
"Jenny from the Block" is a song by American singer Jennifer Lopez, featuring American rappers Styles P and Jadakiss. Written by Lopez, Troy Oliver, Mr. Deyo, Samuel Barnes, and Jean-Claude Olivier and produced by Cory Rooney, Oliver, and Poke & Tone, it was released to radio in late September 2002...
".
Also In 2001, Tone produced two hit singles for slain rapper 2Pac. Tone's remixed versions of "Until The End Of Time" & "Letter 2 My Unborn
Letter 2 My Unborn
"Letter 2 My Unborn" is a song by Tupac Shakur, released as a posthumous single from his album Until the End of Time in 2001. The accompanying music video received moderate airplay though it was less successful than the lead single from the album, the title track...
" were big contributors to making 2Pac's album sell more than three million copies.
In 2002, Trackmasters worked on The Best of Both Worlds
The Best of Both Worlds (R. Kelly & Jay-Z album)
- Charts :...
, a collaboration album between Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
and 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...
where they produced 10 of 13 songs and where Tone was credited as executive producer. This was followed up in 2004 by another collaboration album between the two called Unfinished Business, where again the duo handled the majority of the production. However, both albums were met with poor commercial and critical success, and as mainstream production was being handled by producers who relied less on samples and had a more synth-based keyboard sound such as The Neptunes
The Neptunes
The Neptunes are a record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who are credited with contributing the sound for many successful hip hop, R&B and pop artists in the late-1990s and 2000s...
, the Trackmasters sound became less popular. In 2005, they produced the track "Dunn Natt" (Done That) with Vanilla Ice
Vanilla Ice
Robert Matthew Van Winkle , best known by his stage name Vanilla Ice, is an American rapper, extreme athlete and home improvement television personality...
.
Although they did produce some new music around the time, for example Rihanna
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
's "If It's Lovin' That You Want
If It's Lovin' That You Want
"If It's Lovin' that You Want" is a song recorded by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna, from her debut studio album Music of the Sun . The song was released on December 2, 2005 through Def Jam Recordings, as the album's second and final single. The song was written by Samuel Barnes, Scott LaRock,...
" (the second single of her debut album), Trackmasters were not highly regarded as the sought after producers they once were.
Reformation
After 2005, beats by the Trackmasters were heard less in mainstream hip-hop and R&B, and Poke and Tone had disbanded and taken on new jobs; Poke as a television producer and Tone as the Executive Vice President A&R at Universal Music GroupUniversal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
.
However, in 2007 the two joined together again and recruited more musicians and producers including Russell "The ARE" Gonzales, Spanador, Frequency, Ace 21 and Just Nyce to reform Trackmasters from a duo to a full production team with songwriters and musicians, with Poke and Tone overseeing each project. The reformed group reportedly spent three months working at Battery Studios, leaving with over 230 completed songs ready to be sold.
They have recorded songs with Lil' Kim
Lil' Kim
Kimberly Denise Jones , better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and actress who was a member of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A.....
for her upcoming 2010 album including the songs "Shook Hands", and "Download
Download (song)
"Download" is the first promotional single by rapper Lil' Kim from her sophomore mixtape Black Friday. It features R&B singers T-Pain and Charlie Wilson and was written by Lil Kim and T-Pain and produced by Trackmasters. The song samples "Computer Love" by Zapp...
" featuring 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,...
and Charlie Wilson.
Since the group reformed, they have produced on Ray J
Ray J
William Ray Norwood Jr. , better known by his stage name Ray J, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor.-Early life:...
's 2008 album All I Feel
All I Feel
- Chart positions :...
on the song "Boyfriend", and on Ludacris
Ludacris
Christopher Brian Bridges , better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings...
' 2008 album Theater of the Mind
Theater of the Mind
Though the album was well received by music critics, it debuted at number five on the Billboard 200, selling 214,000 copies in its first week, making it his sixth top 5 album. It was his first album since 2000's Back for the First Time and 2001's Word of Mouf to not reach number one status, and his...
with the single "One More Drink
One More Drink
"One More Drink" is the second official single off Ludacris' album, Theater of the Mind. The song "co-stars" T-Pain. The song was released on iTunes on October 28, 2008. Ludacris performed the song live while he and T-Pain appeared as musical guests on Saturday Night Live...
" featuring 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,...
