Kool Kojak

Last updated

Kool Kojak
Kjk przm.png
Background information
Birth nameAllan Peter Grigg
Born (1972-07-31) July 31, 1972 (age 52)
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Origin Cubatão, São Paulo, Brazil
Genres
Occupations
  • Songwriter
  • record producer
  • composer
  • painter
  • graffiti artist
  • sculptor
Labels
  • TRIZM
  • KojakTrax
  • IYF Productions
Website www.instagram.com/kooolkojak

Allan Peter Grigg, [1] better known by his stage name Kool Kojak and stylized as "KoOoLkOjAk," is an American songwriter and record producer notable for music in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse , [2] co-writing and co-producing Flo Rida's #1 Billboard [3] hit single "Right Round," Doja Cat's hit single "Cyber Sex," Nicki Minaj's hit single "Va Va Voom," The Boss Baby Theme, and Ke$ha's top 10 single "Blow." [4] Kool Kojak has written and produced for artists such as Sean Paul, Yelle, DMX, Waka Flocka Flame, Onyx, Travis Barker, Kim Petras, Ed Helms, Britney Spears, Jesse & Joy, Andy Milonakis, Icona Pop, Matisyahu, comedian Chelsea Peretti, N.A.S.A., [5] Dirt Nasty, [6] Lordz of Brooklyn, Ursula 1000, [7] Phil Greiss, and Warren G, among others. Kool Kojak has created original music for many major motion pictures. He was a featured producer on the Simon Cowell TV program X Factor and has appeared as himself on the Nickelodeon show Victorious . He has won two ASCAP Pop Awards and one ASCAP Urban Award, a WormTown Sound Award, and has been awarded the Key to the City of Worcester, Massachusetts.

Contents

Early life and music career

Kool Kojak was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he created the 1980s underground cassette legends IYF Productions. After studying under Archie Shepp at the University of Massachusetts, Kojak began professionally creating music in 1995, DJing, playing in bands, and producing hip-hop records in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Harlem. His first commercial success was as composer and producer of the Brazilian multi-platinum selling #1 Splenda album O Charada Brasileiro. [8] This album sold 16 million copies on the Brazilian bootleg street market.

In 2009, Kojak signed with Dr. Luke's Prescription Songs and began co-producing various tracks with the producer. [9]

Kojak served as musical director and performer for the live Splenda show, which took place at Rock in Rio 3, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2001.

