Sonaro

Last updated
Sonaro
Birth nameChristopher Darnell Cook
Also known asSonaro
Born (1988-10-05) October 5, 1988 (age 35)
Far Rockaway, Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.
Origin Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
Genres Hip hop, R&B, Pop
Occupation(s) Record producer
Instrument(s) Keyboard, drum machine, sampler
Years active2010–present
Labels Street Family, Def Jam
Website Official Website

Christopher Darnell Cook (born October 5, 1988), professionally known as Sonaro, is an American music producer from Far Rockaway, New York. He is perhaps best known for producing songs for Brooklyn-bred rapper Fabolous. He has also produced for several other rappers, such as French Montana, Jeezy, Jadakiss, Styles P, Flipp Dinero, Lloyd Banks, Paul Cain, Prodigy, Jim Jones, and Meek Mill. [1]

Contents

Life and career

Early life and career beginnings

Sonaro was born in Far Rockaway and raised in Brooklyn. Interested in music production from an early age, Sonaro became an in-house producer for Needlz where he learned to craft his sound. [1] During this time, Sonaro landed his first placement on Stack Bundles Biddin' War Vol 2. hosted by DJ Clue, producing the song "Rockin' it” featuring Jim Jones and Max B. [2] Sonaro soon followed this up with "Thang On Me" from Lil' Kim’s Ms. G.O.A.T. project, which featured Maino, Mister Cee, and Sha Dash. [3]

Commercial Breakthrough

On March 5, 2010, Fabolous and DJ Drama released the mixtape There Is No Competition 2: The Funeral Service which featured the Sonaro produced street single "Body Ya." [4] The song was quickly added to Hot 97, [5] and Def Jam officially released the song on There Is No Competition 2: The Grieving Music EP . [6] The EP featured additionally production from Sonaro, and new contributions from Lex Luger, Ryan Leslie, and Jahlil Beats.

Later work with Fabolous from this period includes "Leaving You," "Swag Champ," [7] "B.E.T." featuring Jadakiss and Styles P, and "Want You Back" featuring Joe Budden and Teyana Taylor. Sonaro also contributed production to projects by Lloyd Banks, Jim Jones, Nya Lee, Meek Mill, and French Montana, and licensed several instrumentals for the TV show Love & Hip Hop. [8]

The S.O.U.L. Tape 3

On December 25, 2013 Fabolous released The S.O.U.L. Tape 3 which featured Sonaro on three songs; "Playa," "Situationships" featuring Mack Wilds, and "Cuffin' Season." [9] "Cuffin' Season" was instantly added to radio and received major press from Hot 97's Funkmaster Flex who called it "the hottest record in the Big Apple." [10]

The official video for "Cuffin' Season" premiered on REVOLT on April 25, 2014, and features Sonaro performing the chorus alongside Fabolous. [11]

Summertime Shootout

On November 26, 2015 Fabolous released Summertime Shootout. The project contains four songs produced by Sonaro; "For The Summer," "Vanilla" featuring Rich Homie Quan, "Motivation," and "The Plug." [12]

On November 27, the music video for the Sonaro produced "The Plug" was released exclusively to World Star Hip Hop and gained over 1,800,000 views in less one day. [13]

Partial discography

2023

2022

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

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References

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  7. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : Fabolous - Swag Champ (Official Video). YouTube .
  8. "Sonaro: Check Out This x Love & Hip Hop Clip from Ep. 4 x Nya Lee raps to a Sonaro beat in the studio with Erica Mena #LHHNY". 12 November 2013.
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