Carlos Stephens

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Carlos Stephens
Birth nameCarlos Stephens
Also known asClos
Born (1972-01-24) January 24, 1972 (age 52) [1]
Origin New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s) Record producer, Mixing engineer
Instrument(s)Vocals, Synthesizer, Keyboards, Drum machine, Sampler, Pro Tools, Turntablism, Scratching, guitar
Years active1991–present
LabelsSpiral Records (1991-1996) [2] No Limit Records, Priority Records (1994-2002), Flame Entertainment (2003-present)

Carlos Stephens (born January 24, 1972) is an American record producer and mixing engineer from New Orleans, Louisiana. He found fame as a member of No Limit Records' in-house production team, Beats by the Pound. He also was the only producer of No Limit to have outside distribution for an artist. Since leaving the label, he has founded his own record label Flame Entertainment. To date, Stephens has over 75 Million in credited record sales. [3] [4] Stephens has compiled nearly 900 Million in streams credited via Muso.Ai [5] Stephens has worked on over sixty-five major projects and is credited with three #1 Singles, Fourteen gold albums, Ten platinum, Two double platinum, one Triple platinum, & one Quadruple Platinum Album

Contents

Early years

Born In New Orleans, but raised in the Gretna area, Carlos started producing music for a few local groups in the early nineties this allowed him to develop his skills and production methods.

No Limit

In 1994, Stephens would produce for Ron Gray "The Bossman: [6] which would be one of his final outside productions before joining the No Limit in-house production team of Beats by the Pound. Over the next few years he would provide substantial production for all No Limit artists, with his first major production on Silkk the Shocker's debut album The Shocker in 1996. [7]

In 1996, Carlos, with the permission of Master P, became the only in-house producer to establish distribution outside No Limit Records. This allowed him to release his first artist, Skull Duggery and The Ghetto Commission in 1998. He would later receive nomination for Producer of the Year and collectively be voted as one of Hip-Hop's "Thirty Most Powerful People" by The Source . [8]

In 1999, No Limit would see the departure of fellow Beats By The Pound production mates, as the only remaining member would oversee the majority of the next five years of production with multiple gold and platinum albums. Starting with Master P's platinum-selling album Only God Can Judge Me , and the title track for the film Light It Up . In 2000, Stephens would contribute production on the soundtrack to the HBO series Oz . Stephens and No Limit would follow up with the introduction of the 504 Boyz and his production of their self-titled platinum-selling debut album, with the lead single "Wobble Wobble" going Platinum, following this with the success of Master P's Gold album Ghetto Postage with its smash Platinum hit "Bout Dat". In 2001, Carlos would see his greatest commercial success with Lil Romeo's debut single "My Baby" reaching platinum status and also staying at number 1 on the Billboard charts for 10 weeks straight. The song "My Baby" was also the 2001 Billboard Single of the year.[ citation needed ]

Later career

In 2002, Carlos began working with a partnership program for"Prodikeys" a developed by Creative Labs Nasdaq listed company. [9] From 2004 to 2006, Carlos headed up the business development team with partner Gary Murray founder of Wise Technologies. The new company was called Mixcast Networks (formally OOH! t v) Mixcast was a strategic, development and content accusation and distribution firm with a wi-fi component, that reached malls, airports, travel plazas. [10]

By 2008, Carlos would take the director's chair with his debut video "Be Fresh" for C-Murder's album Screamin' 4 Vengeance . Stephens also started consulting, via 31Minds LLC. with the sole purpose of helping companies with branding, and creating strategic alliances between the companies in unconventional ways to expand the awareness of the product.

Related Research Articles

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Percy Robert Miller, better known by his stage name Master P, is an American rapper, record producer, record executive, dancer, actor and entrepreneur. He founded the record label No Limit Records in 1991, which was relaunched into the spin-off labels New No Limit Records and No Limit Forever Records. Miller gained fame in the mid-1990s as the lead and founding of the label's hip hop group TRU, as well as his fifth solo album, Ice Cream Man (1996), and its namesake lead single. His 1997 single, "Make 'Em Say Uhh!" received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

McKinley Phipps, Jr., better known simply as Mac, is an American rapper from New Orleans' 3rd Ward. He began rapping as a child, releasing his debut album The Lyrical Midget at the age of 13 in 1990, under the stage name Lil Mac. Mac would eventually sign with Master P's No Limit Records and would grow to be one of the most critically acclaimed artists on the label, both as a solo rapper and as a member of the super group 504 Boyz. Mac released two solo albums and one album as part of the 504 Boyz on No Limit, including 1998's Shell Shocked, which peaked at No. 11 on the US Billboard 200.

