The Monsters and the Strangerz
The Monsters and the Strangerz are a Grammy, Juno and ASCAP award winning production and songwriting team from Miami, Florida. The team features The Monsters: Alexander "Xplicit" Izquierdo, Stefan Johnson, Jordan Johnson and The Strangerz: Marcus "Marc Lo" Lomax and Clarence Coffee Jr.
The team officially debuted into the music scene in 2009, when they wrote for American artist and entrepreneur Diddy on his single "Diddy Boppin"[1]
In 2010 they wrote the UK single charts & iTunes #1 hit single Swagger Jagger by Cher Lloyd and the Platinum selling hit Turn Around (5,4,3,2,1) by Flo Rida.[2]
In 2011 The Monsters and the Strangerz moved their operation to Los Angeles and have produced and written for artists such as Rihanna, Maroon 5, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Fifth Harmony, Carly Rae Jepsen, Kanye West, Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa and many others.
History
The Monsters originated as a group in 2008 when Stefan Johnson engineered a session for then Hip-Hop artist Alexander “Xplicit” Izquierdo. Xplicit a Miami bred artist had been working on his artistry before meeting Johnson, ranking local radio plays with his record "WE GET MO".
At the same time Johnson, an SAE Recording School graduate was an in demand engineer working with major artist like Rick Ross, Pitbull and Diddy. Johnson then brought his brother and producer Jordan Johnson into the team and The Monsters were born.
The Strangerz met through a mutual friend in high school in early 2005. Marcus "MarcLo" Lomax is the son of a pastor and a multi-instrumentalist who began his musical career in his father's church band. Clarence Coffee Jr is the son of a Gospel singer, he grew up perfecting his vocals and melodies after being inspired by his family's passion for music.
The Monsters and the Strangerz were both introduced to each other in late 2010 when manager Lex Borrero signed them to his management company 1916, booking them both for a session with Def Jam artist Khalil and Atlantic Records artist Diggy Simmons. The session became the start of the group's creative partnership.
Production and songwriting
| Year | Song | Artist | Album | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "Big Nut Bust"[3] | Big Sean | Finally Famous Mixtape Part 3 | Producer, Songwriter |
| 2011 | "Love Soundz" | Lacey Schwimmer | Love Soundz | Producer, Songwriter |
| "Living For Tonight"[4] | Sean Kingston | TBA | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "For My Lady" | Ray J Ft Nelly | Raydiation 3 | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "Always" | Kevin Mchale | TBA | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "Go First, Perfect Gentleman" | Mario | TBA | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "Killah" | Khleo Thomas | Slick Living | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "Going Off" | Khleo Thomas | Slick Living | Producer, Songwriter | |
| 2012 | "Feb XIV" | Kevin McCall | TBA | Producer, Songwriter |
| "So Many Girls" | Khleo Thomas | TBA | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "On Deck" | Mann | TBA | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "Diemonds" | T Mills | Thrillionaire | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "Asstrology" | T Mills | Thrillionaire | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "Lightweight" | T Mills | Thrillionaire | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "The Reason" | Cody Simpson | Paradise | Producer, Songwriter | |
| 2013 | "Forget Forever" | Selena Gomez | Stars Dance | Producer, Songwriter |
| "Never Been Hurt" | Demi Lovato | Demi | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "Butterflies" | Zendaya | Zendaya | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "Heaven Lost an Angel" | Zendaya | Zendaya | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "Only When You're Close" | Zendaya | Zendaya | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "Leave My Heart Out Of This" | Fifth Harmony | Better Together | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "One Wish" | Fifth Harmony | Better Together (EP) (Target Bonus) | Producer, Songwriter | |
| 2014 | "On My Way" | Lea Michele | Louder | Producer, Songwriter |
| "Sexercize" | Kylie Minogue | Kiss Me Once | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "I Can't Stop Drinking About You" | Bebe Rexha | Single | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "Champagne" | Ferras | Ferras (EP) | Producer | |
| "I Know" | Chris Batson | Single | Co-Producer, Songwriter | |
| "It Was Always You" | Maroon 5 | V | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "Coming Back For You" | Maroon 5 | V | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "Already Gone" | Boyz II Men | Collide | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "On My Way Home" | Pentatonix | PTX, Vol. III | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "Forget Forever (Remix)" | Selena Gomez | For You | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "Fun" | Pitbull featuring Chris Brown | Globalization (album) | Producer, Songwriter | |
| 2015 | "Stuck On Me" | Invader Girl | Single | Producer, Songwriter |
