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 his most successful productions are " The Boy Is Mine" and " What About Us?" by

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 ...

, " I Can Love You" and "

Enough Cryin "Enough Cryin" a song by American singer Mary J. Blige. It was written by Blige, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Sean Garrett and Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter for her seventh studio album, '' The Breakthrough'' (2005), while production was helmed by Jerkins. ...

" by

Mary J. Blige Mary Jane Blige ( ; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Often referred to as the " Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and " Queen of R&B", Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, four American Music Award ...

, " Daydreamin'" by

Tatyana Ali Tatyana Marisol Ali is an American actress and singer best known for her role as Ashley Banks on the NBC sitcom ''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'' from 1990 to 1996. She starred as Tyana Jones on the TV One original series ''Love That Girl!'', an ...

, "

Angel of Mine "Angel of Mine" is a song by British R&B girl group Eternal from their first compilation album, ''Greatest Hits'' (1997). It was written by Rhett Lawrence and Travon Potts, produced by Lawrence, and released on 29 September 1997. The song bec ...

" by Monica, "

It's Not Right but It's Okay "It's Not Right but It's Okay" is the third single from American singer Whitney Houston's fourth studio album, '' My Love Is Your Love''. It was written by LaShawn Daniels, Rodney Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, Isaac Phillips, Toni Estes, and produc ...

" by

Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed "The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston in ...

, "

Say My Name "Say My Name" is a song by American group Destiny's Child from their second studio album, ''The Writing's on the Wall'' (1999). It was written by Beyoncé Knowles, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Roberson, Kelly Rowland, LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins I ...

" and "

Cater 2 U "Cater 2 U" is a song recorded by American group Destiny's Child for their fifth and final studio album '' Destiny Fulfilled'' (2004). The song was written by group members Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams along with Rodney "Dark ...

" by

Destiny's Child Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final line-up comprised Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Houston, Texas. After years of limited ...

, "

If You Had My Love "If You Had My Love" is the debut single by American actress and singer Jennifer Lopez. It was released on May 4, 1999, as the lead single from her debut studio album, ''On the 6'' (1999). The song was written by LaShawn Daniels, Cory Rooney, Je ...

" by

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 ...

, "

He Wasn't Man Enough "He Wasn't Man Enough" is a song by American R&B singer and songwriter Toni Braxton. It was written by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, LaShawn Daniels, and Harvey Mason, Jr. for her third studio album, '' The Heat'' (2000), while ...

" by

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. ...

, "

You Rock My World "You Rock My World" is a song by American singer Michael Jackson from his tenth and final studio album, ''Invincible'' (2001). It was released as the lead single from the album on August 22, 2001, by Epic Records. "You Rock My World" peaked at ...

" by

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 ...

, " One Wish" by

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 ...

, "

Déjà Vu ''Déjà vu'' ( , ; "already seen") is a French loanword for the phenomenon of feeling as though one has lived through the present situation before.Schnider, Armin. (2008). ''The Confabulating Mind: How the Brain Creates Reality''. Oxford Univers ...

" by

Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...

, "

Telephone A telephone is a telecommunications device that permits two or more users to conduct a conversation when they are too far apart to be easily heard directly. A telephone converts sound, typically and most efficiently the human voice, into e ...

" by

Lady Gaga Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta ( ; born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her image reinventions and musical versatility. Gaga began performing as a teenag ...

, and " As Long as You Love Me" by Justin Bieber.

Early life

Jerkins' father, Frederick, is an Evangelical pastor and his mother was an housekeeper. Jerkins began playing piano at age five. He would follow his brother and father, who both played at church gatherings. Raised in Galloway Township, New Jersey, Jerkins is one of four children: two boys and two girls. His brother is fellow producer Fred Jerkins III. Jerkins attended Absegami High School, and identifies as a

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

. At age 13, he was offered a chance to work at a studio in

Atlantic City Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The city is known for its casinos, Boardwalk (entertainment district), boardwalk, and beaches. In 2020 United States censu ...

