Bryan-Michael Cox Explained

Bryan-Michael Cox
Birth Name:Bryan-Michael Paul Cox
Birth Date:1 December 1977
Birth Place:Miami, Florida, U.S.
Origin:Houston, Texas, U.S.
Genre:R&B, hip hop
Occupation:Record producer, songwriter
Years Active:1998–present
Label:Team Idris, So So Def, Warner Chappell
Current Member Of:Ocean's 7

Bryan-Michael Paul Cox (born December 1, 1977)[1] is an American record producer and songwriter, known for his work with artists such as Usher, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, and Toni Braxton.[2] His most notable productions are "Be Without You" for Mary J. Blige, "Burn", "Confessions Part II" and "U Got It Bad" for Usher, and "Shake It Off", "I Stay In Love" and "You Don't Know What To Do" for Mariah Carey.

While attending High School in Texas, Cox was acquainted with singer Beyoncé. He produced records for the members of Destiny's Child, prior to their signing with Columbia Records. Cox relocated to Atlanta to pursue his professional music career. He then established a close affiliation with Jermaine Dupri 2000, who would become his production partner in the following years. Cox attained a Guinness World Records for the longest consecutive period of chart success by spending over 5 consecutive years there, breaking the record that was previously held by The Beatles.

In 2009, Cox was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame for his contribution to music.[3]

Early life

Cox has said that his mother played the flute: "My mom would buy music instead of food when I was little. We would spend her entire pay check at the record store." He expressed his musical ambitions to her when he was seven years old, having written his first song when he was just six years old.[4] Later, he enrolled in Houston's Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.[5]

In high school, Cox met Beyoncé when he was a senior and she was a freshman. He recorded his first-ever demo tape with her. Although the two wouldn't reconnect until nearly seven years later when Bryan produced a track on Destiny's Child's Destiny Fulfilled, it was the early confirmation from Mathew Knowles that prompted Bryan to go into the music industry.

"Back then there was three choices if you wanted to be in the music industry, live in New York, LA, or Atlanta. I enrolled in Clark Atlanta University because although my Mom supported my dreams one hundred percent I had to go to college, so I chose Clark because I was just trying to get to Atlanta."[6]

Career

1994–1999: Early career

Cox began his career as an intern at Noontime Records in Atlanta, Georgia. He was discovered by his manager Chris Hicks, who was a partner in Noontime. Cox's first two hit singles as a producer were "Get Gone" & "Creep Inn" for the short-lived R&B group Ideal.[7]

2000–2005: Confessions, The Emancipation of Mimi, The Breakthrough

Cox contributed to Lil Bow Wow's debut album, Beware of Dog, writing the single "Puppy Love" and the Big Momma's House soundtrack. He worked with Jagged Edge's second studio album J.E. Heartbreak, contributing to songs "He Can't Love U" and "Let's Get Married". He contributed to Tamar Braxton's debut album, Tamar co-writing and producing "Get None" with musical partner Jermaine Dupri. He wrote and co-produced the second single "Just Be a Man About It" from Toni Braxton's third studio album, The Heat.

Cox worked with Usher, contributing to Confessions, co-writing and co-producing Billboard Hot 100 number-one songs "Burn" and "Confessions Part II". Confessions won Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 2005 Grammys. Confessions has been certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)[8] and, as of 2012, has sold 10.3 million copies in the United States.[9] It has sold over 20 million copies worldwide. He worked with Mariah Carey again on 2005's The Emancipation of Mimi with hits "Shake It Off" and "Don't Forget About Us". "Don't Forget About Us" was nominated for two Grammy Awards.[10] He wrote the fourth single from Chris Brown's self-titled debut album "Say Goodbye". He co-wrote "Be Without You" the lead single from Mary J. Blige seventh studio album The Breakthrough. The single was certified double-platinum in the United States,[11] was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year and won the Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance categories at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.[12]

2006–2009

Cox co-wrote "Shortie Like Mine" the first single for Bow Wow's fifth studio album, The Price of Fame, in 2006. Again working with Austin together the duo co-wrote "Stay Down" for Mary J. Blige's eighth studio album, Growing Pains in 2007. Cox co-wrote "Last Time" for Trey Songz's second studio album Trey Day. Cox produced and co-wrote "Circles", the third single from Marques Houston's Veteran album. In 2008, he wrote five songs for the group Day26's self-titled debut album, including the second single, "Since You've Been Gone".

2010–present

In 2010, he co-wrote and produced "Never Let You Go", the single for My World 2.0, the debut studio album by Justin Bieber. For Mariah Carey he co-wrote and co-produced "Oh Santa!", alongside Jermaine Dupri and Carey, for her second Christmas/thirteenth studio album, Merry Christmas II You. He added song writing and production on Usher's Grammy award-winning album Raymond vs Raymond. In the same year, Cox co-produced the single "Love All Over Me", the single from Monica's sixth studio album, Still Standing. He worked on Love and War for Tamar Braxton in 2013. He worked with Johntá Austin co-writing for R. Kelly's thirteenth studio album The Buffet, and on Views for Drake. Cox co-wrote on Free TC for Ty Dolla Sign.

