Todd Ray

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[edit] Biography

Born and raised in Lancaster, South Carolina, Grammy Award-winning music producer Todd Ray (T-Ray) began his career as a member of the short-lived White Boys rap group. His career has logged a lengthy discography, which includes artists G. Love & Special Sauce, Cypress Hill, Santana, 311, Korn, and White Zombie. He now resides in Malibu, California.

Growing up in the rural South, Todd's living conditions and local entertainment options left much to be desired. After hearing a friend's copy of Soul Sonic Force's 'Planet Rock', Todd purchased a pair of turntables. He and his friends began performing locally. At this time, their group did not have a name and people would simply refer to them as 'those white boys'. Their reputation grew. Swatch Watch sponsored the White Boys, flying them to Breckenridge, Colorado for one of the first ever snowboarding events, where Converse Sneakers reps provided additional sponsorship. [1] Using his portion of the sponsorship money, T-Ray began building his record collection, which provided a solid foundation for his budding production skills. After mastering the concept of 'breaks', he quickly finished his group's first demo. A club in nearby Charlotte, NC was having a talent contest which Todd and his partner planned to enter. When the day came, Todd's partner had a prior engagement and was not able to join him. Todd entered the contest alone and won the competition several weeks in a row, which qualified him for the finals. The final competition was judged by representatives from Def Jam and Polygram. Although Todd did not win the final competition, a Polygram representative approached Todd with the offer of a record contract (1986). [2]

With the ink still drying on their deal, T-Ray and his group moved straight from South Carolina to Rosedale, Queens, where they finished an album for Tin Pan Apple Records and appeared on the Fresh Fest Tour. But Polygram's rival, Def Jam, quickly became a household name and by the summer of 1987, The White Boys were finished. Todd eventually ran out of money and had to move back to South Carolina. [3] With no rural job opportunities, and his pre-med scholarship lost, Todd worked non-stop on music production. Unable to afford even the floppy disks to save the beats, he would just record them on cassette. Figuring that no one would ever hear the beats, he began putting his speakers in the window and playing for the trees. The trees were T-Ray's only fans and his only source of income; he helped his family build furniture out of wood- 'folk art' furniture with bark still attached. (a fact readily verified by numerous Lancaster, SC residents) People began paying handsomely for his chairs and he was able to save enough money to make the trip back to New York. [Elemental Magazine, Issue #62] Unable to get any record label in New York to even listen to his beats, money soon began to run out (again). Finally, Todd got a call back on his application as an intern at Big Beat Records. One day, Todd approached label head Craig Kallman and said that he knew what the future of hip-hop was going to be. Todd played a tape of his beats for Kallman and informed him "All I have is music". The morning after, Kallman called Todd (about Kenny Dope's promo for Red Alert) and told him "if you know how to make this [recorded loop] into a record, you've got a job". T-Ray was the producer of Big Beat Records' first hip-hop 12-inch, 'Supa Cat' (1991- Todd is credited on the album as 'The Mad Racket'). 'Supa Cat' sold 70,000 copies and was the true beginning of T-Ray's career as a producer. He went on to produce an entire album for Double X, with 'Not Gonna Be Able To Do It" (1992) becoming his first video. (See discography for complete listing of production credits) After gaining the attention of D.I.T.C. , T-Ray produced 'Aint Goin Out Like That' for Cypress Hill's album, Black Sunday (1993). [4]