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

, but declined. At age 14, Jerkins was mentored by his idol,

Teddy Riley Edward Theodore Riley (born October 8, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer credited with the creation of the New Jack Swing genre. Riley credits Barry Michael Cooper with giving the genre its name.Hogan, Paul. "Tedd ...

, but he did not accept a contract offer to work with the producer due to an aspiration to build an "empire" without such support. He was also offered a chance to work at

Bad Boy Records Bad Boy Records (or Bad Boy Entertainment) is an American record label founded in 1993 by rapper Sean "Puffy" Combs. It operates as an imprint of Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. It has been home to many artists, including ...

, but declined. At 16, he was approached by James Jones, formerly of

Uptown Records Uptown Records is an American record label, based in New York City, founded in 1986 by onetime rapper Andre Harrell. From the late 1980s into the early 1990s, it was a leader in R&B and hip hop. During the 1990s, aided by its A&R worker Sean ...

, and moved in with him to Hackensack,

to work with him. One of their first sessions was with

Patti LaBelle Patricia Louise Holte (born May 24, 1944), known professionally as Patti LaBelle, is an American R&B singer, actress and businesswoman. LaBelle is referred to as the " Godmother of Soul". She began her career in the early 1960s as lead singe ...

Career

Jerkins' first recorded output was a "

gospel rap Christian hip hop (originally gospel rap, also known as Christian rap, gospel hip hop or holy hip hop) is a subgenre of contemporary Christian music and hip hop music. It emerged from urban contemporary music and Christian media in the United ...

" collaboration with his brother,

Fred Jerkins III Fred Jerkins III, also known as Uncle Freddie, is an American songwriter and record producer who is best known for his work with his brother Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. Jerkins has co-written several hit songs with Rodney Jerkins and LaShawn Dan ...

, entitled ''On the Move''. He later incorporated the name "Darkchild", at the age of 17, subsequently accepting a worldwide

publishing Publishing is the activity of making information, literature, music, software and other content available to the public for sale or for free. Traditionally, the term refers to the creation and distribution of printed works, such as books, newsp ...

deal with the EMI Music Corporation. The producer then proceeded to establish a commercial music career, initially working with artists such as

Joe Joe or JOE may refer to: Arts Film and television * ''Joe'' (1970 film), starring Peter Boyle * ''Joe'' (2013 film), starring Nicolas Cage * ''Joe'' (TV series), a British TV series airing from 1966 to 1971 * ''Joe'', a 2002 Canadian animated ...

and

. Jerkins' stated his first big projects were Blige's ''

Share My World ''Share My World'' is the third studio album by American R&B singer Mary J. Blige, released by MCA on Earth Day, April 22, 1997. The album became Blige's first to open at number one on the US ''Billboard'' 200 album chart. Moreover, it is her ...

'',

's ''

'', and Brandy and Monica's '' The Boy Is Mine''. Over the course of his career, Jerkins has developed a "camp" of successful topline writers, including

LaShawn Daniels LaShawn Ameen Daniels (December 28, 1977 – September 3, 2019) was an American songwriter, vocal producer and arranger known for his songwriting credits on songs by artists such as Brandy, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child, Michael Jacks ...

Kenisha Pratt Kenisha LaCarol Pratt (February 13, 1980 – December 19, 2019) was an American songwriter and vocal producer, known for her songwriting credits on songs by artists such as Brandy, Toni Braxton, TLC, Yahzarah, Burhan G and Hadise, and her brot ...

, Toni Estes,

Anesha & Antea Birchett Anesha & Antea Birchett are American singer-songwriters, best known for their work with producers Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and D'Mile. Both sisters have written for Beyoncé, H.E.R., Jennifer Lopez, and Justin Bieber, among others. Antea is ...

Delisha Thomas Delisha Thomas is a Trinidadian singer-songwriter, best known for her work with producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. She has written for Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, and Justin Bieber, among others. Thomas is a member of the Canadian Academy of Vo ...

