Christopher Umana
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| Christopher Umana | |
|---|---|
| Born | Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
| Other names | C4, L&F, BANZAI, American Gentlemen[1], DARKMINDS |
| 🎓 Alma mater | Georgia Southern University |
| 💼 Occupation | Producer, songwriter, pianist |
| 🌐 Website | c4musiconline |
Christopher Umana, also known as C4, is a Nigerian-American record producer, rapper-songwriter, and pianist, best known for producing UK top ten single "Simply Amazing", as well as songwriting and producing for artists such as Tank, Musiq Soulchild, Kelly Rowland, Teyana Taylor and Trey Songz, among others.[2] Through numerous collaborations and business ventures with other artists, Umana is also known for various sync placements across television, film, and advertisement.[3]
Career[edit]
Beginnings and L&F[edit]
Growing up as a pianist in an Atlanta-based Nigerian household, Umana was exposed to a vast array of music genres, and is known for utilizing a distinct fusion of trap, r&b, hip-hop, funk and West-African sounds.[4] Throughout his adolescence Umana participated in various bands, and played piano in high school jazz band. He subsequently attended Georgia Southern University, graduating with a degree in finance in 2009, while making his first productions and interning at Atlanta's Music House Studios. This internship was considered a turning point, as he was "able to see the entire creative process - how songs were created from start to finish." In 2008, one of the studio managers was working with India.Arie and Musiq Soulchild, and both Musiq and the manager became interested in using one of Umana's productions, resulting in "Radio". Umana's first official placement was selected as the lead single of Musiq Soulchild's fifth album OnMyRadio and charted on the Billboard R&B charts. [5]
Upon meeting at his parents' 25th Anniversary party, Umana formed a production group with second cousin Uforo "BongoByTheWay" Ebong after mutual realization that both were producers, naming the group L&F (short for "Lost and Found"). [6][7] Umana moved to Los Angeles, California for additional music opportunities in 2009 after graduating college. [8] In 2015, Umana was working on a song concept while travelling to Atlanta to attend a wedding, and Ubong was at home working on another song in LA. They eventually merged their two songs together with an idea from Chance The Rapper songwriter Nate Fox, crafting "Jit/Juke" for Big Sean, as well as "Stay Down", a song that would be placed onto Big Sean's first album after signing with management company Roc Nation, Dark Sky Paradise. [9][10] L&F parted ways amicably at the end of 2015 to pursue individual songwriting and production careers, but have since reunited to collaborate on several productions.
Further production/songwriting success[edit]
Umana produced "Simply Amazing" for Songz' 2012 album Chapter V, becoming Songz' first top ten hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at eight on the UK Singles Chart, while also becoming his first single to top the UK R&B Chart. [11][12] Umana next received the opportunity to co-write and co-produce for Tank through mutual friend songwriter-rapper Kevin McCall, who invited Umana to a writing session at the Atlantic Records studio in Hollywood. Umana played three production ideas, and when McCall heard one of the ideas, he instantly came up with the chorus line. "I don't think I've ever…ever really told you…how much I need you...girl I need you more… than the next breath I breathe." McCall would play the song for Tank a few weeks later, and it became single "Next Breath" for Tank's 2012 album This Is How I Feel. The single would chart for 24 weeks and subsequently peak at #1 on Billboard's Adult R&B Airplay chart. [13][14][15] L&F reunited in 2017 to produce "Don't Go" from Universal/Motown Records artist Kevin Ross' The Awakening, also peaking in the top 15 of Billboard's Adult R&B Airplay chart. [16]
Sync placements and other ventures[edit]
In 2014, Umana formed BANZAI: a partnership with fellow songwriter Colby O'Donis to create music for commercials, television, and film. The partnership was successful, resulting in music placements in Modern Family, Black-ish, and Underground promotional advertisements, among others.[17]
In 2016, Umana began working with vocalist Brandon Saller from Atreyu on collaboration project "American Gentlemen", releasing several EPs and an album. [18]
Since 2019, Umana has also worked with Daniel Ellsworth[19] on production team 'DARKMINDS" after initially being paired to write together by their publishing companies in January 2019. [20] DARKMINDS is also focused on musical sync placements in advertisements, film, and television, and has received opportunities for PGA Tour, Netflix, and Apple Inc. advertisements, among others. [21][22]
Production and songwriting credits[edit]
Credits are courtesy of Discogs, Tidal, and Apple Music.
