Static Major

For the British film and TV producer, see Stephen Garrett (producer).
Static Major

Static Major, 2001
Background information
Birth name Stephen Ellis Garrett
Born (1974-11-11)November 11, 1974
Origin Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Died February 25, 2008(2008-02-25) (aged 33)
Genres
Occupation(s)
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1993−2008
Labels
Associated acts

Stephen Ellis Garrett (November 11, 1974 – February 25, 2008), also known as Static Major, was a Grammy Award-winning American R&B and hip hop recording artist from Louisville, Kentucky, USA. He was a member of the R&B trio Playa. Static Major gained posthumous fame for appearing on Lil Wayne's 2008 album Tha Carter III on the song "Lollipop".[1] He was a songwriter for several artists, including Aaliyah, Ginuwine, Pretty Ricky, and Destiny's Child.[2]

Static wrote most of the lyrics on Aaliyah's self-titled 2001 album.[3] A YouTube video featuring Static Major alongside Smoke E. Digglera of Playa was also heavily sampled on Drake's song "Look What You've Done" from his 2011 album Take Care.[4][5] He died unexpectedly in his hospital room; his debut album was not released.

Music career

Static started his producing career when he signed with Swing Mob Records. Major made a breakthrough working with R&B singer Ginuwine. Major helped produce the song "Pony" which became a major hit and a milestone in both Major's and Timbaland's careers.[6] He later became a member of the Def Jam group Playa, who were most known for their hit single "Cheers 2 U". Playa released an album of the same name in 1997.

After working with Ginuwine, Static assisted in producing songs for Nicole Wray for her 1998 debut album, Make It Hot. Static Major would eventually become the lead songwriter for the late R&B singer Aaliyah. His songwriting collaborations with Aaliyah include: "Are You That Somebody?", which was featured in the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack, and the Romeo Must Die soundtrack singles "Come Back in One Piece" and her first and only number-one Billboard Hot 100 single "Try Again". The songs "More than a Woman," "We Need a Resolution," "Rock the Boat", "Loose Rap", "Extra Smooth", "I Refuse", "Read Between the Lines", "Those Were The Days," and "Never No More" were all featured on her third and final studio album Aaliyah. He earned Aaliyah four top 25 Billboard Hot 100 singles during his time working with the late R&B star.[1][6]

Static was frequently a collaborator with R&B group Pretty Ricky, working with them on several songs, including "Juicy", from their 2005 album Bluestars.[1] His most recent work producing music was Lil Wayne's "Lollipop" from the album Tha Carter III. Suppertime is the solo album that Static Major was reportedly set to release on OG Music/Blackground in 2008.[1] Static worked along with Rudy Sandapa in producing "Fire Lovin'" by R&B musician Pleasure P, Static had a numerous amount of leaked demos for Pleasure and many other artists including Aaliyah and JoJo. "I stay in the streets, that's where I draw my inspiration," Static Major said describing where he gets his inspiration. "If it can't be played in the hood, then it just doesn't work for me. And nobody can hold me on harmony. My whole aura is not your typical R&B aura."

Death

Garrett died suddenly at Baptist Hospital East in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky on February 25, 2008. After a number of tests, he was diagnosed with a rare condition called myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disorder with hallmark symptoms of muscle weakness and fatigue. Doctors recommended a procedure called plasmapheresis, a treatment similar to dialysis that removes the autoantibodies from the blood using an implanted catheter as a central line through the neck and into the chest area. A large-bore catheter must be inserted into the patient's arm to perform this procedure. No catheter was put in his arm, but he did have one in his neck. When a nurse was instructed to remove it, he went into respiratory distress and did not recover.[7]

Discography

Singles

As a lead artist

Year Song Chart positions[8] Album
U.S. Hot 100 U.S. R&B U.S. Rap
2006 "Bus Stop Breezy" Suppertime
2007 "Your Valentine"
"I Got My" (featuring Lil Wayne) 98

As a featured artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[9]
US
R&B

[10]
US
Rap

[11]
AUS
[12]
CAN
[13]
GER
[14]
IRE
[15]
NZ
[16]
SWI
[17]
UK
[18]
"Crank It Up"
(David Banner featuring Static Major)
2004 87 MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water
"Lollipop"
(Lil Wayne featuring Static Major)
2008 1 1 1 32 10 22 28 3 39 26 Tha Carter III
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Producer Static major, of Former R&B Group Playa, Dies". Vibe. Archived from the original on August 26, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  2. "David Banner Speaks On Static Major Death". Rapbasement.com. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  3. Reid, Shaheem (June 26, 2001). "Aaliyah Makes Love And War On New Album". MTV News. Archived from the original on December 8, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  4. "The Top 100 Albums of 2010 - 2014". Pitchfork. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  5. "Smoke x Static Major Footage " (Drake "Look What You've Done" Sample) + Smoke Interview". Youtube. Youtube. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  6. 1 2 "» STEPHEN "STATIC/MAJOR" GARRETT - (1976-2008)". February 26, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  7. Leo Weekly
  8. Artist Chart History. Billboard. Accessed September 24, 2007.
  9. "Lil Wayne Album & Song Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  10. Peak chart positions for guest appearances on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in the United States:
  11. "Lil Wayne Album & Song Chart History: Rap Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  12. "Discography Lil Wayne". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  13. "Lil Wayne Album & Song Chart History: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  14. "Chartverfolgung / Lil Wayne / Single". musicline.de (in German). Media Control Charts. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  15. "Discography Lil Wayne". irish-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  16. "Discography Lil Wayne". charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  17. "Lil Wayne (Charts)". hitparade.ch (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  18. "Lil' Wayne Featuring Drake". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  19. "Gold & Platinum: Lil Wayne". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  20. "Latest Gold / Platinum Singles". RadioScope. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved May 12, 2012.

External links

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