Legacy

Cox went on to co-produce alongside his musical mentor Jermaine Dupri. He has had 35 number-one hits, 12 Grammy Award nominations, including nine wins, 20 top-ten hits, and eclipsing the record previously held by the Beatles for Billboards most consecutive number-one hits. Cox has been named one of Billboards "Top 10 Producers of the Decade" and sits on Billboards "Hot R&B Song of the Decade List", "Hot 100 Songs of the Decade List", "Top 200 Albums of the Decade List" and is a 2009 Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductee. He has been awarded the Billboard Songwriter of the Year Award and the SESAC Songwriter of the Year Award six consecutive years.[13] [14]

Song writing and producing credits

ArtistYearSongRoleAlbum
3LW2006"Feelin' You"Writer & producerPoint of No Return
"The Way I Feel About You"
Aaliyah2002"Come Over"Writer & producerI Care 4 U
Ari Lennox2021"Pressure"Writer & producerAge/Sex/Location
Avant2006"Director"Writer & producerDirector
B52007"Erika Kane"Writer & producerDon't Talk, Just Listen
"Right To Left"
Bobby V2007"How 'Bout It"Writer & producerSpecial Occasion
2011"Are You the Right One"Fly on the Wall
Bow Wow2000"Bounce with Me"WriterBeware of Dog
"Bow Wow (That's My Name)"
"Ghetto Girls"
"Puppy Love"
"The Dog in Me"
"This Playboy"
"You Know Me"
2001"All I Know"Writer & producerDoggy Bag
"Crazy"
"Get Up"
"Off the Glass"
"Pick of the Litter"
"Thank You"
"Take Ya Home"Writer
"Up in Here"Writer & producer
2005"Go"Writer & producerWanted
"Like You"Producer
2006"Shortie Like Mine"WriterThe Price of Fame
2009"You Can Get It All"ProducerNew Jack City II
Bryson Tiller2015"Don't" (samples "Shake It Off")WriterTrapsoul
Carl Thomas2007"If You Ever"Writer & producerSo Much Better
Chris Brown2005"Say Goodbye"Writer & producerChris Brown
"Winner"
2007"Fallen Angel"ProducerExclusive
"Throwed"Producer
Ciara2006"So Hard"Writer & producer
Danity Kane2006"Back Up"Writer & producerDanity Kane
"One Shot"
"Ride for You"
2008"2 of You"Writer & producerWelcome to the Dollhouse
"Sucka for Love"
Day262008"Are We in This Together"Writer & producerDay26
"Don't Fight the Feeling"
"Exclusive (No Excuses)"
"Since You've Been Gone"
2009"Babymaker"Forever in a Day
"Need That"
"So Good"
"Stadium Music"
Destiny's Child2004"Bad Habit"Writer & producerDestiny Fulfilled
Dru Hill2002"If I Could"Writer & producerDru World Order
dvsn2020"For Us"Writer & producerA Muse in Her Feelings
"No Crying"
Ella Mai2018"Dangerous"Writer & producerElla Mai
Fantasia2004"Got Me Waiting"Writer & producerFree Yourself
2006"Only One U"Fantasia
Ginuwine2002"Stingy"Writer & producerThe Senior
2009"Last Chance"Writer & producerA Man's Thoughts
"One Time for Love"Writer & producer
2011"Busy"ProducerElgin
"Drink of Choice"Writer & producer
"Frozen"Producer
Jagged Edge1999"Did She Say"Writer & producerJ.E. Heartbreak
"Healing"
"Heartbreak"
"He Can't Love U"
"Keys to the Range"
"Let's Get Married"
"Promise"
"What You Tryin' to Do"
2001"Best Man"Writer & producerJagged Little Thrill
"Cut Somethin'"
"Goodbye"
"I Got It"
"Remedy"
"Respect"
"This Goes Out"Producer
"Where the Party At"Writer & producer
2003"I Don't Wanna"Writer & producerHard
"Shady Girl"
"Tryna Be Your Man"
"Visions"
"Walked Outta Heaven"
2014"Familiar"Writer & producerJ.E. Heartbreak 2
"Future"
"Getting Over You"
"Hope"
"It's Been You"Producer
"Love Come Down"Writer & producer
"Make It Clear"
"Ready"
"Things I Do For You"
"Wanna Be (Romeo)"Producer
Joe2007"Feel for You"Writer & producerAin't Nothin' Like Me
"Go Hard"
"My Love"
"Run It Back"
"You Should Know Me"Producer
2008"By Any Means"Writer & producerJoe Thomas, New Man
"Man In Your Life"
"I Won't Let Him Hurt You"
"We Need to Roll"
Justin Bieber2010"Never Let You Go"Writer & producerMy World 2.0
Kehlani2017"Personal" (sample "Come Over")WriterSweetSexySavage
2020"Can I" (sample "Come Over")WriterIt Was Good Until It Wasn't
Keyshia Cole2007"Was It Worth It?"Writer & producerJust like You
Lil' Mo2003"4Ever"Writer & producerMeet the Girl Next Door
2007"Heartbeat"Pain & Paper
Mariah Carey1999"How Much"Writer & producerRainbow
2002"Miss You"Writer & producerCharmbracelet
"The One"
"You Had Your Chance"
2005"Get Your Number"Writer & producerThe Emancipation of Mimi
"Shake It Off"Writer
"Don't Forget About Us"Writer & producerThe Emancipation of Mimi (Deluxe Edition)
"Makin' It Last All Night (What It Do)"Writer
2008"For the Record"Writer & producerE=MC²
"I Stay In Love"
"4real4real" (featuring Da Brat)
2010"Oh Santa!"Writer & producerMerry Christmas II You
2014"Heavenly (No Ways Tired / Can't Give Up Now)"ProducerMe. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse
"Make It Look Good"Writer & producer
"One More Try"Producer
"Supernatural"Writer & producer
"You Don't Know What To Do"Writer & producer
Marques Houston2007"Circle"Writer & producerVeteran
"Exclusively"
Mary J. Blige2005"Ain't Really Love"Writer & producerThe Breakthrough
"Be Without You"
2006"Reflections (I Remember)"Reflections (A Retrospective)
"We Ride (I See the Future)"
2007"If You Love Me?"Growing Pains
"Stay Down"
2009"We Got Hood Love"Stronger with Each Tear
Monica2002"I'm Back"Writer & producerAll Eyez on Me
"If U Were the Girl"Writer & producer
"Searchin"Producer
"Too Hood"Writer & producer
"U Should've Known Better"Writer & producer
2006"Hell No (Leave Home)"Writer & producerThe Makings of Me
2010"Lesson Learned"Writer & producerStill Standing
"Love All Over Me"
"Still Standing"
"Superman"
2012"Amazing"New Life
Nivea2001"Don't Mess with My Man"Writer & producerNivea
2005"Parking Lot"Complicated
Omarion2006"Just Can't Let You Go"Writer & producer21
"Made For TV"
Tamar Braxton2000"Get None"Writer & producerTamar
2013"Pieces"Love and War
"Where It Hurts"
Tamia2004"Still"Writer & producerMore
Toni Braxton2000"Just Be a Man About It"Writer & producerThe Heat
2005"Trippin' (That's the Way Love Works)"Libra
"What's Good"
Trey Songz2007"Last Time"Writer & producerTrey Day
2009"One Love"Ready
Tyrese2001"Off the Heezy"Writer & producer2000 Watts
2002"Somebody Special"I Wanna Go There
2006"Gotta Get You"Alter Ego
Usher2001"Good Ol' Ghetto"Writer & producer8701
"If I Want To"
"I Can't Let U Go"
"T.T.P."
"U Got It Bad"
"U-Turn"
2004"Burn"Writer & producerConfessions
"Confessions Part I"
"Confessions Part II"
"Do It to Me"
2008"Before I Met You"Writer & producerHere I Stand
2010"Foolin' Around"Writer & producerRaymond v. Raymond
2019"Don't Waste My Time"Writer & producerConfession 2

