Rodney Jerkins

Rodney Roy Jerkins (born July 29, 1977), also known by his stage name Darkchild, is an American record producer, rapper, composer, and songwriter. He has collaborated with a broad range of popular artists, including Brandy, Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Destiny's Child, Pussycat Dolls, Monica, Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Toni Braxton, Britney Spears, Ludacris, Ciara, Lady Gaga, Baekhyun, Justin Bieber and Pantura singer Agnez Mo.

Jerkins has won multiple Grammy Awards. Among his most successful productions are "Stay with Me" by Sam Smith, "The Boy Is Mine" and "What About Us?" by Brandy, "I Can Love You" and "Enough Cryin" by Mary J. Blige, "Daydreamin'" by Tatyana Ali, "Angel of Mine" by Monica, "It's Not Right but It's Okay" by Whitney Houston, "Say My Name" and "Cater 2 U" by Destiny's Child, "If You Had My Love" by Jennifer Lopez, "He Wasn't Man Enough" by Toni Braxton, "You Rock My World" by Michael Jackson, "One Wish" by Ray J, "Déjà Vu" by Beyoncé, "Telephone" by Lady Gaga, and "As Long as You Love Me" by Justin Bieber.

Jerkins' father, Frederick, is an Evangelical pastor. Jerkins began playing piano at age five. He would follow his brother and father, who both played at church gatherings. At age 14, Jerkins was mentored by his idol, Teddy Riley, but he did not accept a contract offer to work with the producer due to an aspiration to build an "empire" without such support.

Jerkins' first recorded output was a "gospel rap" collaboration with his brother, Fred Jerkins III, entitled On the Move. He later incorporated the name "Darkchild", at the age of 17, subsequently accepting a worldwide publishing deal with the EMI Music Corporation. The producer then proceeded to establish a commercial music career, initially working with artists such as Joe, Mary J. Blige and Brandy.

Production

Jerkins has produced and written for Brandy, Patti LaBelle, Joe, The Saturdays, Toni Braxton, Vanessa Williams, Will Smith, Keyshia Cole, Monica, Michael Jackson, Ayumi Hamasaki, Cher, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Aaliyah, Amerie, Britney Spears, Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin, Kierra Sheard, The Black Eyed Peas, Destiny's Child, Spice Girls, TLC, Janet Jackson, Danity Kane, Beyoncé, Linda Király, Lady Gaga, Cascada, Tamia, Pussycat Dolls, Whitney Houston, Natasha Bedingfield, Mary J. Blige, Lionel Richie, Tiffany Evans, JYJ, Wonder Girls, Austin Brown, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Utada Hikaru, Keke Palmer, Hala Al Turk, Nelly Furtado, Justin Bieber, Brian McKnight and LMFAO.

In the 2010s, he has produced songs for Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis, JLS, Kylie Minogue, Ayumi Hamasaki, The Saturdays' . Jerkins was a music executive and mentor on season 10 of American Idol.

When asked by Ryan Seacrest in 2013 the favourite people he's produced for he said "Definitely The Saturdays. Without a doubt. I had a lot of fun working with them and was really impressed with their voices. They were very down to earth and I like that a lot in an artist. I wish them all the best in America and think they could end up as big as The Spice Girls."

In preparation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony, Jerkins produced a song featuring the Palestinian 2013 Arab Idol winner Mohammed Assaf.

In 2017, he produced Blind and Makings Of You for Tamar Braxton.

In 1999, Jerkins joined Sony/Epic Records to promote power vocalist Rhona, Pop/R&B girl group So Plush and rapper Fats. Fats appeared on two tracks Jerkins produced for Michael Jackson's album Invincible, and So Plush released the single "Things I've Heard Before". Subsequently, So Plush's singles, "Damn" and "Things I've Heard Before", were pressed and made available as promos, and Rhona's album was even released in Japan. In 2005 Darkchild Records reappeared when Jerkins signed brand new acts including Shamari Fears, formerly of R&B group Blaque, female MC Asia Lee, dancehall artist Atiba, and gospel singer Anesha Birchett.

In 2006, he was appointed VP of Artists & repertoire (A&R) for The Island Def Jam Group. Jerkins released his wife Joy Enriquez's second album Atmosphere of Heaven, which features a religious direction, on his independent gospel imprint JoyFul Child Records. The Darkchild name has been loaned to Darkchild Gospel, a record company run by Jerkins' brother, Fred Jerkins III. which released the latest album from Virtue – Testimony.

Music Mogul, Inc.

In late 2008, Jerkins joined Nicholas Longano, Ray Brown, and Jonathan E. Eubanks in creating Music Mogul, Inc. MusicMogul.com is an online portal where artists can communicate with their fans. Each quarter, members vote for the best video performances. The top performers are then flown to Los Angeles to compete in front of a panel of celebrity judges. The winner gets a demo deal with Darkchild Productions.

Jerkins has been married to singer Joy Enriquez since April 4, 2004, and they have four children. Raised in Galloway Township, New Jersey,. Jerkins attended Absegami High School, and is a Christian.

In 2015, his five-year-old daughter Heavenly Joy was a contestant on season 10 of America's Got Talent.