, Keli Nicole Price,

Nora Payne Nora Payne is an American singer-songwriter and background vocalist best known for her work with producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. Payne has written for Michael Jackson, Will Smith, Jennifer Lopez, and Brandy, among others. In October 2017 ...

, Michaela Shiloh,

Isaac Phillips Isaac Phillips is an American songwriter, producer, and guitarist, best known for his work with producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. Phillips has written for Whitney Houston and Brandy Norwood, among others. Songwriting and guitarist credits C ...

Japhe Tejeda Japhe Tejeda is an American singer, songwriter, and producer, best known for co-writing ''The Boy Is Mine'', as well as other various work with Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. Tejeda is a former member of the R&B vocal quartet 1 Accord, who were ...

, LeToya Duggan,

Andre Lindal Andre Lindal (born February 19, 1977) is a Norwegian songwriter, record producer and musician from Oslo, now based in Los Angeles. He has produced for many popular artists and groups, including Maroon 5, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Kelly Clar ...

, and

Victoria Monét Victoria Monét McCants (born May 1, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. She became involved in performing arts at a young age, singing in the youth choir at her church, and performing in a city dance team. She soon took ...

, among others.

Production

Jerkins has produced and written for

The Saturdays The Saturdays were a British-Irish girl group based in London, England. The group formed during the summer of 2007 and have been on hiatus since 2014. The lineup consists of Frankie Bridge, Una Healy, Rochelle Humes, Mollie King, and Vanessa Wh ...

Vanessa Williams Vanessa Lynn Williams (born March 18, 1963) is an American singer, actress, and fashion designer. She gained recognition as the first African-American woman to receive the Miss America title when she was crowned Miss America 1984. She resign ...

Will Smith Willard Carroll Smith II (born September 25, 1968), also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor and rapper. He began his Will Smith filmography, acting career starring as Will Smith (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), a ...

Keyshia Cole Keyshia Myeshia Cole Johnson; born October 15, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. Born and raised in Oakland, California, Cole began her career as a backing vocalist for MC Hammer. After signing with A&M Records ...

, Monica,

Ayumi Hamasaki is a Japanese singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, model, spokesperson, and entrepreneur. By 2002, Hamasaki had earned the nickname "Empress of J-pop" due to her popularity in Japan and throughout Asia. Due to her success and relevanc ...

Cher Cher (; born Cherilyn Sarkisian; May 20, 1946) is an American singer, actress and television personality. Often referred to by the media as the Honorific nicknames in popular music, "Goddess of Pop", she has been described as embodying female ...

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 ...

, Ashanti, Aaliyah,

Amerie Amerie Mi Marie Nicholson ( Rogers; born January 12, 1980) is an American singer. Born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, she gained an appreciation of the classical arts from her mother Mi Suk Rogers and of music from her father Charles Rogers, and ...

Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the " Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. After appearing in stage productio ...

, Mary Mary,

Kirk Franklin Kirk Dewayne Franklin (born January 26, 1970) is an American songwriter, choir director, gospel singer, and rapper. He is best known for leading urban contemporary gospel ensembles such as The Family, God's Property, and One Nation Crew (1NC) ...

Kierra Sheard Kierra Valencia "Kiki" Sheard-Kelly (born June 20, 1987) is an American gospel singer. She is the daughter of gospel singer Karen Clark-Sheard (member of gospel singing group the Clark Sisters) and granddaughter of gospel choral director Mattie ...

The Black Eyed Peas Black Eyed Peas (also known as The Black Eyed Peas) is an American musical group consisting of rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo. The group's line-up during the height of their popularity in the 2000s featured Fergie, who replaced Kim Hil ...

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 ...

TLC TLC may refer to: Arts and entertainment Television * ''TLC'' (TV series), a 2002 British situational comedy television series that aired on BBC2 * TLC (TV network), formerly the Learning Channel, an American cable TV network ** TLC (Asia), an A ...

Janet Jackson Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreog ...

Danity Kane Danity Kane was an American girl group whose original and most well-known lineup comprised Aubrey O'Day, Aundrea Fimbres, Dawn Richard, Shannon Bex, and Wanita "D. Woods" Woodgett. Its most recent iteration included O'Day and Richard as a duo ...