<i>I Got the Hook-Up</i> (soundtrack) 1998 soundtrack album by various artists

I Got the Hook-Up is the soundtrack to Michael Martin's 1998 crime comedy film I Got the Hook-Up. It was released on April 7, 1998, through No Limit/Priority Records.

<i>Made Man</i> (album) 1999 studio album by Silkk The Shocker

Made Man is the third studio album by American rapper Silkk The Shocker, released on January 19, 1999, on Priority Records and Master P's No Limit Records. Production for the album was handled by No Limit producers Beats By the Pound and The Whole 9. The album features guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Mýa, Jay-Z, and Master P, the latter whom executive produced the album.

<i>Life or Death</i> (C-Murder album) 1998 studio album by C-Murder

Life or Death is the debut studio album by American rapper C-Murder. It was released on March 24, 1998, by No Limit Records and Priority Records. It was produced by Beats By the Pound. Like most of No Limit's albums in the 1990s, the album was a success, peaking at number 3 on the US Billboard 200 and at number 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums; as well as number 21 on the Top Heatseekers. After debuting on the charts with 197,000 copies sold its first week out, Life or Death achieved platinum status moving over 2 million copies by the end of 1999. In its second week of release, the album charted at number 7 on the Billboard 200, then at number 10 in its third week.

<i>Mama Drama</i> (album) 1998 studio album by Mia X

Mama Drama is the third and final studio album released by American rapper Mia X, which was released on October 27, 1998, on No Limit Records, distributed by Priority Records and EMI, and featured production from Master P and Beats By the Pound. Many of the guests who appeared on the previous album returned for guest appearances on the album including Fat Joe and Charlie Wilson. Mama Drama debuted at numbers three and seven on both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts respectively. It spawned two singles: "What'cha Wanna Do" and "Imma Shine". It went on to sell 400,000 units in the US.

<i>The Shocker</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Silkk

The Shocker is the debut album of American rapper Silkk the Shocker, who was then known as Silkk. It was released on August 20, 1996, by No Limit Records and Priority Records. It features production by Beats by the Pound and guest appearances from C-Murder and Mia X among others. The Shocker was only a mild success compared to some his future albums and made it to number 49 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. As with most of No Limit's albums, this featured a lot of guest appearances from members of the record label including his brothers, Master P and C-Murder and group TRU.

<i>Charge It 2 da Game</i> 1998 studio album by Silkk the Shocker

Charge It 2 da Game is the second studio album by American rapper Silkk the Shocker, released February 17, 1998, as planned, on No Limit Records in the United States. The album was later certified Platinum by the RIAA on March 25, 1998

<i>On Top of da World</i> 1999 studio album by Lil Italy

On Top of da World is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Lil Italy. It was released on August 3, 1999 via No Limit Records. Recording sessions took place at K-Lou Studios in Richmond, California and at No Limit Studios in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Production was handled by K-Lou, KLC, Ricky "Gold Fingers" Rivera, Carlos "C-Los Beats" Stephens, Charles Doyle Leonard and Poorman Dre, with Master P serving as executive producer.

<i>These Wicked Streets</i> 1998 studio album by Skull Duggery

These Wicked Streets is the second studio album by American rapper Skull Duggery. It was released on September 8, 1998 via No Limit/Penalty Recordings, making it the rapper's final record for the label. Production was handled by Beats By The Pound, with Master P serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Silkk the Shocker, C-Murder, Fiend, Master P, Mo B. Dick, Big Ed, Ghetto Commission, KLC, Mia X, Mr. Serv-On, Mystikal, O'Dell, Shad, Snoop Dogg and Soup Bone. The album peaked at number 21 on the Billboard 200, number 41 on the Heatseekers Albums and number 4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States.