| Title | Year | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Radio" «» | 2008 | Musiq Soulchild | OnMyRadio |
| "Shut Up, Stop Lying" | 2011 | Keke Palmer | Awaken |
| "Keep It Between Us" [23] | Kelly Rowland | Here I Am | |
| "New Money" (Featuring Mishon) | Lil Twist | Non-album single | |
| "Next Breath" | 2012 | Tank | This Is How I Feel |
| "Almost Lose It" | Trey Songz | Chapter V | |
| "Simply Amazing" | |||
| "Moving On" | Leon Thomas III | Metro Hearts | |
| "Pimpin' Won't Die" | 2013 | Papoose | The Nacirema Dream |
| "Help Wanted" | Rome Fortune | Beautiful Pimp | |
| "Ride It" (Featuring Christina Milian) | Eric Bellinger | Born II Sing Vol.2 | |
| "Get a Loan" | Born II Sing Vol.3 | ||
| "Y.A.S. (You Ain't Shit)" «» | 2014 | Trey Songz | Trigga |
| "Outta My League (Interlude)" «» | Teyana Taylor | VII | |
| "Outta My League" «» | |||
| "Show Me" (Featuring Jeremih) «» | Omarion | Sex Playlist | |
| "Boss" (Featuring Rick Ross) «» | |||
| "Already" «» | |||
| "Jit/Juke" «» | Big Sean | Non-album single | |
| "I Won't Cry" «» | Bridget Kelly | Non-album single | |
| "Almost More" | Non-album single | ||
| "Smile" [24] | Rachel Platten | Annie (Film Soundtrack) | |
| "What's Her Name" | Eric Darius | Retro Forward | |
| "Stay Down" | 2015 | Big Sean | Dark Sky Paradise |
| "Sweet Life" (Featuring Janelle Monáe) | Jeezy | Church in These Streets | |
| "Apology" | Austin Mahone | This Is Not The Album | |
| "Fading" | Elijah Blake | Shadows & Diamonds | |
| "Song Goes Off" | 2017 | Trey Songz | Tremaine the Album |
| "Don't Go" «» | Kevin Ross | The Awakening | |
| "One Time" [25] | 2018 | Kid Ink | Unbanned: The Legend Of AJ1 (Soundtrack) |
| "Bag On Em" (Featuring Quavo) | Migo Domingo | Menace II Society | |
| "The Kitchen." [26] | 2020 | B.Slade | Taurus (Deluxe Edition) |
«» Released as part of L&F Productions
Discography[edit]
Studio projects
- American Gentlemen EP (2016) (as American Gentlemen) [1]
- Undefeated (2018) (as American Gentlemen) [27]
- Ghosts (2019) (as American Gentlemen)
- Winners Stand Up (2019) (as American Gentlemen)
- Victory Lap (2019) (as American Gentlemen)
- Good News (2019) (as DARKMINDS) [28][29]
- Monument (2021) (as DARKMINDS) [30]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "PREMIERE: American Gentlemen will be in your head with "Ghosts"". Substream Magazine. 10 October 2019.
- ↑ "Songwriter and producer C4 talks to ASCAP's "On the Come Up" about breathing life into the music industry". The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
- ↑ "Music Q&A with DARKMINDS".
- ↑ "The Art of Collaboration with Daphne Willis & Friends | the Art of Collaboration w/ Daphne Willis & Friends | 2022 Nashville Film Festival".
- ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard.
- ↑ "Production duo L+F discuss working with Trey Songz and their process of creating music". Rolling Out. 14 October 2014.
- ↑ "Clef Interview: Production Duo L&F Discuss Career Moves, Upbringing and Crafting R&B Hits". Neoclef. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02.
- ↑ "WPGM Recommends: Trey Songz - Trigga (Album)". 21 July 2014.
- ↑ "Big Sean Just Dropped Four New Songs". Complex Networks.
- ↑ "[Interview] Discovering Your Sound, A Session with the producers of Big Sean's "Jit/Juke" The Duo L&F". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02.
- ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
- ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
- ↑ "Tank Takes 'Slow' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay". Billboard.
- ↑ "Tank". Billboard.
- ↑ "Ted Winn's Veracity Entertainment Music Administration Company Scores Two #1 Hits". 15 June 2012.
- ↑ "R&B Singer/Songwriter Kevin Ross Preps for Audacity, Vol. 2 Release; Announces New Single".
- ↑ http://banzaimusicgroup.com/
- ↑ "ATREYU's BRANDON SALLER to Release Debut AMERICAN GENTLEMEN EP". 14 October 2019.
- ↑ "Meet Daniel Ellsworth | Artist, musician, producer, & professional dog lover". Shoutout LA. 13 September 2021.
- ↑ "DARKMINDS". DARKMINDS.
- ↑ "DARKMINDS Starts the Summer off with their Debut Album, Good News". Beyond The Stage Magazine. 7 June 2021.
- ↑ Vitagliano, Joe (May 24, 2021). "Looking For New Music With A Feel-Good, Summer Vibe? DARKMINDS Has "Good News" For You". American Songwriter.
- ↑ "M Music & Musicians Magazine » KELLY ROWLAND".
- ↑ "Rachel Platten".
- ↑ "KID INK SHARES "ONE TIME" — NEW SONG CREATED FOR FORTHCOMING DOCUMENTARY 'UNBANNED: THE LEGEND OF AJ1' – Sony Music Canada".
- ↑ "The Kitchen., by B.Slade".
- ↑ "Undefeated". Spotify.
- ↑ "Bold pop hooks and cheerful falsetto with modern hip-hop beats". Desert Island Cloud. August 27, 2021.
- ↑ "Supergroup DARKMINDS Drops Debut Album 'Good News'". Mundane. July 2021.
- ↑ "Music Bugle Exclusive – Q & A – DARKMINDS". The Music Bugle. 30 September 2021.
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