Street Symphony (producer)

Street Symphony
Birth name Torrance Esmond
Origin Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Occupation(s) Record producer, A&R, Entrepreneur
Years active 2006−present
Labels Track Or Die
Associated acts Lecrae, 2 Chainz, Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Ludacris, Yo Gotti, Starlito, Snootie Wild

Torrance Esmond, better known by his stage name Street Symphony, is an American record producer and music executive from Memphis, Tennessee.

Biography

From multi-platinum superstars in search of epic backdrops to mainstream-aimed independent artists in search of commercial accessibility, producer/music executive Torrance “Street Symphony” Esmond is a top source for sounds. The Grammy award-winning Tennessee native and Track Or Die CEO has produced for the likes of Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Meek Mill, Yo Gotti, Lecrae and more.

Dividing his youth between Memphis and Nashville, Street Symphony was compelled to pursue a career in music after watching an Outkast concert. With roommates owning equipment, the Sean Combs-influenced entrepreneur began making beats by fiddling with the turntables and drum machines through the night in his Middle Tennessee State University dorm. At school, Street juggled prospects of a bountiful career in Electrical Engineering with his visions of music stardom. In the end, he switched majors, formed a notable area Hip-Hop group and went all in. Through performing at college parties, Street Symphony garnered respect and fans on campus, as well as surrounding areas. People took notice, ranging from Street’s early mentor Carlos “6 July” Broady, to NBA champion superstar Gary Payton, who signed the producer to his Rock Solid imprint in 2005. It was there that Street Symphony acquainted himself with big recording studios, honing his original sounding repertoire of beats with the likes of Yo Gotti and Starlito, who were flirting with a Cash Money Records deal. Overnight sessions, traveling, and a tireless hustle gave Street Symphony a director’s chair in the action, as he refined his multi-genre, unique style of music.

Solidifying his presence in Tennessee, Street Symphony took interest in the Houston hustle. As artists like Paul Wall, Chamillionaire, and Mike Jones were reaching gold and platinum, Street remembered thinking, “Let me catch this wave.” As he slept on his H-Town friend’s floor, worked a day-job, and devoted off hours to his craft, he networked to shop his tracks to any artists he could reach. “In the evenings, I’d get out and hustle. I’d go to Guitar Center, in the DJ room, and play my beats so everyone could hear.” Local artists took interest, as well as stars like Lil' Keke of the Screwed Up Click.

After finding success in Houston, Street Symphony followed Rap’s next wave to Atlanta. It was there that he connected with Ludacris’s label Disturbing tha Peace working with I-20, Dolla Boy of Playaz Circle & Luda himself. In 2009 he reconnected with friend and former college classmate, Lecrae. With a label, Reach Records behind him, Lecrae hoped to expand his audience and accessibility, attaching the touted-Christian Rap star with music that legitimized his careful message. First contributing to Lecrae’s Rehab album, Street Symphony’s knowledge and sound attracted his longtime friend and the Reach Records’ brass to want him on board. As their flagship artist was kicking down mainstream doors, Street had a musical style and a Rolodex that functioned as a key to the industry’s doors. In the subsequent two years, Street Symphony would handle artist and repertoire and executive production of Lecrae’s music, especially surrounding his acclaimed Church Clothes mixtape series. In their time together, Lecrae garnered a Top 3 debut, as Street Symphony earned his first GMA Dove Award and Grammy Award, for 2012’s Gravity.

Following his success in this new genre of music, Street Symphony returned to the mainstream focusing on his Track Or Die production company. After affiliation from working together in The Playaz Circle days, 2 Chainz welcomed Street Symphony to the studio to assist in crafting the 2014 EP, Freebase—including video single “Trap Back.”[1]

Although Street Symphony has had success in the R&B and Hip Hop world he is looking forward to expanding his repertoire. “There’s so many layers to what I’m building,” he says. Appreciating the awards as professional validations, this playmaker most appreciates when his hard work is heard by the masses. “I really want to showcase on the Top 100 charts and radio.”

Once shopping his sound from Tennessee to Texas to Georgia, top artists are now the ones traveling to Street Symphony to maestro their music.

Track Or Die

After two years of working on staff as Vice President of A&R, Street Symphony departed from Reach Records. In February of 2014, he started his own production company called Track Or Die. There are currently three producers signed to Track Or Die: D.O. Speaks and the two-man team 808XEliTE.

Production credits

The following is a list of songs produced or co-produced by Street Symphony.

2006

Yo Gotti - I Told U So (with DJ Drama)

2007

Starlito - Starlito's Way: I Am Not Your Friend

Darquan - Non Album Single

2008

I-20 - Non Album Single

2009

Lil Scrappy - Non Album Single

Clyde Carson - Bass Rock

B.G. - Built To Last 1.5

Starlito - I Love You, Too Much: The Necessary Evils

Starlito - The Tenn-A-Keyan 3

Darquan - Non Album Single

2010

I-20 - Non Album Single

Arab - The Package

Dolla Boy of Playaz Circle - It's Official

Lecrae - Rehab

Starlito - Starlito's Way 3: Life Insurance

2011

Lecrae - Rehab: The Overdose

Trina - Diamonds Are Forever

Tedashii - Blacklight

Thi'sl - Beautiful Monster

2012

Json - Growing Pains

Swoope - Wake Up

Lecrae - Church Clothes

KB - Weight & Glory

Canon - Non Album Single

Alex Faith - Honest 2 God

Lecrae - Gravity

2013

Andy Mineo - Heroes for Sale

Scotty - F.A.I.T.H. (Forever Atlanta In The Heart)

Derek Minor - Minorville

Starlito & Don Trip - Step Brothers 2

Lecrae - Church Clothes 2

2014

Don Trip - Randy Savage

2 Chainz - Freebase

Tracy T - The Wolf of All Streets

Lecrae - Anomaly

Wave Chapelle - Only The Beginning

Snootie Wild - Go Mode

Scotty - Spaghetti Junction

Starlito - Black Sheep Don't Grin

2015

Yo Gotti - Concealed (with DJ Drama)

Neek Bucks - Here For A Reason 2

Awards and achievements

References

  1. ↑ Grant, Andre (May 8, 2014). "2 Chainz - Freebase EP". HipHopDx. Cheri Media Group. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  2. ↑ Diep, Eric (May 27, 2014). "Tracy T Releases New Mixtape, ‘The Wolf Of All Streets’". XXL. Harris Publications. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  3. ↑ Lilah, Rose (January 19, 2015). "Yo Gotti - Concealed (Hosted By Dj Drama)". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  4. ↑ http://www.grammy.com/nominees?genre=14
  5. ↑ http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-grammys-2015-nominees-winners-list-story.html#page=1
  6. ↑ http://www.cbs.com/shows/grammys/nominees/best-gospel-contemporary-christian-music-performance/