Ezekiel Lewis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. |
| Education | Morehouse College |
| Occupation(s) | Record executive, songwriter |
Ezekiel Lewis is an American record executive who has served since 2023 as President of Epic Records. Prior, he served as Senior VP of A&R at Motown from 2011 to 2017, and held a similar title at Epic from the latter year to 2023. [1] [2] [3] He is also the founder of the music publishing company Bar Music Group, as well as the production collective the Clutch. [1]
Lewis grew up in Montgomery, Alabama. [4] Lewis graduated from Morehouse College. [1]
Lewis signed with David Foster’s 143 Records as a musician after graduating from college. [1] [2] He served as a composer for Luther Vandross’s Grammy-winning album Dance with My Father, which was released in 2003. [1] [5]
In 2004, Lewis co-founded songwriting and production collective The Clutch, crafting songs for artists such as Mary J. Blige, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Omarion, Fantasia, Jennifer Lopez, Ciara, and Timbaland. [3] [6] Notable credits from this period include Mary J. Blige’s Grammy-winning 2005 classic The Breakthrough,. [1] [5] "Freakshow" and “Radar” from Britney Spears' 2007 opus Blackout , [7] and Justin Bieber's 2009 triple-platinum hit “One Less Lonely Girl.” [8]
He worked closely with R&B singer Trey Songz, contributing to his first album I Gotta Make It in 2005. [3] [5] [9]
Lewis founded the music publishing company Bar Music Group in 2010. [1]
The company represents a number of artists, songwriters and producers including John “SK” McGee (Future, Trey Songz, Pusha T, Kevin Gates) and Najja McDowell (Trey Songz’ “2 Reasons” featuring T.I., “Simply Amazing” and “Dive In”). He started to climb the label ranks in 2011, when he was named Senior Vice President of A&R at Motown Records in 2011. [1] [10] While at Motown Records, he worked on music by artists such as Ne-Yo, Lil Yachty, and T.I. [1] [5]
With a knack for sniffing out hits and lifting great artists to new heights, in 2017, Lewis was appointed Executive Vice President of A&R at Epic Records. [11] [12] In this capacity, he worked on music with artists such as 21 Savage, the Black Eyed Peas, Future, and Meghan Trainor. [1] [11] He also contributed to Mariah Carey’s 2018 album Caution. [5] [13] He did production work on Kevin Hart’s Grammy-nominated 2018 comedy album What Now? [2] [14]
Lewis also spearheaded major comebacks for the Black Eyed Peas and Meghan Trainor. The exec helped guide Black Eyed Peas on their 2020 album Translation, which included the smash hits “Ritmo (Bad Boys for Life)” and “Mamacita.” which were included in Billboard ’s Hot Latin Songs chart. [15]
Additionally, he shaped Meghan Trainor’s 2022 album Takin’ It Back , which produced the viral smash "Made You Look." [16] During this period, he also A&R'd Giveon’s 2022 album Give or Take. [16]
In 2023, Lewis was appointed President of Epic Records, shepherding the likes of rising pop stars Madison Beer and Zara Larsson to massive success. [1] [3] [17] He was also named to Billboard’s Power 100 List [11] and was honored at the Creative Community for Peace’s fifth annual Ambassadors for Peace event. [18] The accolades continued in 2024, Lewis being named Billboard Executive of the Week for his work on Tyla’s song “Water.” [19]
| Year | Artist | Work | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Luther Vandross | Dance With My Father | Composer |
| 2005 | Trey Songz | I Gotta Make It | Composer |
| 2005 | Mary J. Blige | Take Me As I Am | Composer |
| 2006 | Jagged Edge | Jagged Edge | Composer |
| 2006 | The Isley Brothers / Ronald Isley | Baby Makin' Music | Producer, Vocal (Background), Voice Arrangement, Vocal Producer, Composer |
| 2006 | Omarion | 21 | Composer |
| 2007 | Kevin Michael | Kevin Michael | Composer |
| 2007 | Mario | Go | Composer |
| 2007 | Omarion | Ice Box | Composer |
| 2007 | Britney Spears | Freakshow | Co-writer |
| 2007 | Britney Spears | Radar | Co-writer |
| 2007 | Keke Palmer | So Uncool | Composer |
| 2008 | Amerie | Because I love You | Composer |
| 2008 | Danity Kane | Anonymous Hit Pack | Composer |
| 2008 | Danity Kane | Welcome to the Dollhouse | Composer |
| 2008 | Donnie Klang | Just A Rolling Stone | Composer |
| 2008 | The Pussy Cat Dolls | Doll Domination | Composer |
| 2008 | Tiffany Evans | Tiffany Evans | Composer |
| 2008 | Britney Spears | Circus | Composer |
| 2008 | Jesse McCartney | Departure | Drum Programming, Vocals (Background), Songwriter, Composer |
| 2009 | Ginuwine | A Man'sThoughts | Vocal Producer |
| 2009 | Keril Hilson | In a Perfect World | Composer |
| 2009 | Justin Bieber | My World | Composer, Producer |
| 2009 | Chris Cornell | Part of Me | Composer |