| "Do What You Like"[5] | Taio Cruz | Single | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "Cheyenne" | Jason Derulo | Everything Is 4 | Producer, Songwriter | |
| "Pray" | Bebe Rexha | I Don't Wanna Grow Up EP | Producer, Songwriter | |
Songwriting credits
| Year | Song | Artist | Album | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "Diddy Boppin' '"[6] | Diddy featuring Yung Joc & Xplicit | Diddy Boppin | Writer |
| 2010 | "Million Dollar Girl" | Trina featuring Diddy & Keri Hilson | Amazin' | Writer |
| "Showin Out" | Trina | Amazin' | Writer | |
| "Nothing Like LA" | Ice Cube | I Am the West | Writer | |
| "I Am Not The One" | Maino | The Art of War Mixtape | Writer | |
| "Turn Around (5,4,3,2,1)" | Flo Rida | Only One Flo (Part 1) | Writer | |
| "Turnaround (5,4,3,2,1) Remix" | Flo Rida featuring Pitbull | Hangover 2 The Movie | Writer | |
| "Hey Cutie" | Soulja Boy featuring Trey Songz | The DeAndre Way | Writer | |
| "Poppin Bottles" | T.I. featuring Drake | No Mercy | Writer | |
| 2011 | "My House" | Big Sean | Finally Famous Album | Writer |
| "Swagger Jagger" | Cher Lloyd | Sticks and Stones | Writer | |
| "The Reason" | Cody Simpson | TBA | Writer | |
| "Up and Leave" | Laure Shang | Chinese Idol | Writer | |
| "Talkin' That" | Cher Lloyd | Sticks and Stones | Writer | |
| 2012 | "Vans On" | T. Mills | TBA | Writer |
| "Countless" | Alley Boy | Nigganati | Writer | |
| "2 Up" | Diggy Simmons | Unexpected Arrival | Writer | |
| "Unforgivable Blackness" | Diggy Simmons | Unexpected Arrival | Writer | |
| "I Need To Know" | Diggy Simmons | Unexpected Arrival | Writer | |
| "Tom Edison" | Diggy Simmons | Unexpected Arrival | Writer | |
| "What's Going On" | Diggy Simmons | Unexpected Arrival | Writer | |
| "MSG" | Diggy Simmons | Unexpected Arrival | Writer | |
| "Naked" | Kevin McCall featuring Big Sean | TBA | Writer | |
| "Burn" | Meek Mill featuring Big Sean | Dreams and Nightmares | Writer | |
| "I Don't Like (Remix)" | Chief Keef featuring GOOD Music & Jadakiss | Cruel Summer | Writer | |
| "Louder" | Flo Rida | Wild Ones | Writer | |
| "Tonight I'm Getting Over You" | Carly Rae Jepsen | Kiss | Writer | |
| "All Night Longer" | Sammy Adams | TBA | Writer | |
| "Mula" | Big Sean | Detroit Mixtape | Writer | |
| "Clique" | GOOD Music | Cruel Summer | Writer | |
| "Maybach Curtains" | Meek Mill | Dreams and Nightmares | Writer | |
| "No Love Allowed" | Rihanna | Unapologetic | Writer | |
| "All That (Lady)" | Game ft. Lil Wayne, Big Sean, Jeremih, Fabolous | Jesus Piece | Writer | |
| 2013 | "Guap" | Big Sean | Hall of Fame | Writer |
| "Tonight I'm Getting Over You" Remix | Carly Rae Jepsen ft. Nicki Minaj | Kiss | Writer | |
| "No Part of You" | 98 Degrees | 2.0 | Writer | |
| "Mona Lisa" | Big Sean | Hall of Fame | Writer | |
| "Milf" | Big Sean ft. Nicki Minaj, Juicy J | Hall of Fame | Writer | |
| "Nothing Is Stopping You" | Big Sean | Hall of Fame | Writer | |
| "Beware" | Big Sean | Hall of Fame | Writer | |
| "Fire" | Big Sean | Hall of Fame | Writer | |
| "Mula" | Big Sean | Hall of Fame | Writer | |
| "Don't Come Around" | Yo Gotti | I Am | Writer | |
| 2014 | "Born To Run" | Afrojack | Forget the World | Writer |
| "Change Your Mind" | Trey Songz | Trigga | Writer | |
| "Holy Ghost" | Juicy J featuring Lil Bibby | TBA | Writer | |
| "Dont Be Gone Too Long" | Chris Brown | X | Writer | |
| "Hustle Harder" | Common | Nobody Smiling | Writer | |
| "The Sleaze" | Wiz Khalifa | Blacc Hollywood | Writer | |
| "Not For Long" | B.o.B featuring Trey Songz | Single | Writer | |
| "Contigo Quiero Estar" | Thalía | Amore Mio (Thalía album) | Writer | |
| 2015 | "Run To Me" | Clarence Coffee | Home (soundtrack) | Writer |
| "I Don't Like It, I Love It" | Flo Rida featuring Robin Thicke | My House (EP) | Writer | |
| "Here It Is" | Flo Rida featuring Chris Brown | My House (EP) | Writer | |
Engineering credits
| Year | Album | Artist | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Port of Miami | Rick Ross | Engineer |
| 2008 | Just a Rolling Stone | Donnie Klang | Engineer |
| 2009 | Rebelution | Pitbull | Engineer |
| 2011 | Last Train to Paris | Diddy | Engineer |
| 2011 | Future History | Jason Derülo | Mix Engineer |
| 2011 | Raydiation 2 | Ray J | Recording & Mix Engineer |
| 2011 | Feel Good Music | Paypa | Recording & Mix Engineer |
| 2013 | Stars Dance | Selena Gomez | Recording Engineer |
| 2013 | DEMI | Demi Lovato | Recording Engineer |
| 2013 | Zendaya | Zendaya | Recording Engineer |
| 2013 | Better Together EP | Fifth Harmony | Recording Engineer |
| 2014 | I Can't Stop Drinking About You | Bebe Rexha | Recording Engineer |
| 2015 | Do What You Like | Taio Cruz | Recording Engineer |
References
- ↑ "DIDDY - DIDDY BOP FT. XPLICIT & YUNG JOC”, DJ Booth, April 26, 2009
- ↑ Turn Around (5, 4, 3, 2, 1)
- ↑ "LISTEN// BIG SEAN ‘BIG NUST BUST’ PRODUCED BY THE MONSTERS”, Big Sean', December 2nd 2010
- ↑ "EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Sean Kingston in the studio with THE MONSTERS”, iStandardProducers", Saturday, March 19th, 2011
- ↑ http://www.josepvinaixa.com/blog/taio-cruz-do-what-you-like/
- ↑ "Diddy feat. Yung Joc & Xplicit – Diddy Bop”, Nah Right"