Knobody facts for kids

Jerome Foster, known in the music world as Knobody, is an American music producer and A&R. An A&R (Artists and Repertoire) person helps find new artists and guides them in making their music. Knobody has produced many songs across different music styles. These include soul, R&B, hip hop, and rock. He has worked with famous artists like Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, Akon, The Game, Big Pun, Mýa, and R.E.M..

Knobody also worked as an A&R at SRC Records/Universal. He was recognized as a "World Top 10 A&R" because of how successful Akon became after his first album was released.

Knobody's Impact on Music

Knobody is known for helping to start the careers of many famous artists. His work greatly influenced the success of musicians like Jay-Z, Akon, and Big Pun. His contributions have had a huge impact on the world of hip hop and R&B music.

Helping Jay-Z Become Famous

Knobody produced the well-known song "Can't Knock the Hustle" for Jay-Z. This song was the first track on Jay-Z's very first album, Reasonable Doubt. "Can't Knock the Hustle" was Jay-Z's first song to appear on music charts. It helped him become famous and started his amazing career, which has led to millions of albums sold worldwide. Even though Jay-Z has released many songs since 1996, "Can't Knock the Hustle" is still seen as one of his greatest hits.

Big Pun's Rise to Stardom

Knobody also produced "Still Not a Player". This was the main song from Big Pun's first album, Capital Punishment. The album quickly became popular, reaching number 5 on the Billboard 200 charts. It was also the first album by a solo Latino rap artist to sell over a million copies, earning it "platinum" status. "Still Not a Player" helped Big Pun go from being a lesser-known artist to a huge star. The success of "Still Not a Player" also helped Big Pun's album, "Capital Punishment", get nominated for a Rap Album of the Year award at the 1999 GRAMMY Awards.

Discovering Akon

When Knobody worked as an A&R at SRC Records/Universal, he played a big part in discovering Akon. He also helped Akon develop his first album, Trouble. Knobody produced Akon's popular radio hit, "Locked Up" (Remix) featuring Styles P. This song was very important for the album's success and for Akon becoming a star. The album Trouble sold over a million copies by April 27, 2005, making Akon a true R&B star. Because of Akon's huge success after his first album, Knobody was named a "World Top 10 A&R" in 2005.

Songs Knobody Produced

Knobody has produced many popular songs for various artists. Here are some of the singles he worked on:

Singles

• 1993: "So Whatcha Want?" (MF Grimm)
• 1995: "Funky Piano" (E. Bros) for the New Jersey Drive Soundtrack
• 1996: "Can't Knock the Hustle" (Jay-Z featuring Mary J. Blige)
• 1997: "How You Want It" (Jungle Brothers featuring De La Soul & Q-Tip)
• 1998: "Still Not a Player" (Big Pun featuring Joe)
• 1998: "Movin' Out" (Mýa featuring Raekwon & Noreaga)
• 2002: "I've Been High" (R.E.M.)
• 2004: "Locked Up (Remix)" (Akon featuring Styles P)
• 2004: "Coo Coo Chee" (Ric-A-Che)
• 2006: "Feels So Good" (Remy Ma featuring Ne-Yo)
• 2006: "Wanna Be" (The Fugees)
• 2008: "Game's Pain" (The Game featuring Keyshia Cole)

Awards and Recognition

In 2005, Hit Quarters magazine named Knobody a "World Top 10 A&R". This was because of his important role in Akon's first album, Trouble, which launched Akon's career. In 2008, Knobody received a GRAMMY Award for "Leaving Tonight". This song was part of Ne-Yo's album Because of You, which won the 2007 GRAMMY Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album.