Linda Király Linda Király (born 28 February 1983) is a Hungarian-American singer and songwriter. She sings both in English and in Hungarian. She is the older sister of singer Viktor Király. Biography Linda Király is the second eldest of four children o ...

Cascada Cascada (, Spanish for "Waterfall", stylized as CASCADA, CASC''A''DA and cascada) is a German dance music act founded in 2004 by singer Natalie Horler and DJs/producers DJ Manian and DJ Yanou. They are best known for their hit singles " Everyti ...

Tamia Tamia Marilyn Washington Hill (born May 9, 1975) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and producer. Born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, Tamia performed in various singing and dancing competitions as a child. In 1994, after signing a development de ...

Pussycat Dolls Pussycat or Pussy Cat may refer to: * Cat, a domestic feline Music Bands * Pussycat (band), a Dutch country and pop group * The Pussycats, a 1960s Norwegian rock band * The Pussycats, a group signed to Kama Sutra Records Albums * ''Pussy Cats'', ...

Natasha Bedingfield Natasha Anne Bedingfield (born 26 November 1981) is a British singer and songwriter. Bedingfield released her debut album, '' Unwritten'', in 2004, which contained primarily up-tempo pop songs and was influenced by R&B music. It enjoyed intern ...

, B5,

Lionel Richie Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. (born June 20, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and television personality. He rose to fame in the 1970s as a songwriter and the co-lead singer of funk band the Commodores; writing and recordi ...

Tiffany Evans Tiffany Evans (born August 4, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Evans rose to fame in 2003 as a contestant on ''Star Search'' (hosted by Arsenio Hall), she became the first contestant in ''Star Search'' history to earn a perfe ...

JYJ JYJ (formerly known as Junsu/Jejung/Yuchun in Japan) is a South Korean boy band formed in 2010 by Kim Junsu, Kim Jae-joong, and Park Yoo-chun, the three former members of TVXQ. Their group name is taken from the initial letters of each member's n ...

Wonder Girls Wonder Girls () was a South Korean girl group formed by JYP Entertainment. The group debuted in February 2007 with the single "Irony" and 5 members: Yeeun, Sunye, Sunmi, Hyuna and Sohee. After Hyuna's departure in July, Yubin was added into th ...

Austin Brown Nathaniel Austin Brown (born November 22, 1985) is an American singer-songwriter and record producer Early life Brown was born in Tarzana, California, on November 22, 1985, to Nathaniel Brown and Rebbie Jackson. He is a member of the Jackson ...

Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...

Katy Perry Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson (born October 25, 1984), known professionally as Katy Perry, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. Known for her influence on modern pop music and her Camp (style), campy style, she has been ...

Hikaru Utada , who is also known by the mononym Utada, is a Japanese-American pop singer, songwriter and producer. By 2010, Utada had become one of the most influential, and best-selling, musical artists in Japan. Born in the United States to Japanese parent ...

Keke Palmer Lauren Keyana "Keke" Palmer (born August 26, 1993) ( ) is an American actress, singer and television personality. Known for playing leading and character roles in comedy and drama productions, she has received a Primetime Emmy Award, five NAACP ...

Hala Al Turk Hala Al Turk ( ar, حلا الترك; born May 15, 2002) is a Jordanian-Syrian Bahraini singer. She become known for being a contestant on '' Arabs Got Talent'' in 2011. Al Turk then released many singles, including "Bnayty El Habooba (2011)" fe ...

Nelly Furtado Nelly Kim Furtado (; ; born December 2, 1978) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. Furtado has sold over 40 million records worldwide making her one of the most successful Canadian artists. She first gained fame with her trip hop-inspired deb ...

Justin Bieber Justin Drew Bieber ( ; born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer. Bieber is recognized for his genre-melding musicianship and has played an influential role in modern-day popular music. He was discovered by American record executive Scooter ...

