The 41st Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 24, 1999, at Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1998. Lauryn Hill was the main recipient, winning a total of 5 awards including Album of the Year and Best New Artist. Her album was the first hip hop act ever to win the coveted award. The ceremony was known as the "Grammy Year of Women", because every artist nominated for Album of the Year was female. Madonna won four awards and opened the show with her performance of "Nothing Really Matters" while musicians the Dixie Chicks, Vince Gill, Alanis Morissette and Shania Twain won two apiece. Celine Dion also received two awards both for "My Heart Will Go On", which received a total of four awards. It is widely remembered for Ricky Martin's performance of "La Copa De La Vida"/ "The Cup of Life".
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Her career began in 1991 when she was signed to Uptown Records. She went on to release 13 studio albums, eight of which have achieved multi-platinum certifications. Often referred to as the "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul", Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards, and twelve Billboard Music Awards. She has been nominated for three Golden Globe Awards and two Academy Awards, including one for her supporting role in the film Mudbound (2017) and another for its original song "Mighty River", becoming the first person nominated for acting and songwriting in the same year.
Rodney Roy Jerkins, also known by his stage name Darkchild, is an American record producer, rapper, and songwriter. He has collaborated with a broad range of popular artists.
Fred Jerkins III, also known as Uncle Freddie, is an American songwriter and record producer who is best known for his work with his brother Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. Jerkins has co-written several hit songs with Rodney Jerkins and LaShawn Daniels, among them "The Boy Is Mine" by Brandy and Monica, "Say My Name" and "Lose My Breath" by Destiny's Child, "It's Not Right but It's Okay" by Whitney Houston, "He Wasn’t Man Enough" by Toni Braxton, and multiple tracks from Michael Jackson's album Invincible. He has also produced a number of songs under the Darkchild imprint for artists such as Brandy, Shola Ama, Men Of Vizion, Keith Washington, & JoJo.
All Eyez on Me is the third studio album by American recording artist Monica. Named after its same-titled lead single, it marked the singer's first record under Clive Davis' J Records roster and was first released on October 21, 2002, in Japan. The tracks on the album are a mixture of uptempo songs and ballads, which are inspired by the genres of contemporary R&B and soul; it also features elements of hip hop, dance-pop and gospel music, crafted by musicians such as Dallas Austin, Bryan Michael Cox, Jermaine Dupri, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, and Soulshock & Karlin.
"U Don't Know Me " is a song by American recording artist Brandy Norwood. It was written by Isaac Phillips, Paris Davis, Sean Bryant, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, and Norwood for her second studio album Never Say Never (1998). Production was handled by Jerkins, with additional production from Norwood.
The Underdogs are an American R&B/pop production duo composed of Harvey Mason Jr. and Damon Thomas.
"Enough Cryin" a song by American singer Mary J. Blige. It was written by Blige, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Sean Garrett and Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter for her seventh studio album, The Breakthrough (2005), while production was helmed by Jerkins. The song features Blige's alter ego, Brook Lynn, whom Mary created to give her lyrical freedom without the fear of damaging her own persona. "Enough Cryin" was released as the album's third single on March 2, 2006 in the United States, peaking at number 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
"I Can Love You" is a song by American recording artist Mary J. Blige. It was written by Blige along with her sister LaTonya Blige-DaCosta, Rodney Jerkins, and Lil' Kim for her third album, Share My World (1997), with Jerkins producing the song and Lil Kim having featured vocals. In addition, the song also features a sample of the song "Queen Bitch," a track from Kim's debut album Hard Core (1996), co-written by Carlos Broady and Nashiem Myrick. "I Can Love You" was released as the second single from Share My World in the US, where it reached number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"The One" is a song by American recording artist Mary J. Blige featuring Canadian rapper Drake. Written by Blige and Drake along with Ester Dean and producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, it was included in her ninth studio album, Stronger with Each Tear (2009). Released as the album's lead single, the song marked Blige's 5th entry on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, on which it reached number 32. Blige's sum extended her lead for most charted titles among women in the 1990s and 2000s.
No Gravity is the second studio album by Barbadian recording artist Shontelle, released on September 21, 2010 by SRC Records. Initially scheduled for an August 2010 release the album had been in production since August 2009 and was pushed back by one month to include additional recording sessions with Rodney Jerkins.
Harmony David Samuels, also known as H-Money or "H", is an English record producer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. He has produced a multitude of hits for artists such as Brandy, Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige, Ariana Grande, Fifth Harmony, Chip, Ciara, Fantasia, Chris Brown, Keyshia Cole, Ne-Yo and more.
Think Like a Man Too is the first soundtrack album by American R&B singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige and serves as the soundtrack from the film of the same name. The soundtrack album was released on June 17, 2014, by Epic Records. The album features guest appearances from The-Dream and Pharrell Williams, while production was handled by Rodney Jerkins, The-Dream, Tricky Stewart, Pharrell Williams, Pop & Oak, Jerry Duplessis, and Ronald "Flippa" Colson, among others.
"Suitcase" is a song by American recording artist Mary J. Blige. It was co-written by Mark J. Feist, Crystal Nicole, and Adrian Sotomayor, and produced by the former for Blige's soundtrack album Think Like a Man Too (2014), recorded for the comedy film of the same name. Sent as the album's lead and only single for urban contemporary and urban adult contemporary airplay in the US on June 10, 2014, following the release of the buzz track "A Night to Remember", it reached the top 30 on the US Adult R&B Songs chart.
Never Say Never is the second studio album by American singer Brandy. It was released on June 9, 1998, by Atlantic Records. Atlantic consulted David Foster, as well as producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and his team to work with Norwood on the record; Jerkins went on to craft the majority of the album and would evolve as Norwood's mentor and head producer on her succeeding projects.
The London Sessions is the twelfth studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige. It was released on November 24, 2014, by Capitol Records and Matriarch Records. On October 26, 2014, the album leaked in its entirety to the Internet, with Billboard calling it "superb" and "objectively her best since 2005's The Breakthrough".
"Whole Damn Year" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige. It was written by Blige, Emeli Sandé and Knox Brown for her twelfth studio album The London Sessions (2014), featuring production from the latter. "Whole Damn Year" is a R&B song, with a neo soul influence. The song was released as the album's third single on December 1, 2014. A week before it was released as a single, it peaked in the top fiveat number fiveasi/</ref>.
James Napier, known professionally as Jimmy Napes, is an English songwriter and record producer. He has won a number of awards, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, 3 Grammy Awards, and 2 Ivor Novello Awards. Napes is best known for his work with Sam Smith, Disclosure, Clean Bandit ‚ Stormzy ("Crown") and Taylor Swift. Napes also has songwriting and producer credits with artists including Alicia Keys, Jess Glynne, Khalid, Normani, Kano, Dave, Rita Ora, Ellie Goulding, Mary J. Blige, Madonna, James Bay and more.
"Right Now" is a song recorded by American singer Mary J. Blige from her twelfth studio album, The London Sessions (2014). It was written by Blige, Sam Smith, Jimmy Napes, and Disclosure, featuring production from the latter. Musically, "Right Now" is a mid-tempo R&B song, with deep house and UK garage influences. Lyrically, it exudes a displeased woman letting her lover know that she is fed up with his ways, and is planning on making changes. The song was released as the album's second single on October 27, 2014.
"Doubt" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige. It was written by Blige and English musician Sam Romans for her twelfth studio album The London Sessions (2014), while production was helmed by Romans and record producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. "Doubt" is a R&B ballad, with gospel influences. The song was released as the album's fourth and final single on March 9, 2015. "Doubt" peaked in the top ten on the US Adult R&B Songs.