Select production discography

YearArtistSongAlbumRole
1989In Your Face ProductionsMusic From The Plaid GnuRapper/Producer/Engineer
1996Average White Boys"Billy Dee Williams Butter Sculpture"Knuckle SandwichCo-Writer/Producer
1997Rump Rangers featuring Heather Hunter and Kool Keith "Toot Toot Beep Beep"Remixer
1998Binger The Voyager"Sweet Taste of Nothing"Co-Producer
1998Supla Zoo"Bossa Furiosa"AlbumCo-Producer/ Composer / Rapper
1999Ursula 1000"Arrastao"Co-Writer/Producer with Ursula 1000 and Dr. Luke
2000 Supla "O Charada Brasileiro"#1 AlbumCo-Writer/Producer
2002Holly Tree"Greatest Shits"albumCo-Producer
2002Average White Boys"Knuckle Sandwich"albumProducer
2004Average White Boys"Keg Pahty"House Of BoozeCo-Writer/Producer2007 George of the Jungle (TV show)Theme songProducer and performed with J-Radical
2005 Being Bobby Brown (TV show)Music producer
2009Ursula 1000"Zombies"MysticsCo-Writer/Rapper
2010 Miranda Cosgrove "There Will Be Tears" Sparks Fly Co-Writer/Co-Producer with Ammo
2010 Miranda Cosgrove "Kissin' U" Sparks Fly Co-Producer with Ammo
2007 Urban Legend Tranquilidad CubanaCo-Writer/Producer
Three 6 Mafia featuring Tech N9ne "Shots"Laws of PowerBacking Vocals
2009 Shwayze "Maneatrr" Let It Beat Co-writer/Producer
2011 Hitomi featuring Rivers Cuomo "Rollin Wit Da Homies" Spirit Producer/Co-writer
2011 Dirt Nasty featuring Too Short and Warren G "Milk, Milk, Lemonade" Nasty as I Wanna Be Writer/Producer (leaked)
2012 Victoria Justice and Ariana Grande "L.A.Boyz" Victorious 3.0 Co-Writer/Co-Producer
2012 Victoria Justice "Faster Than Boys" Victorious 3.0 Co-Writer/Producer
2012 Leon Thomas III "365 Days" Victorious 3.0 (Deluxe version)Co-writer/Producer
2012 Leon Thomas III "Countdown" Victorious 2.0 Co-writer/Producer
2011 Victoria Justice "Best Friend's Brother Victorious: Music from the Hit TV Show Co-Writer/Producer
2010 Nneka (singer) "Heartbeat (KooLkOjAk remix)"SingleRemixer
2011 Kumi Koda "4 Times"SingleProducer
2009 Andy Milonakis "Let Me Twitter Dat"SingleCo-writer/Producer
2011 Dirt Nasty featuring Too $hort, Warren G, Andy Milonakis and Benji Hughes "As Nasty As I Wanna Be" Nasty as I Wanna Be Co-Writer/Producer
2011 Dirt Nasty featuring Kesha "Boombox" Nasty as I Wanna Be Co-Writer/Producer
2009*N.A.S.A. featuring Kanye West, Lykke Li, and Santo Gold "Gifted" The Spirit of Apollo Co-writer/Co-Producer
2009 N.A.S.A. featuring Kool Kojak"O Pato" The Spirit of Apollo Co-writer/Performer
2010 Matisyahu "Miracle"SingleCo-Writer/Producer
2011 Travis Barker "Can A Drumma Get Some KoOoLkOjAk SuRfPuNk mEgAmIx"SingleRemixer
2011 Travis Barker featuring Bun B and Tech N9ne "Raw Shit" Give the Drummer Some Co-Writer/Co-Producer with Travis Barker
2011 Travis Barker featuring Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, E-40 and Dev "Knockin'" Give the Drummer Some Co-Writer/Co-Producer with Travis Barker
2009 Flo Rida "Right Round"R.O.O.T.S.Co-Writer/Co-Producer with Dr. Luke
2010 Kesha "Blow" Cannibal Co-Writer/Co-Producer with Dr. Luke and Max Martin
2010 Lights Over Paris "Fallin'"SingleCo-Writer/Producer with J Kash & Robb Mahweenie
Roberto Carlos "Jesus Cristo (Zegon Kojeazy Official Remix)"SingleProducer with DJ Zegon of N.A.S.A.
2012 Ariana Grande "Voodoo Love"SingleCo-writer/Producer
David Choe Dirty Hands (DVD)Producer Kojak Beatz
2012 Shyne Gangland MixtapeProducer
2012 Michel Telo featuring Becky G "Ai Se Eu Te Pego"Single – UK RemixProducer
2012 Matisyahu "Sunshine"

"Crossroads" featuring J Ralph and Adrien Brody

"Searchin"

"Buffalo Soldier" featuring Shyne

"Breathe Easily"

"I Believe In Love"

"Fire Of Freedom"

"Desert Eagle"

"Bal Chemptov"

"King Crown Of Judah" featuring Shyne

"Shine On You"

