Watts (producer)
Encyclopedia
Austin Garrick, better known as Watts, is a Canadian
record producer
from Toronto
, Ontario
. He has produced for artists such as Redman, Method Man
, and Joe Budden
.
Watts grew up in the Oakwood-Vaughan neighbourhood of Toronto. He was born to a Vincentian
, musician father and a Polish
-born mother (of Greek
and Russian
descent) who is a doctor. His father, who was a drummer in the reggae
band Messenjah
, taught him how to play drums when he was two years old, and professionally by the age of five. Nicknamed "Stixs", he opened for the reggae band Third World
at a concert when he was seven years old. He also performed in front of a crowd of over 50,000 at the Rogers Centre
alongside Nelson Mandela
, at the age of 12. After his parents got divorced, he decided to become a producer, and he started making beats.
When Watts became serious about a career as a record producer, he made several trips to New York City
. He dropped out of high school in Grade 11 after a meeting with producer/DJ Kevin "K-Cut" McKenzie (of the legendary group Main Source
). In New York, K-Cut took Watts under his wing and taught him about making great records, and the music business in the U.S. He currently works with Rashad "Ringo" Smith under the Tumblin' Dice Productions label.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
from Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. He has produced for artists such as Redman, Method Man
Method Man
Clifford Smith , better known by his stage name Method Man is an American hip hop artist, record producer, actor and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He took his stage name from the 1979 film The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man. He is one half of the rap duo Method Man...
, and Joe Budden
Joe Budden
-Early life:Budden was born in Spanish Harlem, but lived in Queens until he was 12 and from there moved to Jersey City, New Jersey. He is one of five boys...
.
Early life and career
Watts grew up in the Oakwood-Vaughan neighbourhood of Toronto. He was born to a Vincentian
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island country in the Lesser Antilles chain, namely in the southern portion of the Windward Islands, which lie at the southern end of the eastern border of the Caribbean Sea where the latter meets the Atlantic Ocean....
, musician father and a Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
-born mother (of Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
and Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
descent) who is a doctor. His father, who was a drummer in the reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
band Messenjah
Messenjah
Messenjah was a Canadian-based reggae group that flourished to become one of the most successful and popular reggae groups in the history of Canadian music.-History:...
, taught him how to play drums when he was two years old, and professionally by the age of five. Nicknamed "Stixs", he opened for the reggae band Third World
Third World (band)
Third World is a Jamaican reggae band formed in 1973. Their sound is influenced by soul, funk and disco.-History:Third World started when keyboard player Michael "Ibo" Cooper and guitarist Stephen "Cat" Coore, who had originally played in The Alley Cats then Inner Circle, subsequently left to form...
at a concert when he was seven years old. He also performed in front of a crowd of over 50,000 at the Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre is a multi-purpose stadium, in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated next to the CN Tower, near the shores of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989, it is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League...
alongside Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
, at the age of 12. After his parents got divorced, he decided to become a producer, and he started making beats.
When Watts became serious about a career as a record producer, he made several trips to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He dropped out of high school in Grade 11 after a meeting with producer/DJ Kevin "K-Cut" McKenzie (of the legendary group Main Source
Main Source
Main Source was an innovative, acclaimed Toronto and New York-based hip hop group comprising Toronto natives Sir Scratch, K-Cut, and Queens native Large Professor...
). In New York, K-Cut took Watts under his wing and taught him about making great records, and the music business in the U.S. He currently works with Rashad "Ringo" Smith under the Tumblin' Dice Productions label.
Selected Discography
- "College feat. Electric Youth - A Real Hero" - DriveDrive (2011 film)Drive is a 2011 American crime neo-noir drama film directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, starring Ryan Gosling as the principal character, with Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, and Albert Brooks...
(Music from the Motion Picture) - "Baby" - Ghostface KillahGhostface KillahDennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success...
feat. Raheem DeVaughnRaheem DeVaughnRaheem 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...
(Def JamDef Jam RecordingsDef Jam Recordings is an American record label, focused primarily on hip hop and urban music, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Motown Music Group...
) (Produced with Rashad Smith) - "Do My Thing" - Kid CudiKid CudiScott Ramon Seguro Mescudi , better known by his stage name Kid Cudi , sometimes stylized KiD CuDi, is an American rapper, singer and actor. He first gained major attention after the release of his debut mixtape A Kid Named Cudi. In 2009, his single "Day 'n' Nite" reached the top five of the...
feat. Snoop DoggSnoop DoggCalvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
(Universal Motown) (Produced with Rashad Smith) - "Exclusive" – Foxy Brown feat. Stacey (Black Roses)
- "Blow Treez" – Redman feat. Method ManMethod ManClifford Smith , better known by his stage name Method Man is an American hip hop artist, record producer, actor and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He took his stage name from the 1979 film The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man. He is one half of the rap duo Method Man...
& Ready Roc (Def Jam) - "Jingle Baby" – Joe BuddenJoe Budden-Early life:Budden was born in Spanish Harlem, but lived in Queens until he was 12 and from there moved to Jersey City, New Jersey. He is one of five boys...
(Def Jam) - "Jingling Baby" (Remix) – Joe Budden feat. Coke (Def Jam)
- "Jingling Baby" – Coke (Def Jam)
- "Something About You" – In EssenceIn EssenceIn Essence is a 5-member Canadian R&B group that has had success both in Canada and USA. The groups members, Dru, Pops, Smooth, Que and Touch all met in Toronto, Ontario in 1993. On a trip to NYC, In Essence met Funkmaster Flex and his manager and in 2001 they were signed to Franchise...
(Sony BMG CanadaSony Music EntertainmentSony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
) - "All Night" – In Essence (Sony BMG Canada)
- "Getting It On" – JacksoulJacksouljacksoul, sometimes stylized as jackSOUL, was a Canadian soul and R&B band. Based in Toronto, the band was fronted by singer Haydain Neale, and was best known for their hits "Can't Stop" and "Still Believe in Love"....
(Sony BMG Canada)
External links
- HipHopCanada.com: Watts Interview (Aug '07)