Brian McKnight Brian Kelly McKnight (born June 5, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, radio host and multi-instrumentalist. He is most recognized for his strong head voice, high belting range and melisma. McKnight is known for h ...

and

LMFAO LMFAO (an initialism for Laughing My Freaking Ass Off or Laughing My Fucking Ass Off) are an American electronic dance music duo consisting of Redfoo and Sky Blu. Redfoo is the youngest son of Motown Records founder Berry Gordy and Nancy Le ...

. In the 2010s, he produced songs for

Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the whi ...

Leona Lewis Leona Louise Lewis (born 3 April 1985) is a British singer, songwriter, actress and activist. Born and raised in the London Borough of Islington, she attended the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in Croydon. Lewis achieved nationa ...

JLS JLS (an initialism of Jack the Lad Swing) are an English boyband, which consists of members Aston Merrygold, Oritsé Williams, Marvin Humes, and JB Gill, originally formed by Williams. They initially signed to Tracklacers production company ...

Kylie Minogue Kylie Ann Minogue (; born 28 May 1968) is an Australian singer, songwriter and actress. She is the highest-selling female Australian artist of all time, having sold over 80 million records worldwide. She has been recognised for reinve ...

. Jerkins was a music executive and mentor on season 10 of ''

American Idol ''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to Ap ...

''. In 2013, Jerkins was hired on to be a producer for Michael Jackson's posthumous album Xscape. He originally worked on the title track for the album from 1999 to 2001. He is the only producer to work on the original version and reworking version of the title track. When asked by Ryan Seacrest in 2013 the favourite people he's produced for he said "Definitely

. Without a doubt. I had a lot of fun working with them and was really impressed with their voices. They were very down to earth and I like that a lot in an artist. I wish them all the best in America and think they could end up as big as The Spice Girls." In preparation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony, Jerkins produced a song featuring the Palestinian 2013 ''Arab Idol'' winner

Mohammed Assaf Mohammad Jaber Abdul Rahman Assaf ( ar, محمد جبر عبدالرحمن عساف; born 1 September 1989)

. In 2017, he produced ''Blind'' and ''Makings of You'' for

Tamar Braxton Tamar Estine Braxton (born March 17, 1977) is an American singer and television personality. Braxton began her career in 1990 as a founding member of The Braxtons, an R&B singing group formed with her sisters. The Braxtons released their debut a ...

Record labels

In 1999, Jerkins joined

Sony , commonly stylized as SONY, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. As a major technology company, it operates as one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer and professional ...

Epic Records Epic Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America Sony Corporation of America (SONAM, also known as SCA), is the American arm of the Japanese conglomerate Sony Group ...

to promote power vocalist Rhona, Pop/R&B girl group So Plush and rapper Fats. Fats appeared on two tracks Jerkins produced for

's album ''

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 ...

'', and So Plush released the single "Things I've Heard Before". Subsequently, So Plush's singles, "Damn" and "Things I've Heard Before", were pressed and made available as promos, and Rhona's album was even released in Japan. In 2005 Darkchild Records reappeared when Jerkins signed brand new acts including Shamari Fears, formerly of R&B group

Blaque Blaque is an American girl group that charted from 1999 to 2004. Outside of the United States, they are known as Blaque Ivory. Their self-titled debut album ''Blaque'' sold more than 1 million copies and was certified Platinum. The group's d ...

, female MC Asia Lee,

dancehall Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially, dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) "The Rou ...

artist Atiba, and gospel singer Anesha Birchett. In 2006, he was appointed VP of

Artists & repertoire Artists and repertoire (colloquially abbreviated to A&R) is the division of a record label or music publishing company that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists (singers, instrumentalist ...

(A&R) for The Island Def Jam Group. Jerkins released his wife

Joy Enriquez Joy Charity Enriquez is an American singer and actress who has appeared on the television series '' 7th Heaven'' and also starred in films such as ''Chasing Papi'' and '' Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure'' (voice). Enriquez was also a bac ...