By 1996, Todd had begun to produce rock & roll. His 1993 remix of House of Pain/ Helmet collaboration (Judgement Night soundtrack) led to his producing of the entire Helmet album, which led to more rock gigs, including 311, Korn, Snot, Hed (PE), John Spencer Blues Explosion, and White Zombie. In 1999, T-Ray did production for Santana (which led to a Grammy Award in 2000)and a latin group named Ozomatli- it was during this time that his life came full circle: "It was sort of like destiny in a way, for me to move from the woods to New York City," explains Todd Ray. "To get on as a producer, to go through turmoil, through hip-hop, and get to the point where I felt that people were doing hip-hop that I couldn't respect, so I moved to the West Coast to do rock & roll shit. I run into a group called Ozomatli who I wanted to do 'Incredible Bongo Beats' with. Their DJ just happened to be Cut Chemist, who I knew nothing about. But, as we're finishing the record he tells me this fucking story of how he was inspired by this fucking tape that he got from down South, and that tape was my fucking tape. The same tape I made in that shack, the same tape that I played for Craig when I met him at Big Beat. The same tape that I had played for the trees in Lancaster, South Carolina. I had made one copy for Eclipse (yes- that Eclipse), who originally lived in South Carolina too, who had sent it to an old friend in Rhode Island, who moved to L.A. and became one of the members of Jurassic 5, whose DJ just happened to be Cut Chemist. I felt like I had come 360 degrees!" [Elemental Magazine, Issue #62]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Production:

