| Rodney Jerkins | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Rodney Jerkins |
| Also known as | RJ, Darkchild, Rodney Jerkins, DC |
| Born | July 29, 1977 |
| Origin | Pleasantville, New Jersey, United States |
| Genres | R&B, hip hop |
| Occupations | Musician, record producer, songwriter, rapper |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Associated acts | Mary J. Blige, Brandy, Fred Jerkins III, LaShawn Daniels, Rhona, Joy Enriquez, Ray J, Kirk Franklin |
| Website | www.darkchild.com, www.musicmogul.com |
Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins (born July 29, 1977) is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician. In 2011, he received two Grammy nominations.
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Jerkins has been married to singer Joy Enriquez since April 4, 2004. Their first child, Rodney David Jr., was born May 28, 2008. Their second child, a daughter, Heavenly Joy Jerkins, was born November 17, 2009.
Jerkins has produced for Toni Braxton, Lindsay Lohan, Keyshia Cole, Brandy, Michael Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Aaliyah, Britney Spears, Mary Mary, 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, JYJ, Wonder Girls, Austin Brown, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Utada Hikaru, LMFAO, and The Pussycat Dolls. Jerkins was a music producer and mentor on season 10 of American Idol.
In 1999, he 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 Invincible album 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 A&R for The Island Def Jam Group. Upcoming female R&B artist, Natasha, will have her music distributed through a collaboration between the label and Jive Records. 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 also been lent to a record company run by Jerkins brother Fred Jerkins III, Darkchild Gospel.[1] which released the latest album from Virtue - Testimony.
In late 2008, Jerkins joined Nicholas Longano, Ray Brown, and Jonathan E. Eubanks in creating Music Mogul, Inc.[2] MusicMogul.com represents an entirely browser-based online destination where celebrity artists can unite with their fans and aspiring artists have a chance for discovery to become the next superstars. Every quarter, members vote for the best video performances.[3] 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.[4]
See links for extensive discography.