's second album ''Atmosphere of Heaven'', which features a religious direction, on his independent gospel imprint JoyFul Child Records. The Darkchild name has been loaned to Darkchild Gospel, a record company run by Jerkins' brother, Fred Jerkins III. which released the latest album from

Virtue Virtue ( la, virtus) is moral excellence. A virtue is a trait or quality that is deemed to be morally good and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being. In other words, it is a behavior that shows high moral standard ...

– ''Testimony''.

Music Mogul, Inc.

In late 2008, Jerkins joined Nicholas Longano, Ray Brown, and Jonathan E. Eubanks in creating

Music Mogul MusicMogul.com was an online music world targeting aspiring musicians. They hoped to combine the popularity of social-networking sites, music television shows like "American Idol" and online multiplayer games. History Founded in 2008, Music Mogul ...

, Inc. MusicMogul.com is an online portal where artists can communicate with their fans. Each quarter, members vote for the best video performances. The top performers are then flown to Los Angeles to compete in front of a panel of celebrity judges. The winner gets a demo deal with Darkchild Productions.

Personal life

Jerkins has been married to singer

since April 4, 2004. The two met when he worked on her debut album. The couple has four children. Rodney David Jerkins Jr(28 May 2008); Heavenly Joy Jerkins(17 November 17 2009);Joy Enriquez's marriage and family
. ''People.com'' Retrieved 2010-10-05 Hannah Joy Jerkins(19 October 2012); and Royal David Jerkins, in early 2015. In 2015, his five-year-old daughter Heavenly Joy was a contestant on season 10 of ''

America's Got Talent ''America's Got Talent'' (often abbreviated as ''AGT'') is a televised American talent show competition, and is part of the global ''Got Talent'' franchise created by Simon Cowell. The program is produced by Fremantle (as well as distribut ...

''.

Singles discography

Appearances and production discography

Notable productions

* 1995: Intro - "Strung Out On Your Lovin'" * 1996: Aaliyah - "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" * 1997: No Authority - “Don’t Stop” * 1998: Brandy and Monica – "The Boy Is Mine" * 1998: Brandy – "Angel in Disguise" * 1998: Monica – "Angel of Mine" * 1998: Whitney Houston – "It's Not Right but It's Okay" * 1999: Destiny's Child – "Say My Name" * 1999: Jennifer Lopez – "If You Had My Love" * 2000: Toni Braxton – "He Wasn't Man Enough" * 2000: Spice Girls – "Holler" * 2001: Michael Jackson – "You Rock My World" * 2001: Michael Jackson - “Unbreakable” * 2001: Britney Spears – "Overprotected" (The Darkchild Remix) * 2001: Jessica Simpson – "I Never" * 2001: Jessica Simpson – "Imagination" * 2002: Brandy – "What About Us?" * 2002: Monica – "All Eyez on Me" * 2002: TLC – "Turntable" * 2004: Destiny's Child – "Lose My Breath" * 2005: Destiny's Child – "Cater 2 U" * 2006: Beyoncé (featuring Jay-Z) – "Déjà Vu" * 2006: Ciara (featuring 50 Cent) – "Can't Leave 'em Alone" * 2008: Tiffany Evans (featuring Bow Wow) - "I'm Grown" * 2008: Janet Jackson – "Feedback" * 2008: Brandy – "Right Here (Departed)" * 2008: The Pussycat Dolls – "When I Grow Up" * 2008: Beyoncé – "Scared of Lonely" * 2009: Lady Gaga featuring Beyoncé – "Telephone" * 2011: The Black Eyed Peas – "Just Can't Get Enough" * 2011: Kelly Rowland (featuring Lil' Playy)- "Work It Man" * 2012: Justin Bieber – "As Long as You Love Me" * 2012: Leona Lewis – "Shake You Up" * 2014: Mariah Carey – "You're Mine (Eternal)" * 2014: Mary J. Blige – "A Night To Remember" * 2014: Sam Smith – "Stay with Me" * 2014: Michael Jackson - “Xscape” * 2017: Tamar Braxton – "Blind" * 2018: Chromeo (featuring French Montana and Stefflon Don) - "Don't Sleep" * 2017: Tamar Braxton – "The Makings Of You" * 2019: Baekhyun - "Diamond" * 2022: SZA - "Shirt"

