Dot da Genius

Last updated

Dot da Genius
Birth nameOladipo Omishore
BornJuly 17 1986
Origin Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
Years active2001–present
LabelsHeadBanga Muzik Group
Member of

Oladipo Omishore, known professionally as Dot da Genius, is an American record producer and audio engineer from Brooklyn, New York. He first gained recognition in 2008 for producing "Day 'n' Nite" by American musician Kid Cudi, with whom he is a longtime friend and frequent collaborator; the two would later form a rock band in 2010, known as WZRD. [1]

Contents

Engaged in various entrepreneurial pursuits, Omishore launched his own trans-media company HeadBanga Muzik Group which has collaborated with numerous brands and labels, such as: Universal Music Group, BMG, Nike, and Splice. His production has been featured on albums by several prominent artists in the music industry, including Nas, Kanye West, Eminem, Denzel Curry, Lil Nas X, JID, 6LACK, and Jhené Aiko, among others. [2]

Life and career

1986–2005: Early life

Oladipo Omishore is from the Brooklyn borough of New York City. He is of Nigerian heritage, of the Yoruba tribe. [3] [4] His parents always encouraged his interest in music, and at the age of seven, his father sent him to the Brooklyn Music School for piano lessons, where he studied with Tom Coote. Omishore preferred playing the guitar, but learning how to play a keyboard instrument was very beneficial later in life when he started producing. He attended Polytechnic Institute of New York University in New York, where he studied electrical engineering and graduated in 2009. [2]

2006–2009: Career beginnings and producing for Kid Cudi

Omishore began his career in sound-mixing in 2003 at New York University by using Image-Line's FL Studio program. In 2004, Omishore created a studio in his basement with equipment bought by his parents and would later call it "Head Banga Muzik Studios." [5] After gaining attention for his production, he decided to change locations to the Brewery Recording Studio. In May 2009, Da Genius partnered up with Andrew Krivonos, owner of Brewery Recording Studio, and helped move the studio to North Brooklyn in a new facility. [6]

Omishore and Kid Cudi met in 2006, and they lived together for two years. Both artists found a genuine liking for one another, and chose to work with each other on several music productions. "Day N' Nite" turned out to be the biggest hit production that both of them worked on together, with Omishore providing the beats and Cudi rapping and singing over the music. He produced the song in Head Banga Muzik Studios, and used several different methods of mixing and synthesizing the beats on this track. The song took a total of two days to complete, from the instrumental being made to the track's final arrangements. No edits were made after that two-day process ended. It was finished in 2007 and became popular two years later, in 2009. [2] "Day N' Nite" reached the top three in the United States and the United Kingdom. [2] It was released under the labels GOOD Music, Fool's Gold Records, Universal Motown Records, and Data Records. It is featured on the album Man on the Moon: The End of Day .

2010–2018: WZRD

WZRD is Omishore and Kid Cudi's collaboration alternative rock band. Kid Cudi focuses on the vocals, while Omishore is responsible for the production. [7] Together, they produced a self-made album titled WZRD. Much of their inspiration behind the album came from their love for Nirvana, The Pixies, and Pink Floyd. [7] They recorded much of the album in either their tour bus while they were on the road, or Cudi's basement studio in Hollywood Hills. [8] This album contained absolutely no profanity, including the "n word" that many rappers loosely use. [9] The album was first released on February 28, 2012. It reportedly sold 70,499 copies in its opening week. [10] Although Cudi finds the marketing and promotion of the album weak by Universal Music Group, it landed the number three spot on the album sales chart. [11] Universal Music Group also allegedly under-shipped copies of the album. [12] While "Dose of Dopeness" was released prior to the release of WZRD, it was not featured on the album. [13]

2018–present: Solo debut album

In 2018, Omishore and Woodro Skillson announced the signing of James Japan to their label, HeadBanga Muzik Group. [14]

In 2020, Omishore scored his first number-one hit single on the Billboard Hot 100, when "The Scotts," a collaborative effort between Cudi and his protege Travis Scott, debuted at the top spot in the US chart.

On June 24, 2022, Omishore released "Talk About Me", the lead single from his upcoming solo debut album. The song features vocals from American rappers Kid Cudi, Denzel Curry, and JID. In July 2022, Complex interviewed Omishore on his upcoming debut album. [15]

Artistry

Musical style

Omishore is a self-taught music producer and engineer. [2]

Influences

Among Omishore’s favorite albums of all time are Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon , Dr. Dre's The Chronic , Outkast's ATLiens , and Coldplay's Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends . [16]

Personal life

Omishore has one daughter, from a previous relationship. [17] In September 2014, American singer-songwriter Jhené Aiko, revealed she and Omishore were in a relationship. The two revealed their marriage in March 2016. [3] [18] On August 9, 2016, Jhené Aiko filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences. [19] The divorce was finalized in October 2017. [20] [21]

Discography

Soundtrack albums

List of soundtracks, with selected information
TitleAlbum details
Entergalactic (Original Score)
(with Plain Pat)

Singles

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
TitleYearAlbum
"Fettuccine" [23]
(featuring Tunji Ige, Fat Tony and Price)
2018non-album single
"Talk About Me" [24]
(with Kid Cudi, Denzel Curry and JID)
2022TBA

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
TitleYearOther artist(s)Album
"Burrow"2022 Kid Cudi, Don Toliver, Steve Aoki Entergalactic