| 2009 | Various Artists | Punk Goes Pop, Vol. 2 | Composer |
| 2009 | Chris Cornell | Scream | Vocals (Background), Composer |
| 2009 | Noel Gourdin | After My Time | Composer |
| 2009 | Britney Spears | Circus | Composer |
| 2009 | Justin Bieber | One Less Lonely Girl | Composer |
| 2010 | Justin Bieber | My Worlds Acoustic | Composer |
| 2010 | Justin Bieber | My Worlds | Composer |
| 2010 | Trey Songz | Passion, Pain & Pleasure | Composer |
| 2010 | Piano Tribute Players | Piano Tribute to Justin Bieber | Composer |
| 2010 | Jaheim | Another Round | Composer |
| 2010 | Ronald Isley | Mr. I | Composer |
| 2011 | Britney Spears | B in the Mix: The Remixes, Vol. 2 | Composer |
| 2011 | Justin Bieber | Chartbuster Karaoke Gold : Justin Bieber | Composer |
| 2011 | Various Artists | Clubbers Guide 2011 | Vocal Producer |
| 2011 | Various Artists | Ibiza Annual 2011 | Vocal Producer |
| 2012 | Trey Songz | Chapter V | Composer |
| 2012 | The OMG Girlz | Where the boys At | Composer |
| 2012 | Britney Spears | Femme Fatale/Circus | Composer |
| 2013 | Britney Spears | In the Zone/Circus | Composer |
| 2013 | Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas Album | The Florida Files | A & R composer, Producer |
| 2013 | B. Smith | The Florida Files | Composer |
| 2014 | Trey Songz | Trigga | Composer |
| 2015 | Kevin Ross | Dream | Composer |
| 2016 | Kevin Ross | Push It On Me | Composer |
| 2017 | Kevin Ross | Look Up | Composer |
| 2018 | Chris Cornell | Chris Cornell | Composer, Backing Vocals |
| 2020 | Black Eyed Peas | Translations | Composer |
Tremaine Aldon Neverson, known professionally as Trey Songz, is an American R&B singer. He was discovered by record producer Troy Taylor in 2003, and signed to his label, Songbook Entertainment, in a joint venture with Atlantic Records shortly after. His debut studio album, I Gotta Make It (2005), entered the Billboard 200 at number 20, while his second album, Trey Day (2007) peaked at number 11. The latter was supported by the single "Can't Help but Wait", which peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards. His third album, Ready (2009), peaked at number three on the Billboard 200, spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top ten single "Say Aah", and earned a nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.
I Gotta Make It is the debut studio album by American R&B recording artist Trey Songz. It was released on July 26, 2005, by Atlantic Records. Recording sessions for the album took place from 2004 to 2005, with Songz' then mentor Troy Taylor overseeing most of the production. Additional producers include Warryn Campbell, Scott Storch, J.R. Rotem, Bei Maejor, and Organized Noize. Guest vocalists include American rappers Twista, Juvenile and T.I. as well as R&B singer Aretha Franklin.
Barry Lather is an American creative director, choreographer, producer, and dancer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Los Angeles, California.
The Clutch was an American collective of songwriters and record producers based in Atlanta, composed of Candice Clotiel "Gg" Nelson, Ezekiel "Zeke" Lewis, Patrick Michael "J. Que" Smith, Balewa Muhammad and Keri Hilson. They were on the Billboard Hot 100-top 40 singles Omarion's "Ice Box", Ciara's "Like a Boy", Timbaland's "The Way I Are", and Justin Bieber's "One Less Lonely Girl".
American R&B singer Trey Songz has released nine studio albums, two extended plays (EPs), seven mixtapes and fifty-nine singles. His music has sold an overall 25 million records worldwide in singles and albums.
Ready is the third studio album by American R&B recording artist Trey Songz. It was released on August 31, 2009, by Troy Taylor's record label Songbook, distributed by Atlantic Records. The album serves as the sequel to Trey Day (2007). Production for the album took place from 2008 to 2009, which was contributed by Songz's longtime collaborator and his mentor Troy Taylor, along with Bryan-Michael Cox, StarGate and Los da Mystro, among others.
"I Need a Girl" is a song by American recording artist Trey Songz. The track was written by Johntá Austin and Joshua J. Jackson, along with the song's production team, Stargate, who also produced his breakthrough hit, "Can't Help But Wait." The song served as the lead single for Songz's third studio album Ready. "I Need a Girl" received positive to mixed reviews from critics, some of which noted it as generic, and other naming it as a top track from the album. It reached fifty-nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and six on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The accompanying music video shot in Malibu features Songz and love interests on the beach, as they turn out to be mirages.