  • On A Mission (LP) PolyGram 1988
  • Back To The Grill (12") Def Jam Recordings 1992
  • Bow Wow Wow (12") I'm Shittin' On 'Em, I... Immortal Records (3) 1992
  • Daze In A Weak (12", Promo) Def Jam Recordings 1992
  • Here It Comes (CD, Maxi) Here It Comes Again Chaos Recordings 1992
  • Here It Comes / Back To The Grill (12") Back To The Grill (LP ... Def Jam Recordings 1992
  • I Don't Give A Fuck / Mai Sista Izza Bitch (12", Promo) I Don't Give A Fuck, I... Rush Associated Labels 1992
  • Not Gonna Be Able To Do It (12", Promo) Big Beat 1992
  • Not Gonna Be Able To Do It / The Pure Thing / The Headcracker (Remix) (12") Not Gonna Be Able To D... Big Beat 1992
  • Now They Wanna See Me (12") Big Beat 1992
  • Put Ya Boots On (LP) Put Ya Boots On, Somet... Big Beat 1992
  • Return Of The Product (LP) Back To The Grill, Daz... Def Jam Recordings 1992
  • Return Of The Product (CD) Def Jam Recordings 1992
  • Return Of The Product (CD, Album) Def Jam Recordings 1992
  • Black Sunday (CD) I Ain't Goin' Out Like... Ruffhouse Records 1993
  • Black Sunday (2xLP) I Ain't Goin' Out Like... Ruffhouse Records 1993
  • Black Sunday (2xLP) I Ain't Goin' Out Like... Simply Vinyl (S12) 1993
  • Black Sunday (CD, Album) I Ain't Goin' Out Like... Columbia, Ruffhouse Records 1993
  • Black Sunday (MD) I Ain't Goin' Out Like... Ruffhouse Records, Columbia 1993
  • Black Sunday (2xLP) I Ain't Goin' Out Like... Ruffhouse Records 1993
  • Black Sunday (Radio Version) (2xLP, Album, Promo) I Ain't Goin' Out Like... Ruffhouse Records 1993
  • Born Gangstaz (CD) Diary Of A Mad Bitch, ... Rush Associated Labels 1993
  • Born Gangstaz (LP) Diary Of A Mad Bitch, ... DJ West 1993
  • Born Gangstaz (Cass, Album) Diary Of A Mad Bitch, ... Rush Associated Labels 1993
  • Bow Wow Wow (12") I'm Shittin' On 'Em, I... Epic 1993
  • Bow Wow Wow (12") I'm Shittin' On 'Em Epic 1993
  • Bow Wow Wow (CD, Maxi) I'm Shittin' On 'Em, I... Epic 1993
  • Bow Wow Wow (12", Promo) I'm Shittin' On 'Em Epic 1993
  • From The Brick Jungle (12") Big Beat 1993
  • I Ain't Goin' Out Like That (12") I Ain't Goin' Out Like... Ruffhouse Records 1993
  • I Ain't Goin' Out Like That (Cass, Single, Rep) Ruffhouse Records 1993
  • I Ain't Goin' Out Like That (CD, Maxi) I Ain't Goin' Out Like... Ruffhouse Records 1993
  • I Ain't Goin' Out Like That (12", Promo) I Ain't Goin' Out Like... Columbia 1993
  • Judgment Night (Music From The Motion Picture) (LP) Come And Die Epic 1993
  • Judgment Night (Music From The Motion Picture) (CD) Come And Die Epic 1993
  • Judgment Night (Music From The Motion Picture) (CD) Come And Die Sony Music Entertainment (Australia) 1993
  • Judgment Night (Music From The Motion Picture) (Cass) Come And Die Epic 1993
  • Swim (12", Promo) Columbia 1993
  • The Show Ain't Over Till The Fat Man Swings (LP) Big Beat 1993
  • Timber (12") Atlantic 1993
  • We Ain't Goin' Out Like That (CD, Maxi) We Ain't Goin' Out Lik... Ruffhouse Records 1993
  • We Ain't Goin' Out Like That (12") We Ain't Goin' Out Lik... Ruffhouse Records 1993
  • Which Doobie U B? (LP) I'm Shittin' On 'Em, W... Immortal Records (3) 1993
  • Which Doobie U B? (CD, Album) I'm Shittin' On 'Em, W... Epic 1993
  • Which Doobie U B? (CD) I'm Shittin' On 'Em, W... Immortal Records (3), Epic 1993
  • Which Doobie U B? (LP) Epic 1993
  • Wopbabalubop (12") Epic 1993
  • Wopbabalubop (CD, Maxi) Epic 1993
  • Wopbabalubop / Where's It At (12", Promo) Epic 1993
  • Betty (CD, Album) Interscope Records 1994
  • Betty (CD, Album, Ltd) Interscope Records 1994
  • Betty (2x10") Amphetamine Reptile Records 1994
  • Betty (CD, Ltd) Interscope Records 1994
  • Betty (CD, Album) Interscope Records 1994
  • Between A Rock And A Hard Place (2xLP) Big Beat 1994
  • Between A Rock And A Hard Place (CD) Wrong Side Of Da Track... Big Beat 1994
  • Biscuits For Smut (CD, Maxi) Interscope Records, Interscope Records 1994