Spark Seeker LPProducer/Co-writer
2012 Owl City "Take It All Away" The Midsummer Station Co-Writer/Co-Producer
2012 Chelsea Peretti "Coffee Crankin Thru My Sys"SingleProducer
2012 Ed Helms "How Bad Can I Be" Dr. Seuss' The Lorax: Original Songs from the Motion Picture Co-Writer/Co-Producer with John Powell
2012 Kesha "Gold Trans Am" Warrior (Deluxe version)Co-Writer/Producer
2012 Kesha "Wonderland" Warrior Co-Writer/Producer
Jean-Michel Basquiat "SAMO" (film) featuring Fab Five Freddy, Money Mark, N.A.S.A. & Kool Kojak –Co-Writer/Co-Producer for MOMA Films
2012 One Direction "Rock Me" Take Me Home Co-Writer/Co-Producer with Peter Svensson and Sam Hollander
2012 Nicki Minaj "Va Va Voom" Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded Co-Writer/Co-Producer with Dr. Luke, Cirkut and Max Martin
2012 Matisyahu "Happy Hanukkah"SingleCo-Writer/Producer
2013 Emblem3 "Chloe (You're the One I Want)" Nothing to Lose Co-Writer/Co-Producer with Peter Svensson
2013 Kesha: My Crazy Beautiful Life (TV Show)Music producer
2013 Icona Pop "On A Roll" This Is... Icona Pop Co-producer with Shellback
2013 Scott & Rivers "はじける"Scott & RiversCo-writer with Rivers Cuomo / Producer
2013Los Barkers (featuring Lando, Bama and Travis Barker)"We Like Vegetables" Songs for a Healthier America Co-Writer/Producer
2013 Matisyahu, Ariana Grande, Travis Barker, Kool Kojak and Salad Bar"U R What U Eat" Songs for a Healthier America Co-Writer/Producer
TropKillaz featuring Kool Kojak and Lloyd Pop"Klap Ur A$$"Writer/Producer
2013Kool Kojak"B-Boyin' Freak Freakin'" Battle of the Year Official SoundtrackWriter/Producer
2013 Britney Spears "Hold on Tight" Britney Jean (deluxe version)Co-Producer with A.C.
2014 Brooke Candy "Bed Squeak"Opulence EPCo-Writer with Brooke Candy & Jesse Saint John / Co-Producer with A.C
2014Aries Onasis"7even"albumComposer / Producer
2014 Matt Hunter "Minha Mina Ta Loca"SingleCo-Writer with AJ Junior & Bilal Hajji
2014 Yelle "Florence en Italie"Complètement FouCo-Writer with Yelle Dr. Luke & Cirkut|
2014 Jesse & Joy "Live Life"The Book of Life SoundtrackCo-Writer with Jesse Joy and Nate Campany
2014Sophia Black"Vibration"SingleCo-Writer / Producer with Aaron Joseph and Sophia Black
2014 Chelsea Peretti "One of the Greats"Netflix Comedy SpecialComposer
2015 The Wedding Ringer "Party & Bullshit featuring Affion Crockett"The Wedding Ringer SoundtrackProducer / Mixer
2015 N.A.S.A. "Hands Up Don't Shoot!"

featuring Sean Paul & Lizzo"