<i>Wise Guys</i> (album) 1998 studio album by Ghetto Commission

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<i>Black Mafia</i> (album) 1998 studio album by Steady Mobbn

Black Mafia is the second studio album released by American hip hop duo Steady Mobb'n. It was released on November 24, 1998, through No Limit Records, and was produced by Beats By the Pound and Meech Wells; according to group member Billy Bavgate, the record was completed in one week. The only released single, "Ghetto Life", was a minor hit, but the album failed to match the major success of their 1997 debut Pre-Meditated Drama, peaking at #82 on the Billboard 200 and #19 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Steady Mobb'n departed No Limit thereafter. Most critics blame the albums lackluster sales and weak delivery on the account of DJ Daryl not being present on the album. Black Mafia had sold 21,000 copies in its first week.

<i>Life Insurance</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Mr. Serv-On

Life Insurance is the debut album by rapper, Mr. Serv-On. It was released on August 5, 1997 through No Limit Records and was mostly produced by the labels in-house production team, Beats By the Pound, with one track produced by Brotha Lynch Hung. The album was both a commercial and critical success selling 98,000 units in one week, peaking at #20 on the Billboard 200 and #12 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums,.

<i>Goodfellas</i> (504 Boyz album) 2000 studio album by 504 Boyz

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wobble Wobble</span> 2000 single by 504 Boyz

"Wobble Wobble" is the debut single by 504 Boyz, released in 2000 from their debut studio album, Goodfellas. The song was produced by Beats by the Pound member Carlos Stephens and featured seven members of the group, Master P, C-Murder, Silkk the Shocker, Mac, Magic, Krazy and Mystikal. The production incorporates elements of the New Orleans hip-hop subgenre of bounce music. The Goodfellas version is a remix, since the original appeared on Magic's album Thuggin' first. The original version, also produced by Carlos Stephens, features a slightly different beat and only features Magic, C-Murder, and Mac.

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Ghetto D is the sixth studio album by American rapper Master P, released on September 2, 1997 on No Limit Records and Priority Records.

<i>Ghetto Postage</i> 2000 studio album by Master P

Ghetto Postage is the ninth studio album by American rapper Master P. It was released on November 28, 2000, on No Limit Records and Priority Records in the United States. This is Master P's last album to be distributed by Priority. The album features Snoop Dogg, Silkk the Shocker and Tamar Braxton. The album included the singles "Bout Dat" featuring Silkk the Shocker and "Souljas". The album was mostly produced by Carlos Stephens and Donald XL Robertson along with Myke Diesel.

Vyshonn King Miller, better known by his stage name Silkk the Shocker, is an American rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. The brother of Master P, Miller signed with his record label No Limit Records, an imprint of Priority Records to release his debut studio album, The Shocker (1996). Despite unfavorable critical reception, his second and third albums—Charge It 2 da Game (1998) and Made Man (1999)—were both met with minor critical inclines and received platinum certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA); the latter debuted atop the Billboard 200.

References

  1. ↑ "Music – Music News, New Songs, Videos, Music Shows and Playlists from MTV". www.mtv.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Spiral Records (9)". Discogs.
  3. ↑ "Ellis Jay Pailet, Esq. - P&O Law". proentertainmentlaw.com. Archived from the original on 2022-07-03. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  4. ↑ BWW News Desk. "D.R.E. Entertainment Closes Fiscal Year with Strong Earnings".
  5. ↑ "Muso.Ai -".
  6. ↑ "Carlos "C-Los" Stephens | New Orleans, Louisiana | Producer". Archived from the original on 2016-03-14. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  7. ↑ "The Shocker - Silkk the Shocker". discogs . Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  8. ↑ "You Hear Me the Movie | Producers". Archived from the original on 2016-03-14. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  9. ↑ "Press Relations". www.creative.com.
  10. ↑ "People in Wireless News: Carlos Stephens Joins OOH! TV Team - Wireless News | HighBeam Research". Archived from the original on 2016-05-05. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
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