Four Grammys and 160 million records sold don’t lie, if you lived through the turn of the millennium you should already know why Rodney Jerkins is the greatest R&B producer of our time. Take a trip down memory lane with 9 of his sound-defining hits.
9. Tatyana Ali – Daydreamin
Yes, that is Ashley Banks from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air doing a dance routine in a velour sweatsuit. Her Kiss The Sky album didn’t sell as well as expected, but Darkchild’s production made Daydreamin’ into a Billboard Top 10 hit.
8. Brandy – Top Of The World (ft. MA$E)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBdSkG6GkOg
This song is criminally underappreciated in a world where we’re all just trying to make the move from Helly Hansen to many mansions. The Darkchild production is as awesome as the surreal music video shot by Paul Hunter.
7. Brandy & Monica – The Boy Is Mine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBmkCoiHC2c
Rodney’s work with Brandy is some of his strongest, and this duet with Monica is award-winning for a reason. Great topsy-turvy visuals shot by director Joseph Kahn as well.
6. Whitney Houston – It’s Not Right But It’s Okay
Darkchild’s sounds here really start to define his iconic production, propelling this song to the top of the charts and platinum certification for the late, legendary Whitney Houston. Very turn of the millenium music video directed by Kevin Bray here as well.
5. Jennifer Lopez – If You Had My Love
This song generated some controversy as Darkchild allegedly sold the song to singer Chanté Moore before reworking it into the song that launched J-Lo’s career. Another dope video treatment from Paul Hunter too as Jennifer Lopez performs the song on Internet TV for creeps and club-goers alike. Ah, 1999.
4. Destiny’s Child – Say My Name
Literally everyone knows Darkchild for the drop and the ad-libs on this 1999 classic. The first song from the dynamic duo (well, quintet really) of Darkchild and Destiny’s Child is also the debut of Michelle Williams in the lineup. Visuals done by the prolific Joseph Kahn.
3. Toni Braxton – He Wasn’t Man Enough
Toni Braxton’s sultry vocals over a defining Darkchild production gets an perfectly 2000-era video treatment with animation, club scenes, and dancing in monochromatic giant cylinders and boxes thanks to director Bille Woodruff.
2. Spice Girls – Holler
When the progenitors of girl power, the Spice Girls needed a stand-out hit for their third and final studio album, of course they turned to Darkchild taking them to a lessy poppy, more R&B sound. The song also has a great turn of the millennium sci-fi music video treatment from director Jake Nava.
1. Shareefa – Need A Boss (ft. Ludacris)
Sure, Shareefa has great vocals in this take on Destiny Child’s Soldier works but the thumping production from Darkchild is what makes this a fiery 2005 hit that never got the recognition it deserves. Luda even drops by for a verse!