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.ascap.com/repertory#ace/search/workID/883613681 ASCAP.
  2. Web site: Bryan-Michael Cox – Biography. Chadbourne. Eugene. AllMusic. September 25, 2014.
  3. Web site: Georgia Music Hall Of Fame Inductees. Georgia Music Channel. November 2, 2018. November 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181109153400/http://www.georgiamusicchannel.com/Georgia_Music_Inductees.html. dead.
  4. Web site: In Tune: Bryan-Michael Cox. Atlanta Magazine. Kimberly. Turner. September 1, 2009. November 2, 2018.
  5. Web site: Bryan-Michael Cox Writes/Produces Hits With Mary J. Blige and Mariah Carey; Wins Best R&B Song Grammy. Songwriter Universe. Jonathan. Widran. January 16, 2007. November 2, 2018.
  6. Web site: Bio. Blazetrak. November 2, 2018.
  7. Web site: Songs written by Bryan-Michael Cox. MusicVF . November 2, 2018.
  8. Web site: Gold & Platinum. RIAA. November 2, 2018.
  9. Adele's '25' Sales Surpass 8 Million in the U.S.. Billboard. Keith. Caulfield. February 7, 2016. November 2, 2018.
  10. Web site: Grammy – Mariah Carey nominations. Grammy. November 2, 2018.
  11. Web site: Gold & Platinum. RIAA. November 2, 2018.
  12. Web site: GRAMMY Award – Mary J. Blige. Grammy. November 2, 2018.
  13. Web site: Making Hits With Bryan-Michael Cox. Grammy. December 2, 2014. November 2, 2018.
  14. SESAC Goes South. Billboard . Susan. Butler. October 28, 2006. November 2, 2018.