SingleProducer / Mixer
2015 Yelle "ThE KoOoL kOjAk A.D.D. Ba$$iN MeGaMiX"French Radio Hot Track SingleRemixer
2015 Waka Flocka Flame featuring Good Charlotte "Game On"Pixels MovieComposer/Producer/Mixer with RAS
2015TimeFlies"Burn It Down"SingleComposer/Producer with TimeFlies
2015 N.A.S.A. "Iko"SingleComposer/Synths
2015 N.A.S.A. featuring KRS-One "Jihad Love Squad"SingleComposer/Synthesizer Master
2015 N.A.S.A. featuring DMX and Priyanka Chopra "Meltdown"SingleComposer/Synthesizer Master/DMX Rap Coach
2015 Sean Paul "Bust It"Single / Soundtrack "The Perfect Guy"Composer / Producer
2016 Diego Boneta "UR Love"SingleComposer / Producer
2016KoOoLkOjAk"!!!Holla Deck StackEmUp!!!"Original Film Score "Passengers"Composer / Producer / Artiste
2017Allie X"Casanova"Composer
2017Boss Baby TV Program"Boss Baby I'm The Boss Boss Baby Boss Boss"TV show Theme SongComposer / Producer / Rapper
2017 Onyx "Problem Child"as featured on Silicon Valley Composer / Producer
2017 Kim Petras "Slow It Down"singleComposer / Producer
2017 Randy Liedtke "Off & On" Podcast Themetheme songComposer / Producer
2018Randy Liedtke"Now U R Hi"Soundtrack singleComposer / Producer
2018Jahsh Banks"Nite Life"singleComposer / Producer
2018Tropkillaz feat Aloe Blacc "Milk N Honey"singleComposer / Producer
2018Sophia Black featuring Kyle (musician) "Real Shit"singleComposer / Producer with Shea Taylor
2018The Fever"Hunting Season" featuring Travis Barker singleComposer
2018Eric Nam"FLOAT"original song for Hotel Transylvania 3Composer / Producer
2018Mely Mel feat. Mozart La Para"No One"singleComposer / Producer
2018Teen Titans"GO! Battle Remix"singleComposer / Producer
2018 Weezer "Can't Knock The Hustle"singleAdditional Production / Mariachi stuff
2018Kool Kojak feat. Destani Wolf"Can I B Ur Air"original song for Goosebumps 2Composer / Producer / Mixer
2018 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse "Spidey BugOut MegaMix "MegaMiX for Miles and Uncle Aaron bombin graffiti in tha subway tunnels"Producer / MegaMixer
2018 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse "Spidey Bells "Original Song for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Producer
2018 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse "Joy To The Spidey " Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Holiday AlbumProducer
2019 The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part "Gotham City Guys "Original Song for Lego Movie 2Producer
2019 The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part "Not Evil"Original Song for Lego Movie 2Producer
2019 Doja Cat "Cyber Sex"SingleProducer w/ tizhimself
2019Call Chelsea Peretti "CESSPOD"PodcastSuper Producer
2019 Emily Alyn Lind "Castles"SingleProducer w/tizhimself
2020Jahsh Banks"Drunk Anthem"SingleProducer w/ tizhimself
2020 Chelsea Peretti "OatMilk" feat. Reggie Watts SingleProducer w/ Ruffsound
2020 Chelsea Peretti "Late"SingleComposer / Producer / Performer
2020 Chelsea Peretti "Chore" feat. Chika SingleComposer / Producer / Performer
2020 Chelsea Peretti "Soundproof Bathroom"SingleComposer / Producer / Performer
2020 Chelsea Peretti "Dad" featuring Will SchwartzSingleComposer / Producer / Performer
2020 Chelsea Peretti "BDR" featuring Kathleen Hanna SingleComposer / Producer with Money Mark
2020 Chelsea Peretti "Green Tea" featuring Wale SingleComposer / Producer
2020 Chelsea Peretti "Expresso" featuring Nick Kroll + Kid MeroSingleComposer / Producer with Billboard
2020Allan Kingdom"Blessed"SingleProducer with tizhimself
2020 Kim Petras "Malibu"Singleco-Composer / co-Producer
2020Bright & Guilty"Soft Age featuring Tim Lefev"KoOoLkOjAK remixremixer
2020Zpextre"Laidback Air"singleproducer with Brian Bender and Zpextre
2020Zpextre"Electrify"singleproducer with Zpextre
2020Zpextre"Souvenir"singleproducer with Zpextre
2020 Jesse & Joy "Love (Es Nuestra Idioma) "SingleComposer with Julie Frost, Jesse y Joy
2020 Jesse & Joy "Fuego"SingleComposer with Marty James, Jesse y Joy
2020 Emily Alyn Lind "Spotless Mind"SingleProducer
2020Porsh Bet$"Apple Eyes"Singleproducer,composer
2020Porsh Bet$"Handle"SingleProducer with SoundBySol
2020Poolfire"Radio Man"Singlearranger with Phil Greiss
2022Sean Paul featuring Gwen Stefani and Shenseea"Light My Fire"SingleProducer Composer with AC

