Robert Anthony Smith, known as Big Bert, is an American record producer, songwriter and musician. He made a break in the industry when

Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins Rodney Roy Jerkins (born July 29, 1977), also known by his stage name Darkchild, is an American record producer, rapper, and songwriter. He has collaborated with a broad range of popular artists. Jerkins has won multiple Grammy Awards. Among hi ...

consulted him to join his Darkchild collective in the late

1990s File:1990s decade montage.png, From top left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope orbits the Earth after it was launched in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War ...

. He went on to co-produce alongside Jerkins on tracks for bands like

B2K B2K (Boys of the New Millennium) was an American boy band that was active from 1998 to 2004, and again from 2018 to 2019. In 1998, the group was formed by American dance choreographer Dave Scott and Interscope A&R Keshia Gamble. The members ...

and the

Spice Girls The Spice Girls are a British girl group formed in 1994, consisting of Melanie Brown, also known as Mel B ("Scary Spice"); Melanie Chisholm, or Melanie C ("Sporty Spice"); Emma Bunton ("Baby Spice"); Geri Halliwell ("Ginger Spice"); and Vict ...

, prior to contributing to projects by

Dave Hollister David Le Chaine Hollister (born August 17, 1968) is an American R&B singer who found fame during the 1990s as one quarter of the R&B quartet Blackstreet, before going on to have a solo career. Hollister is best known for his 2000 gold-certifie ...

Toni Braxton Toni Michele Braxton (born October 7, 1967) is an American Contemporary R&B, R&B singer, songwriter, actress and television personality. She has sold over 70 million records worldwide and is one of the best-selling female artists in history. ...

, and

Kelly Rowland Kelendria Trene Rowland (born February 11, 1981) is an American singer, actress, and television personality. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as a member of Destiny's Child, one of the world's List of best-selling girl groups, best-selling girl ...

in the early to mid-

2000s File:2000s decade montage3.png, From top left, clockwise: The World Trade Center on fire and the Statue of Liberty during the 9/11 attacks in 2001; the euro enters into European currency in 2002; a statue of Saddam Hussein being toppled durin ...

. During the production of

Brandy Brandy is a liquor produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35–60% alcohol by volume (70–120 US proof) and is typically consumed as an after-dinner digestif. Some brandies are aged in wooden casks. Others are coloured with ...

's ''

Full Moon The full moon is the lunar phase when the Moon appears fully illuminated from Earth's perspective. This occurs when Earth is located between the Sun and the Moon (when the ecliptic coordinate system, ecliptic longitudes of the Sun and Moon opp ...

'' album, he became romantically involved with the singer. The couple began a relationship in mid-2001 but announced it in February 2002, when Norwood revealed that she was expecting a child. A year after the birth of their daughter Sy'rai Iman Smith (June 16, 2002), the couple announced their separation on

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

reality series ''Special Delivery.'' In 2004 Smith said the pair never legally wed but portrayed the notion of nuptials to preserve Norwood's public image. Smith is CEO of NOMA Records, an independent record label and lives in Florida with his family. He and his wife Xochitl Jacques-Smith work together and have five children, Rain, Soleil, Sade, Robert (Tico) and Judah. *

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...

- ''

Invincible Invincible may refer to: Film and television * ''Invincible'' (2001 drama film), a drama by Werner Herzog about Jewish cabaret during the rise of Nazism * ''Invincible'' (2001 TV film), a fantasy / martial arts TV movie starring Billy Zane ...

'' (2001) *

- ''

'' (2001) ** "When You Touch Me" (co-production) ** "Wow" *

– ''Things in the Game Done Changed'' (2002) ** "Baby Do Those Things" ** "I'm Wrong" ** "It's Okay" *

Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lynn Affleck (' Lopez; born July 24, 1969), also known as J.Lo, is an American singer, actress and dancer. In 1991, she began appearing as a Fly Girl dancer on the sketch comedy television series ''In Living Color'', where she rema ...

– ''

Rebirth Rebirth may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Film * ''Rebirth'' (2011 film), a 2011 Japanese drama film * ''Rebirth'' (2016 film), a 2016 American thriller film * ''Rebirth'', a documentary film produced by Project Rebirth * ''The Re ...

'' (2005) ** "Ryde or Die" *

Jessica Simpson Jessica Ann Simpson (born July 10, 1980) is an American singer, actress, entrepreneur and philanthropist. After performing in church choirs as a child, Simpson signed with Columbia Records in 1997, aged seventeen. Her debut studio album, '' Swe ...

– '' Irresistible'' (2001) ** "Imagination" (co-production) *

– ''

Simply Deep ''Simply Deep'' is the debut solo studio album by American singer Kelly Rowland. It was first released through Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment on October 22, 2002, in North America, and on February 3, 2003, in other areas. Recorded ...

'' (2002) ** "Love/Hate" *

Kiley Dean Kiley Dean (born April 12, 1982) is an American contemporary R&B singer. Dean was born and raised in a small town in Arkansas. When she was about 7 years old, her family decided to move to Orlando. She grew up singing in school and church, which l ...

– ''Simple Girl'' (2002) ** "Better Than the Day" ** "Confused" ** "Should I" *

Nina Sky Nina Sky is an American musical duo consisting of identical twins Nicole and Natalie Albino. Their debut single "Move Ya Body", released from their self-titled debut album in 2004, was a success, reaching number four on the ''Billboard'' Hot 10 ...

– '' Starting Today'' (2010) ** "Curtain Call" *

Olivia Olivia may refer to: People * Olivia (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the name * Olivia (singer) (Olivia Longott, born 1981), American singer * Olívia (basketball) (Carlos Henrique Rodrigues do Nascimento, born 1974 ...

– ''Behind Closed Doors'' (2005) ** "Never Too Far" *

Ray J William Ray Norwood Jr. (born January 17, 1981), known professionally as Ray J, is an American singer, actor, and television personality. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Carson, California, he is the younger brother of recording a ...

– ''

This Ain't a Game ''This Ain't a Game'' is the second studio album by American R&B singer Ray J. It was released on June 19, 2001, under Atlantic Records in the United States. Critical reception Allmusic editor Jon Azpiri found that the album "is full of macho ...

'' (2001) ** "Crazy" (co-production) *

– ''

Forever Forever or 4ever may refer to: Film and television Films * ''Forever'' (1921 film), an American silent film by George Fitzmaurice * ''Forever'' (1978 film), an American made-for-television romantic drama * ''Forever'' (1992 film), an American ...

'' (2000) ** "Get Down with Me" (co-production) *

Tarralyn Ramsey Tarralyn LaJuan Ramsey (born July 8, 1979) is an American gospel musician, songwriter and artist. She began her music career in 2000, with the release of the religious ''Tarralyn Ramsey'' album on Verity Records. This would be her ''Billboard' ...

– ''Tarralyn'' (2004) ** "Take Me Away" *

– '' More Than a Woman'' (2002) ** "Always" ** "Selfish" * Trin-i-tee 5:7 – '' The Kiss'' (2002) ** "All My Life" ** "I Wish"

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Big Bert American male songwriters African-American songwriters American record producers Living people 1979 births 21st-century African-American people 20th-century African-American people