. They also worked on rapper The Game's 2008 album LAX however, the song "Ain't Fuckin' With You" which they produced was only featured on the Deluxe Edition as a bonus track. The team also worked on various tracks from Wiz Khalifa
Wiz Khalifa
Cameron Jibril Thomaz , better known by the stage name Wiz Khalifa , is an American rapper. He released his debut album, Show and Prove, in 2006, and signed to Warner Bros. Records in 2007...
's 2009 album Deal or No Deal
Deal or No Deal (album)
-Charts:...
, including the single "This Plane" and the 2011 track "Motivated (Tired of Playing Games)" by Harlem, NY rapperVado
Vado
Teeyon Winfree, or best known as Vado, born on March 13, 1985, is an American rapper from Harlem, New York City. Vado is of Jamaican, St.Vincent and African American descent.-Career:...
.
Production style
The style of production which gained the Trackmasters the most recognition was a mix of the traditional heavy hitting "boom-bap" style drums generally found in older hip-hop music, with a more modern influence involving the use of recognizable samples (often from 80s pop hits), giving the overall track a commercial, polished feel yet still retaining the traditional hip-hop sound. This style can be sound in songs such as "I'll Be" by Foxy Brown and Jay-ZJay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
, "Street Dreams" by Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
, "Just Crusin'" by Will Smith
Will Smith
Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
and "The Roof (Remix)" by Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
and Mobb Deep
Mobb Deep
Mobb Deep is an American hip hop duo from Queensbridge, Queens, New York, U.S., that consists of Havoc and Prodigy. The duo is "one of the most critically acclaimed hardcore East Coast hip-hop groups." The group is best known for its dark, hardcore delivery, as exemplified by the single "Shook Ones...
.
Also, layering different sounds has been a key technique used by the duo. It has been noted that Poke's version of "Juicy
Juicy (The Notorious B.I.G. song)
"Juicy" is a song by hip hop artist The Notorious B.I.G. and his solo debut single from his 1994 debut album Ready to Die. It was produced by Poke of Trackmasters & Sean "Puffy" Combs. Its melody is sampled from Mtume's "Juicy Fruit", and has an alternative chorus sung by R&B girl group Total...
" is has a layered bassline over the sample, giving more rhythm and making it easier to dance to, as opposed to Pete Rock
Pete Rock
Peter Phillips , better known by his stage name Pete Rock, is an American record producer, DJ and rapper. He rose to prominence in the early 1990s as one half of the critically acclaimed group Pete Rock & CL Smooth...
's version which relies more on the heavy drums, giving a "boom-bap" sound.
As the mainstream trending sound started to change in the early 2000s, the Trackmasters adopted new techniques into their production style. They characterised their newer beats with the use of a Spanish guitar sound used in beats such as 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...
and Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
's "Fiesta", "Pretty Girls" and "Get This Money", and also Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
' "Money Is My Bitch". Additionally, they experimented with different percussion sounds as shown on Fabolous
Fabolous
John David Jackson , better known by his stage name Fabolous, is an American rapper of African American and Dominican descent. He grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Part of his early popularity arose from his hit single "Can't Deny It" in 2001, from his debut...
' "Damn", and frequently incorporated turntable scratches at the end of every 8 bar on beats including Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
's "Im Gonna Be Alright (Trackmasters Remix)", and "Jenny From the Block".
Since Trackmasters expanded to a full production team, Tone emphasises the importance of layering instruments over samples to create a more full beat. “The key to big-sounding records is layering. If you can layer a sample with live instruments, you're taking your track to a level that, sonically, is going to surpass what most hip-hop producers are doing.” This technique has been used on the song "Boyfriend" by Ray J
Ray J
William Ray Norwood Jr. , better known by his stage name Ray J, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor.-Early life:...
with the piano sounds.
Notable production credits
- Mary J. BligeMary J. BligeMary 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...
- Be HappyBe Happy (song)"Be Happy" is a song co-written and performed by American R&B recording artist Mary J. Blige. Alongside Blige, the song was written with Chucky Thompson, Diddy, Arlene DelValle and J.C. Olivier, and produced by both Thompson and Combs. The song is featured on her second album, My Life...
(Produced By Poke of Trackmasters) - The Notorious B.I.G.The Notorious B.I.G.Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
- JuicyJuicy (The Notorious B.I.G. song)"Juicy" is a song by hip hop artist The Notorious B.I.G. and his solo debut single from his 1994 debut album Ready to Die. It was produced by Poke of Trackmasters & Sean "Puffy" Combs. Its melody is sampled from Mtume's "Juicy Fruit", and has an alternative chorus sung by R&B girl group Total...