Notable productions

• 1996: Aaliyah - "Everything's Gonna Be Alright"
• 1998: Brandy and Monica – "The Boy Is Mine"
• 1998: Brandy – "Angel in Disguise"
• 1998: Monica – "Angel of Mine"
• 1998: Whitney Houston – "It's Not Right but It's Okay"
• 1999: Destiny's Child – "Say My Name"
• 1999: Jennifer Lopez – "If You Had My Love"
• 2000: Toni Braxton – "He Wasn't Man Enough"
• 2000: Spice Girls – "Holler"
• 2001: Michael Jackson – "You Rock My World"
• 2001: Michael Jackson - “Unbreakable”
• 2001: Britney Spears – "Overprotected" (The Darkchild Remix)
• 2001: Jessica Simpson – "I Never"
• 2002: Brandy – "What About Us?"
• 2002: Monica – "All Eyez on Me"
• 2002: TLC – "Turntable"
• 2004: Destiny's Child – "Lose My Breath"
• 2005: Destiny's Child – "Cater 2 U"
• 2006: Beyoncé (featuring Jay-Z) – "Déjà Vu"
• 2006: Ciara (featuring 50 Cent) – "Can't Leave 'em Alone"
• 2008: Tiffany Evans (featuring Bow Wow) - "I'm Grown"
• 2008: Janet Jackson – "Feedback"
• 2008: Brandy – "Right Here (Departed)"
• 2008: The Pussycat Dolls – "When I Grow Up"
• 2008: Beyoncé – "Scared of Lonely"
• 2009: Lady Gaga featuring Beyoncé – "Telephone"
• 2011: The Black Eyed Peas – "Just Can't Get Enough"
• 2011: Kelly Rowland(featuring Lil' Playy)- "Work It Man"
• 2012: Justin Bieber – "As Long as You Love Me"
• 2012: Leona Lewis – "Shake You Up"
• 2014: Mariah Carey – "You're Mine (Eternal)"
• 2014: Mary J. Blige – "A Night To Remember"
• 2014: Sam Smith – "Stay with Me"
• 2014: Michael Jackson - “Xscape”
• 2017: Tamar Braxton – "Blind"
• 2018: Chromeo (featuring French Montana and Stefflon Don) - "Don't Sleep"
• 2017: Tamar Braxton – "The Makings Of You"
• 2019: Baekhyun - "Diamond"

Guest raps

• 1995: Hodge – "Head Nod" (Darkchild Remix)
• 1996: New Edition with AZ – "Something About You" (Darkchild Remix)
• 1997: Tasha Holiday – "Just The Way You Like It" (Darkchild Remix) with Lil' Cease, Peter Gunz and Mike Nitty
• 1997: MQ3 – "Everyday"
• 1997: Immature – "I Can't Wait" with Mike Nitty
• 1997: Mary J. Blige – "Everything" (Darkchild Remix) with Fat Joe
• 1997: K-Ball – "On the Weekend", "Love Matters"
• 1998: Kirk Franklin & The Nu Nation Project – "Revolution"
• 1998: Keith Washington – "Bring It On" (Darkchild Remix)
• 1999: Brandy – "Top of the World" (Darkchild Remix) with Fat Joe and Big Pun
• 2000: Natalie Wilson & The S.O.P. Chorale – "Act Like You Know" with LaShawn Daniels
• 2001: So Plush – "What You Do to Me" with 50 Cent and Fats, "Ain't My Fault"
• 2001: Rhona – "Satisfied" (Another Darkchild Remix) with Fats
• 2002: Jay Mathis – "Kiss" with Pain and Fats
• 2002: Mary Mary – "He Said" with Fats
• 2002: K-Young – "Ballinest Player" with Lil' Zal
• 2002: K-Young – "Ooh Wee"
• 2002: Shawn Desman – "Sexy"
• 2003: Natalie Wilson & The S.O.P. Chorale – "Good Life"
• 2004: Kierra "Kiki" Sheard – "You Don't Know"
• 2005: Joy Enriquez – "Don't You Let Go"
• 2005: Anesha Birchett – "Get Ready" with Mase
• 2005: Atiba – "Flossin" with Francisco
• 2006: The Darkchild Allstars – "We Are Family"
• 2007: Linda Király - "Can't Let Go"
• 2008: The Pussycat Dolls With Diddy, Lil Wayne, & Fatman Scoop – "When I Grow Up" (Darkchild Remix)
• 2008: Lady Gaga - "Reloaded"

Unreleased tracks

• 1999: Michael Jackson - “Rampage”
• 1999: Michael Jackson - “A Deeper Love”
• 2001: Michael Jackson - “Cheater”
• 2001: Michael Jackson - “Chicago 1945”
• 2001: Michael Jackson - “Get Around”
• 2001: Michael Jackson - “Get Your Weight Off Me”
• 2001: Michael Jackson - “Kick It”
• 2001: Michael Jackson - “Maybe We Can Do It”
• 2001: Michael Jackson - “Pressure”
• 2001: Michael Jackson - “Seduction”
• 2001: Michael Jackson - “The Pain”
• 2006: Beyoncé - “Back Up”

Video cameos

• 1996: Gina Thompson (featuring Missy Elliott) – "The Things That U Do (Bad Boy Remix)"
• 1997: No Authority – "Don't Stop"
• 1998: Kirk Franklin & The Nu Nation Project – "Revolution"
• 1998: J'Son - I Should've Cheat on You
• 2000: So Plush – "Things I've Heard Before"
• 2001: Rhona – "Satisfied"
• 2002: Brandy – "What About Us?"
• 2002: Monica – "All Eyez on Me"
• 2006: Natasha – "Hey, Hey, Hey" and "So Sick"
• 2006: Shareefa – "Cry No More"
• 2006: J. Holiday – "Be with Me"
• 2008: Brandy – "Right Here (Departed)"

Web series

Jerkins is currently starring with Johnny Wright in a number of episodes of the YOBI.tv Take the Stage web series.