Guest raps

* 1995: Hodge – "Head Nod" (Darkchild Remix) * 1996:

New Edition New Edition is an American R&B/Pop group from the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1978 by Bobby Brown. Their name is taken to mean a 'new edition' of the Jackson 5. The group reached its height of popularity in the 19 ...

with AZ – "Something About You" (Darkchild Remix) * 1997:

Tasha Holiday Tasha Holiday is an American contemporary R&B singer who was signed to MCA Records in the 1990s. Her biggest success was with the single " Just the Way You Like It" which peaked in the top thirty of the ''Billboard'' R&B singles chart, and becam ...

– " Just The Way You Like It" (Darkchild Remix) with

Lil' Cease James Lloyd (born August 20, 1977), better known by his stage name Lil' Cease, is an American rapper and former member of hip hop group Junior M.A.F.I.A. Early life, family and education James Lloyd was born in New York City. Career As pa ...

, Peter Gunz and Mike Nitty * 1997: MQ3 – "Everyday" * 1997:

Immature Mature is the adjectival form of maturity, as immature is the adjectival form of immaturity, which have several meanings. Mature or immature may also refer to: * Mature, a character from ''The King of Fighters'' series *"Mature 17+", a rating in ...

– "I Can't Wait" with Mike Nitty * 1997:

– "Everything" (Darkchild Remix) with

Fat Joe Joseph Antonio Cartagena (born August 19, 1970), better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper from New York City. He began his music career as a member of hip hop group Diggin' in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.), then forged a sol ...

* 1997: K-Ball – "On the Weekend", "Love Matters" * 1998:

& The Nu Nation Project – "Revolution" * 1998: Keith Washington – "Bring It On" (Darkchild Remix) * 1999:

– "Top of the World" (Darkchild Remix) with

and

Big Pun Christopher Lee Rios (November 10, 1971 – February 7, 2000), better known by his stage name Big Pun (short for Big Punisher), was an American rapper. Emerging from the underground hip hop scene in the Bronx borough of New York City in the e ...

* 2000: Natalie Wilson & The S.O.P. Chorale – "Act Like You Know" with

* 2001: So Plush – "What You Do to Me" with

50 Cent Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), known professionally as 50 Cent, is an American rapper, actor, and businessman. Born in the South Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, Jackson began pursuing a musical career in 2000, when he produced ...

and Fats, "Ain't My Fault" * 2001: Rhona – "Satisfied" (Another Darkchild Remix) with Fats * 2002: Jay Mathis – "Kiss" with Pain and Fats * 2002: Mary Mary – "He Said" with Fats * 2002: K-Young – "Ballinest Player" with Lil' Zal * 2002: K-Young – "Ooh Wee" * 2002: Shawn Desman – "Sexy" * 2003: Natalie Wilson & The S.O.P. Chorale – "Good Life" * 2004:

Kierra "Kiki" Sheard Kierra Valencia "Kiki" Sheard-Kelly (born June 20, 1987) is an American gospel singer. She is the daughter of gospel singer Karen Clark-Sheard (member of gospel singing group the Clark Sisters) and granddaughter of gospel choral director Mattie ...

– "You Don't Know" * 2005:

– "Don't You Let Go" * 2005: Anesha Birchett – "Get Ready" with

Mase Mason Durell Betha (born August 27, 1975), better known by his mononym Mase (formerly Murda Mase and stylized as Ma$e), is an American rapper and minister. In the late 1990s, he recorded on the Bad Boy Records label alongside its founder Sean ...

* 2005: Atiba – "Flossin" with

Francisco Francisco is the Spanish and Portuguese form of the masculine given name ''Franciscus''. Nicknames In Spanish, people with the name Francisco are sometimes nicknamed "Paco (name), Paco". Francis of Assisi, San Francisco de Asís was known as '' ...