  • Biscuits For Smut (CD) Interscope Records, Interscope Records 1994
  • Kickin Da Flava (CD) Citysong (Supernatural... EMI Music (Canada) 1994
  • Lick A Shot (12") Scooby Doo Columbia 1994
  • Lick A Shot (CD, Maxi) Scooby Doo Columbia, Ruffhouse Records 1994
  • Lost In Brooklyn (Cass) Down South, Tractors, ... Big Beat 1994
  • Lost In Brooklyn (CD) Down South, Tractors, ... Big Beat 1994
  • Lost In Brooklyn (2xLP, Whi) Down South, Tractors, ... Big Beat 1994
  • Wilma's Rainbow EP (CD, Maxi) Interscope Records 1994
  • Wrong Side Of Da Tracks (Cass, Maxi) Big Beat 1994
  • Wrong Side Of Da Tracks (12") Big Beat 1994
  • Wrong Side Of Da Tracks (12", Promo) Big Beat 1994
  • 4, 5, 6 (CD) Take 'Em To War, For D... Epic 1995
  • 4,5,6 (2xLP) Take 'Em To War, For D... Cold Chillin' 1995
  • Dynamite Soul (12") Dynamite Soul (Album V... Big Beat 1995
  • Dynamite Soul II / Who I Am (12", Promo) Dynamite Soul (Album V... Big Beat 1995
  • New Jersey Drive Vol. 1 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (CD) Love Slave Tommy Boy Music 1995
  • New Jersey Drive Vol. 1 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (CD) Love Slave Tommy Boy Music 1995
  • New Jersey Drive Vol. 1 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2xLP) Love Slave Tommy Boy Music 1995
  • Black Sunday & Cypress Hill (2xCD) I Ain't Goin' Out Like... Sony Music Entertainment (Australia) 1996
  • (Hed) P.E. (CD) Jive 1997
  • (Hed) PE (CD, Album) Jive, Virgin Records 1997
  • Cut Chemist Suite (12") Almo Sounds 1998
  • Give It To The Fuckin' DJ (12") Almo Sounds 1998
  • Ozomatli (CD, Album) Almo Sounds 1998
  • Cut Chemist Suite (12") Almo Sounds 1999
  • The Funky Precedent (CD) Cumbia De Los Muertos Loosegroove Records 1999
  • No Retreat (12", Promo) No Retreat (Edit), No ... ABB 2000
  • The Platform (2xLP) No Retreat ABB 2000
  • The Platform (CD, Album) No Retreat Capitol Records 2000
  • The Platform (2xLP) No Retreat Capitol Records 2000
  • The Platform (Instrumentals) (2xLP) No Retreat ABB 2000
  • Music From And Inspired By Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 (CD + CD-ROM) Cut Chemist Suite Warner Music (Australia) 2001
  • Still Smokin' (DVD) I Ain't Goin' Out Like... Sony Music Entertainment Inc., Columbia Music Video 2001
  • Ice-T Presents Westside (2xCD) Wopbabalubop Obsessive 2002
  • Ice-T Presents Westside (3x12") Wopbabalubop Obsessive 2002
  • The Future Is Now (2xLP) The C.I.A. Is Still Tr... Landspeed Records 2002
  • The Future Is Now (CD) The C.I.A. Is Trying T... Landspeed Records 2002
  • U Can't Stop Hiphop (CD, Promo) I Ain't Going Out Like... Sony Music Media (Netherlands) 2002
  • Wrong Side Of Da Tracks (12") Big Beat 2002
  • The Alchemist Presents Heavy Surveillance (CD, Promo) ALC Music Recorded Library 2003
  • The Future Is Now Instrumentals (2xLP) The C.I.A. Is Still Tr... Uncle Howie Records 2003
  • Thicker Than Water (CD) Hobo Blues Brushfire Records 2003
  • Hip Hop II - The Collection (2xCD) I Ain't Goin' Out Like... Universal Music (Australia) 2004
  • Rap Sessions (2xCD) Doobie To The Head Sessions 2004
  • Show 'Em (12") Beatdown Recordings 2004
  • Street Signs (CD) Believe, Love and Hope... Concord Records 2004
  • Street Signs (CD, Album) Believe, Love and Hope... Concord Records, Real World Records 2004
  • Street Signs (CD, Album) (Who Discovered) Ameri... Concord Records, Real World Records 2004
  • The Future Is Now (2xLP) The C.I.A. Is Still Tr... Uncle Howie Records 2004
  • The Future Is Now (Platinum Edition) (2xCD) The C.I.A. Is Still Tr... Uncle Howie Records 2004
  • Greatest Hits From The Bong (CD) Ain't Goin' Out Like That Columbia 2005
  • Legendary Status (CD) Lung Collapsing Lyrics... MTA Records 2005
  • Together / Hope You're Listening (12") Beatdown Recordings 2005
  • You Know What I'm About / Yes You May Remix (12") Underboss 2005
  • Max Power - Booty Bass (2xCD) I Ain't Goin' Out Like... Resist Music 2006