"LOL Smiley Face" ") is a song by American recording artist Trey Songz. It features rappers Gucci Mane and Soulja Boy and serves as the second single from Songz' third studio album, Ready. The artists co-wrote the song with its producers Troy Taylor and Tony Scales. "LOL Smiley Face" is an R&B song featuring bouncy, poppy synths, and lyrically refers to sexting and other electronic multimedia messaging. The song was released as the second single from Songz's third album Ready on August 24, 2009.
"Yesterday" is a song by American R&B singer Toni Braxton. It was written by Braxton, Jerome Armstrong, Terrence Battle, Michael White, and DJ Frank E and produced by the latter for her seventh studio album Pulse (2010). Selected as the album's lead single, it was released by Atlantic Records to US radios on September 29, 2009. American singer Trey Songz appears on the Troy Taylor radio edit of "Yesterday," which served as the American version released to radio. Outside North America, the original version of the song was released, which features only Braxton's vocals.
"Drop It Low" is the debut single by American singer and songwriter Ester Dean. The official version features vocals from R&B singer Chris Brown. This was also released as the second single from the soundtrack for the film More than a Game (2009). The original version of the song did not feature Chris Brown, and maintained the same lyrics on the second verse but coming from a man's perspective. The official remix features Lil Wayne, Trey Songz and Diddy.
"Say Aah" is a song by American singer Trey Songz featuring American rapper Fabolous. The track was written by the two along with Nate Walka, Ronald M. Ferebee, Jr., Tony Scales, and Don Correll, with the latter producing it with Troy Taylor and Young Yonny. It was released on January 12, 2010 as the fourth single from Songz's third studio effort, Ready (2009). The song has lyrical content referring to a night of drinking during a birthday celebration, with the title referencing the eponymous phrase said doctors or dentists to denote a patient's oral treatment.
Tony Scales, known professionally as Chef Tone, is an American record producer and songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. He is best known for his songwriting work for numerous releases by American singer Trey Songz, including his 2009 single "Bottoms Up", which peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. Following its success, Scales has since been credited on albums by Justin Bieber, Jamie Foxx, Dr. Dre, Plies, Jacquees, Maejor, Queen Naija, and Sean Paul, among others.
"Neighbors Know My Name" is a song by American R&B singer Trey Songz. It was written by Songz with Patrick Hayes and Troy Taylor, who produced the song with John "$K" McGee. It was released to rhythmic and urban airplay as the fifth and final single from his third studio album, Ready on February 16, 2010. The song, described as being hook-heavy and having a powerful bassline, received generally positive reviews from critics. The song reached forty-three on the Billboard Hot 100 and four on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, becoming Songz's third consecutive top five R&B hit.
Brandon Michael Green, known professionally as Maejor, is an American record producer, songwriter, and singer. Green is known for having produced and written songs for prominent music industry artists—most extensively Canadian singer Justin Bieber. He is one half of the EDM duo Area21, which he formed with Dutch DJ Martin Garrix in 2016.
Passion, Pain & Pleasure is the fourth studio album by American R&B recording artist Trey Songz; it was released on September 14, 2010. The album serves as a follow-up to his commercial breakthrough Ready (2009). Production for the album took place from March 2010 to July 2010 and was handled by several record producers, including his mentor Troy Taylor, Bryan-Michael Cox, Stargate and Mario Winans, among others.
"Unusual" is a song by American recording artist Trey Songz, released as the fourth official single from his fourth studio album, Passion, Pain & Pleasure (2010). featuring Drake. It is produced by Pop & Oak, Dexter Wansel, Ezekiel Lewis and Drake.
"Simply Amazing" is a song by American recording artist Trey Songz for his fifth studio album, Chapter V (2012). It was written by Songz, Najja McDwell with its producers Troy Taylor and Christopher Umana. It was released as the third single from the album in Europe on August 3, 2012. "Simply Amazing" is a pop and pop rock song built as an acoustic-driven, midtempo ballad, while also having R&B beats and Songz' smooth vocals.
"Foreign" is a song by American singer Trey Songz, released on May 13, 2014. The song serves as the third single from his sixth studio album, Trigga which was released on July 1, 2014. American record producers Soundz and "The Insomniaks" co-produced the track.
Tremaine the Album is the seventh studio album by American singer and songwriter Trey Songz. It was released on March 24, 2017, by Troy Taylor's Songbook label, with distribution from Atlantic Records. The album follows suit to Songz' sixth studio album, Trigga (2014).
Troy Christopher Taylor is an American record producer, singer, and songwriter from New Haven, Connecticut, best known for his discovery and mentorship of R&B singer Trey Songz. He was formerly a member of production collective The Characters, and founded the record label Songbook Entertainment in 2002, through which he signed Songz the following year. Throughout his career, Taylor has produced and worked extensively with the singer, as well as other prominent R&B acts including the Isley Brothers, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston, and Boyz II Men.
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