Production discography

Awards and nominations

BET Hip Hop Awards

YearNominated workAwardResult
2009 [25] Day 'n' Nite BET Hip Hop Award for Track of the YearNominated
Day 'n' NiteBET Hip Hop Award for Best Hip Hop VideoNominated

Black Reel Television Awards

YearNominated workAwardResult
2023 [26] Entergalactic Outstanding Musical ScoreNominated

Grammy Awards

YearNominated WorkAwardResult
2010 [27] "Day 'n' Nite" Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance Nominated
"Day 'n' Nite" Grammy Award for Best Rap Song Nominated
2019 “Panini” Best Rap/Sung Performance Nominated

MTV Video Music Awards

YearNominated workAwardResult
2009 [28] "Day 'n' Nite" MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist Nominated

mtvU Woodie Awards

YearNominated WorkAwardResult
2009 [29] "Day 'n' NiteBest Video WoodieNominated

Filmography

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZRD (band)</span> American rock band

WZRD is an American alternative rock band and record production team composed of longtime friends and frequent collaborators Dot da Genius and Kid Cudi. Formed in New York City in 2010, Cudi originally named the band Wizard, inspired by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath's song of the same name. However, Cudi renamed the band on two occasions, the first being in April 2011 to 2 Be Continuum, explaining: "I needed something more original, something different...". The second time occurred in November 2011, to the band's current namesake. The eponymous debut album, WZRD, was released in February 2012, peaking at number three on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album was supported by the lead singles, "Brake" and "Teleport 2 Me, Jamie".

<i>WZRD</i> (album) 2012 studio album by WZRD

WZRD is the debut studio album by American alternative rock duo WZRD, composed of musicians Dot da Genius and Kid Cudi. It was released on February 28, 2012, via Universal Republic Records and GOOD Music, also in conjunction with Cudi's then-newly founded label imprint, Wicked Awesome Records. The album was supported by the lead singles "Brake" and "Teleport 2 Me, Jamie".

The following list is a discography of production by Dot da Genius, an American hip hop record producer from Brooklyn, New York. It includes a list of songs produced, co-produced and remixed by year, artist, album and title.

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<i>Souled Out</i> (Jhené Aiko album) 2014 studio album by Jhené Aiko

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<i>Sail Out</i> 2013 EP by Jhené Aiko

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<i>Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon</i> 2014 studio album by Kid Cudi

Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon is the fourth studio album by American rapper Kid Cudi. The album, which was issued on February 25, 2014, with only few hours' notice, was first released to digital retailers by Wicked Awesome Records and Republic Records. The album features a sole guest appearance from Raphael Saadiq. The album received praise from critics for its production, vocal performance, as well as the album's surprise release strategy.

<i>Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin</i> 2016 studio album by Kid Cudi

Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin' is the sixth studio album by American rapper Kid Cudi. The album was released on December 16, 2016, through Wicked Awesome Records and Republic Records. It succeeds Cudi's alternative rock album Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven (2015). The album features guest appearances from André 3000, Pharrell Williams, Travis Scott and Willow Smith. The production on the album was handled by Cudi himself, alongside Plain Pat, Mike Dean, Dot da Genius, Anthony Kilhoffer, Mike Will Made It and Pharrell Williams, among others.

<i>Man on the Moon III: The Chosen</i> 2020 studio album by Kid Cudi

Man on the Moon III: The Chosen is the seventh studio album by American musician Kid Cudi, released on December 11, 2020 by Wicked Awesome Records and Republic Records. It is the final installment of Cudi's Man on the Moon trilogy of albums.

"Tequila Shots" is a song by American rapper Kid Cudi, released on December 11, 2020 as part of his seventh studio album Man on the Moon III: The Chosen. The song was produced by Dot da Genius, Take a Daytrip and Cudi himself. In June 2022, the song reached platinum status, selling over 1 million units in the US. The song was later included on Cudi’s first greatest hits album The Boy Who Flew to the Moon, Vol. 1 (2022).

"Show Out" is a song recorded by rappers Kid Cudi, Skepta and Pop Smoke. It was released on December 11, 2020, from Kid Cudi's seventh studio album Man on the Moon III: The Chosen. The song was produced by Dot da Genius, Plain Pat, Gravez, Cudi and Dennis Cummings, with co-production from Heavy Mellow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talk About Me</span> 2022 song by Dot da Genius, JID, Denzel Curry, and Kid Cudi

"Talk About Me" is a song by American record producer Dot da Genius and American rappers JID, Denzel Curry, and Kid Cudi. It was released on June 24, 2022, through Dot da Genius' HeadBanga Muzik Group imprint, as the lead single from his upcoming debut studio album. It was accompanied by a music video directed by Cole Bennett for Lyrical Lemonade.

<i>The Boy Who Flew to the Moon, Vol. 1</i> 2022 greatest hits album by Kid Cudi

The Boy Who Flew to the Moon, Vol. 1 is the first greatest hits album by American musician Kid Cudi. It was released on July 8, 2022, by Republic Records and Cudi's Wicked Awesome imprint. The compilation includes tracks from seven of his previous studio albums: Man on the Moon: The End of Day (2009), Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager (2010), Indicud (2013), Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon (2014), Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven (2015), Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin' (2016) and Man on the Moon III: The Chosen (2020). Also included are songs from his rock band, WZRD's eponymously titled debut album (2012). The album concludes with a re-mastered version of his 2015 non-album song "Love", as a bonus track. The Boy Who Flew to the Moon, Vol. 1 anthologizes songs by Cudi since his major-label debut, including those released during his joint deal with Kanye West's GOOD Music and major-label Republic.

References

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