[edit] Co-production:

  • Now They Wanna See Me (12") Now They Wanna See Me ... Big Beat 1992
  • Bow Wow Wow (12") I'm Shittin' On 'Em, I... Immortal Records (3) 1992
  • Bow Wow Wow (12") I'm Shittin' On 'Em Epic 1993
  • Bow Wow Wow (12", Promo) I'm Shittin' On 'Em Epic 1993
  • Judgment Night (Music From The Motion Picture) (CD) Come And Die Epic 1993
  • We Ain't Goin' Out Like That (12") Hits From The Bong Ruffhouse Records 1993
  • Biscuits For Smut (CD, Maxi) Biscuits For Smut (Mut... Interscope Records, Interscope Records 1994
  • Biscuits For Smut (CD) Biscuits For Smut (Mut... Interscope Records, Interscope Records 1994
  • City Song (12") City Song (N.Y. State ... Grand Royal 1994
  • Deep Shag (12", Promo) Deep Shag (Sunny Ray Mix) Capitol Records 1994
  • Deep Shag (12", Yel) Deep Shag (Sunny Ray R... Capitol Records, Grand Royal 1994
  • Acme (CD) Calvin Capitol Records, Matador 1998
  • Acme (CD) Calvin Intercord Tonträger GmbH 1998
  • Acme (CD, Album, Dig) Calvin Toy's Factory 1998
  • Ozomatli (CD, Album) Almo Sounds 1998
  • You Know What I'm About / Yes You May Remix (12") Underboss 2005

[edit] Remixes:

  • Back To The Grill (12") Back To The Grill (Remix) Def Jam Recordings 1992
  • Losin' Myself (12") Losin' Myself (T-Ray's... Atlantic 1992
  • Losin' Myself (2x12", Promo) Losin' Myself (T-Ray's... Atlantic 1992
  • Our House (12", Promo) Turnstyle Records 1992
  • Sexual (CD, Maxi) Sexual (Safe Sex Mix),... Big Beat 1992
  • From The Brick Jungle (12") Bitch Control (Da Fell... Big Beat 1993
  • I Ain't Goin' Out Like That (12") Hits From The Bong Ruffhouse Records 1993
  • I Ain't Goin' Out Like That (CD, Maxi) Hits From The Bong (T-... Ruffhouse Records 1993
  • I Ain't Goin' Out Like That (12", Promo) Hits From The Bong Columbia 1993
  • I Ain't Goin' Out Like That (CD, Maxi) Hits From The Bong (T-... Columbia, Sony Music Entertainment (Australia) 1993
  • Judgment Night (Music From The Motion Picture) (CD, Maxi) Just Another Victim (T... Epic 1993
  • Judgment Night (Music From The Motion Picture) (12") Just Another Victim (T... Epic 1993
  • Just Another Victim (CD, Promo) Epic 1993
  • Just Another Victim (12", Promo, Ltd) Just Another Victim (T... Epic 1993
  • Just Another Victim (12", Ltd, Promo, Cle) Just Another Victim (T... Epic 1993
  • Swim (12", Promo) Columbia 1993
  • Swim (CD, Single, Ltd) Swim (T. Ray H20 Mix) Columbia 1993
  • The Program (12") The Program (Soul Assa... Mercury 1993
  • We Ain't Goin' Out Like That (CD, Maxi) Hits From The Bong (T-... Ruffhouse Records 1993
  • We Ain't Goin' Out Like That (12") Hits From The Bong (T-... Ruffhouse Records 1993
  • Who's The Man? (12") Put On Your Shit Kicke... Tommy Boy Music 1993
  • Wopbabalubop (12") Wopbabalubop (Soul Ass... Epic 1993
  • Wopbabalubop (CD, Maxi) Wopbabalubop (Soul Ass... Epic 1993
  • Wopbabalubop / Where's It At (12", Promo) Wopbabalubop (Soul Ass... Epic 1993
  • City Song (CD, Maxi) City Song (Supernatura... Grand Royal 1994
  • Deep Shag (12") Deep Shag (Sunny Ray Mix) Grand Royal 1994
  • Deep Shag (CD, Maxi) Deep Shag (Sunny Ray Mix) Grand Royal 1994
  • Kickin Da Flava (CD) Citysong (Supernatural... EMI Music (Canada) 1994
  • Vibes - Strictly Hip Hop (CD) City Song (Supernatura... EMI Electrola 1994
  • Wilma's Rainbow EP (CD, Maxi) Just Another Victim (L... Interscope Records 1994
  • Omaha Stylee / 8:16 AM (T-Ray Mixes) (12") Capricorn Records 1995
  • Unreleased & Revamped EP (CD, EP) Hits From The Bong (T-... Columbia 1996
  • Unreleased & Revamped EP (CD, EP) Hits From The Bong (T-... Columbia 1996
  • Unreleased & Revamped EP (12") Hits From The Bong (T-... Ruffhouse Records 1996
  • Go (Music From The Motion Picture) (CD) Shooting Up In Vain (T... Work 1999
  • Video Anthology (2xDVD) Alive (T-Ray Remix) Capitol Records 2000
  • Video Anthology (2xDVD) Alive (T-Ray Remix) Capitol Records 2000
  • Video Anthology (2xDVD) Alive (T-Ray Remix) Capitol Records 2000
  • Here To Stay (12") Here To Stay (T Ray's ... Epic 2002
  • Here To Stay (CD, Maxi) Here To Stay (T Ray's ... Sony Music Entertainment (Australia) 2002
  • Here To Stay (DVD, Single) Here To Stay (T Ray's ... Sony Music Entertainment (UK) 2002
  • Here To Stay (CD, Maxi, Enh) Here To Stay (T Ray's ... Sony Music Entertainment Inc. 2002
  • Here To Stay (CD, Maxi, Enh) Here To Stay Epic, Immortal Records 2002
  • Here To Stay (CD1) (CD, Enh) Here To Stay (T Ray's ... Sony Music Entertainment (UK) 2002
  • Here To Stay (CD2) (CD, Maxi) Here To Stay (T Ray's ... Sony Music Entertainment (UK) 2002
  • Untouchables (CD, Album) Here To Stay (T Ray's ... Epic 2002
  • Untouchables (CD, Album, Enh) Here To Stay (T Ray's ... Sony Music Entertainment (Australia) 2002
  • Untouchables (CD, Enh) Here To Stay (T Ray's ... Epic 2002
  • Be Yourself (CD, Maxi) Show Me How To Live (T... Interscope Records 2005
  • These Words (Remixes) (12", Promo) These Words (T Ray Rem... Epic 2005