Art

Kool Kojak is also a graffiti artist and sculptor in the US and Brazil. His body of art includes an album cover for Ultramagnetic MCs and New York City murals he painted for 1990's Free Tibet Campaign. In Brazil's early 2000s, Kool Kojak provided hip-hop and graffiti symposiums for the city run youth programs in the Favelas of São Paulo. He has painted murals with Brazilian artists, like Os Gêmeos, Vitche, and Juneca. In 2013, Kool Kojak auctioned off a graffiti sculpture to benefit the Pete Carroll charity A Better L.A. Kool Kojak's artwork adorns the front doors of The Worcester Historical Museum in Worcester, Massachusetts. His work is part of the museum's permanent collection. In 2014, he collaborated with David Choe on a dress. Collectors of KoOoL kOjAk artwork include The Disney Corporation, Sony Pictures, The Worcester Historical Museum, Carly Rae Jepsen, Julia Michaels, Claude Kelly, Martin Johnson, Peter Svensson, and Ammo Pro.

Filmography

Film
YearFilmRoleNotes
2005 Being Bobby Brown Score Composer"The Infamous Chicken Beat" & many others
2009 The Hangover Composer - End Credits"Right Round"
2009 The Ugly Truth Composer"Right Round"
2009 Couples Retreat Composer"Right Round"
2012 The Lorax Composer / Vocalist"How Bad Can I Be"
2012 21 Jump Street Composer / Vocalist"Boombox"
2012Pitch PerfectComposer"Yo Mama"
2013Battle Of The Year 3DComposer"B Boyin Freak Freakin"
2013One Direction : This Is UsComposer"Rock Me"
2013 Victorious Composer / Producer / Actor"The Bad Roommate" "Best Friend's Brother" "L.A. Boys"
2013 Walking With Dinosaurs Composer"Live Like A Warrior"
2014The Book Of LifeComposer/Producer - End Credits"Live Life"
2015 The Wedding Ringer Producer and Additional Programmer"Party & Bullshit"
2015 Pixels Composer/Producer/Mixer"Game On"
2015 The Perfect Guy Composer/Producer/Mixer"Bust It" Sean Paul
2015We Are BloodSoundtrack"Meltdown" featuring DMX and Priyanka Chopra
2016PassengersOriginal song for film"!!!Holla Deck StackEmUp!!!"
2017Boss Baby (TV program) Theme Song"Boss Baby I'm The Boss Boss Baby Boss Boss"
2017 Silicon Valley Composer / Producer with Onyx "Problem Child"
2018Randy Wants To Try MarijuanaFunny Or Die Documentary"Now U R Hi"
2018Hotel Transylvania 3Composer / Producer / Engineer / Mixer"Float"
2018Teen Titans GO! To The MoviesComposer / Producer"GO! Battle Remix"
2018GooseBumps 2 Composer / Producer"Can I B Ur Air" feat. Destani Wolf
2018 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Composer / Producer"SpideyBellz"
2018 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Producer / Megamixer"Miles and Uncle Aaron Bomb Graffiti"
2019 The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part Producer"Gotham City Guys"
2019 The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part Producer"Not Evil"

[10]

References

  1. "ultratop.be – Allan Grigg". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  2. "How Producer Kool Kojak Used Iris 2 in 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse'". Izotope. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  3. "The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.com. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  4. Flo Rida "Right Round" credits on Rhapsody Archived November 29, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  5. "N.A.S.A. (4) - The Spirit Of Apollo". Discogs.com. February 2009. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  6. "Kojak and Andy Milonakis 'Let Me Twitter Dat' video". YouTube. May 18, 2009. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  7. "Ursula 1000 credits". Archived from the original on August 4, 2009. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  8. "Cliquemusic : Disco : O CHARADA BRASILEIRO". Cliquemusic.com.br. Archived from the original on May 23, 2005. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  9. Seabrook, John (October 7, 2013). "The Doctor Is In". The New Yorker. ISSN   0028-792X . Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  10. "Movie Reviews". The New York Times . January 15, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.