(Produced By Poke and Sean "Puffy" CombsSean CombsSean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
) - LL Cool JLL Cool JJames Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
Ft. Keith MurrayKeith Murray (rapper)Keith Murray is an American rapper and a member of the rap trio Def Squad, which includes fellow rappers Redman and Erick Sermon.-Music career:...
- I Shot Ya - Foxy Brown Ft. BlackstreetBlackstreetBlackstreet is an American R&B group founded in 1991 by Thomas Taliaferro and Teddy Riley, the inventor of New Jack Swing known for his work as a member of Guy. Chauncey Hannibal and Levi Little were signed under production and management contracts with Thomas Taliaferro and were merged into what...
- Get Me Home - NasNasNasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
Ft. Lauryn HillLauryn HillLauryn Noelle Hill is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress.Early in her career, she established her reputation as a member of the Fugees. In 1998, she launched her solo career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album, The Miseducation of...
- If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)"If I Ruled the World " is a 1996 hit hip hop single by Nas featuring Lauryn Hill of The Fugees. It is based on the 1985 hit of the same name by rapper Kurtis Blow and samples the beat of "Friends" by Whodini. The single was Nas's first Top 20 R&B hit, and was also nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award...
(Produced By Trackmasters & Rashad Smith) - Various - Hit 'Em High (The Monstars' Anthem)Hit 'Em High (The Monstars' Anthem)"Hit 'Em High " is a 1996 hip hop song performed by B-Real, Busta Rhymes, Coolio, LL Cool J, and Method Man from the Space Jam Soundtrack. Though the movie received mixed reviews, the soundtrack was a 1990's rap movement breakthrough. It failed to reach the Billboard Hot 100, but was hugely...
(From the soundtrack to Space Jam)Space Jam (soundtrack)- Album singles :... - Mariah CareyMariah CareyMariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
- The RoofThe Roof (song)"The Roof " is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, taken from her sixth studio album, Butterfly . It was released as the third single from the album in Europe, on March 20, 1998 by Columbia Records. Like "Butterfly" and "Breakdown", "The Roof" received a limited worldwide release due... - Will SmithWill SmithWillard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
- Big Willie StyleBig Willie StyleBig Willie Style is the first solo studio album recorded by Will Smith, after spending most of his career as the latter half of DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince...
(Whole Album except Tracks 2,7,10,12 and 13) - Jennifer LopezJennifer LopezJennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
Ft. NasNasNasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
/50 Cent50 CentCurtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
- I'm Gonna Be Alright (Trackmasters Remix) - 50 Cent50 CentCurtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
- Ghetto Qu'ran (Forgive Me)Ghetto Qu'ran (Forgive Me)"Ghetto Qu'ran" is a song by 50 Cent from his unreleased, Columbia Records debut album Power of the Dollar. The song was leaked in early 2000... - R. KellyR. KellyRobert 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...
Ft. Jay-ZJay-ZShawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
, Boo & Gotti - Fiesta (Remix) (Produced by Trackmasters & Precision) - Destiny's ChildDestiny's ChildDestiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
- Independent Women - RihannaRihannaRobyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
- If It's Lovin' That You WantIf It's Lovin' That You Want"If It's Lovin' that You Want" is a song recorded by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna, from her debut studio album Music of the Sun . The song was released on December 2, 2005 through Def Jam Recordings, as the album's second and final single. The song was written by Samuel Barnes, Scott LaRock,... - Jay Z - Jigga that NiggaJigga That Nigga"Jigga That Nigga" is a song by American rapper Jay-Z. It was the third single from his sixth studio album, The Blueprint. It features additional vocals from Stephanie Miller and Michelle Mills but they are not credited as featuring. The song peaked at #66 on the Hot 100....
- LL Cool JLL Cool JJames Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
- Loungin (Who Do You Luv Remix) (Trackmasters Remix) - Mariah CareyMariah CareyMariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
- Underneath The StarsUnderneath the Stars (song)"Underneath the Stars" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. The song was written and produced by Carey and Walter Afanasieff, for her fifth studio album, Daydream . It was released on April 5, 1996 through Columbia Records, as the sixth and final single from the album,...
single (Drifting Remixes Rap and No Rap)