[edit] Appears On:

  • Back To The Grill (12") Daze In A Weak (LP Ver... Def Jam Recordings 1992
  • Judgment Night (Music From The Motion Picture) (CD) Come And Die Epic 1993
  • Sweet Thing (CD, Maxi) Sweet Thing (Extended ... Atlantic 1993
  • We Ain't Goin' Out Like That (12") Ruffhouse Records 1993
  • Wopbabalubop / Where's It At (12") Immortal Records (3) 1993
  • City Song (12") City Song (Supernatura... Grand Royal 1994
  • Unreleased & Revamped (EP) (CD, EP) Hits From The Bong (T-... Sony Music Entertainment (Australia) 1996
  • Calvin (CD, EP) Calvin Au Go Go 1998
  • Go (Music From The Motion Picture) (CD, Album) Shooting Up In Vain (T... Higher Ground, Sony Music Soundtrax 1999
  • Super Bowl Sundae (12") Almo Sounds 1999
  • U Can't Stop Hiphop (CD, Promo) I Ain't Going Out Like... Sony Music Media (Netherlands) 2002
  • Thicker Than Water (CD) Hobo Blues, Hobo Blues Brushfire Records 2003

[edit] Unofficial Releases:

  • Hey Mister Mister (12") Not On Label
  • Freaked Out & Mixed Up! (CD, Dig) Here To Stay Murphy Records 2002

[edit] Sources