* 2006: The Darkchild Allstars – "We Are Family" * 2007:

- "Can't Let Go" * 2008:

The Pussycat Dolls The Pussycat Dolls were an American girl group and dance ensemble, founded in Los Angeles, California, by choreographer Robin Antin in 1995 as a burlesque troupe. At the suggestion of Jimmy Iovine, Antin decided to take the burlesque troupe ...

With Diddy,

Lil Wayne Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. His career began in 1995, at the age of 12, when he was signed by rapper Birdman (rapper), ...

, &

Fatman Scoop Isaac Freeman III (born August 6, 1971), better known by his stage name Fatman Scoop, is an American rapper, promoter and radio personality famed for his on-stage rough, raw loud voice. He is known for the song " Be Faithful", which topped the c ...

– " When I Grow Up" (Darkchild Remix) * 2008:

- "Reloaded" (unreleased song)

Unreleased tracks

* 1999:

- “Rampage” * 1999:

- “A Deeper Love” * 2001:

- “Cheater” (Reworked) * 2001:

- “Chicago 1945” (Reworked) * 2001:

- “Get Around” * 2001:

- “Get Your Weight Off Me” * 2001:

- “Kick It” * 2001:

- “Maybe We Can Do It” * 2001:

- “Pressure” * 2001:

- “Seduction” * 2001:

- “The Pain” * 2006:

- “Back Up” * 2011:

- "This Cannot Be Love"

Video cameos

* 1995: Hodge – "Head Nod" (Darkchild Remix) * 1996:

Gina Thompson Gina Thompson (born Lugenia Thompson in Vineland, New Jersey, on November 10, 1976) is an American Contemporary R&B, R&B singer. Born to Edward L. Thompson, Sr. and Eugenia Thompson, Gina Thompson began singing at an early age and was signed to ...

(featuring

Missy Elliott Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...

) – " The Things That U Do (Bad Boy Remix)" * 1997:

No Authority No Authority, was an American boyband that was signed to Michael Jackson's record label MJJ music. They are known for their singles, "Don't Stop", "One More Time". "Girlfriend" (which was featured on the Trippin' soundtrack), "Can I Get Your Numb ...

– "Don't Stop" * 1998:

& The Nu Nation Project – "Revolution" * 1998: J'Son - I Should've Cheat on You * 2000: So Plush – "Things I've Heard Before" * 2001: Rhona – "Satisfied" * 2002:

– "What About Us?" * 2002: Monica – "All Eyez on Me" * 2006: Natasha – "Hey, Hey, Hey" and "So Sick" * 2006:

Shareefa Shareefa Faradah Cooper (born March 12, 1984), known professionally as Shareefa, is an American R&B singer. Shareefa has lived in Charlotte, North Carolina. She signed with Disturbing tha Peace/Def Jam Recordings in 2005. Her first single, "Nee ...

– "Cry No More" * 2006: J. Holiday – "Be with Me" * 2008:

– "Right Here (Departed)"

Web series

Jerkins is currently starring with Johnny Wright in a number of episodes of the YOBI.tv '' Take the Stage'' web series.

References

External links

Rodney Jerkins
on Beatbuggy
Ebony Magazine Interview
*

AllHipHop.com Interview AllHipHop is a hip hop news website founded by Greg Watkins and Chuck Creekmur in 1998. History The website was founded in 1998 by Greg Watkins and Chuck Creekmur. In 1997, Watkins registered the allhiphop.com domain to promote the artists on O ...

MixOnline Technical Interview

Darkchild official website

MySpace Page of Darkchild Music

Fred Jerkins' Darkchild Gospel

Darkchild Fansite (inc. discography)

Thermal Soundwaves Show interview

Le groupe SoulRnB.com consacré à Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jerkins, Rodney Living people African-American record producers African-American songwriters American electronic musicians American hip hop record producers American pop keyboardists Grammy Award winners Musicians from New Jersey Absegami High School alumni People from Pleasantville, New Jersey People from Galloway Township, New Jersey Songwriters from New Jersey 21st-century American keyboardists 1977 births 21st-century African-American musicians 20th-century African-American people