Mark Pitts
Mark Pitts | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Mark Pitts |
| Also known as | Mark "Gucc" Pitts |
| Born | July 4, 1970 Brooklyn, New York City,U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Record executive |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Labels | |
Mark Pittsis an Americanrecord executiveandtalent managerwho has served as President ofRCA Recordssince 2021. He also co-founded the record label ByStorm Entertainment withWayne Barrowin 1998, through which he has signed artists includingJ. Cole,Miguel,Ro James,Andrea Martin,B. Smyth,Mali MusicandLuke Christopher,among others.[1]
He began his career as a staffer forPuff Daddy'sBad Boy Records,where he co-managedthe Notorious B.I.GandFaith Evans;he executive produced the former's first two albums:Ready to Die(1994) andLife After Death(1997) Pitts executive produced theNetflixfilm,Biggie: I Got A Story To Tell,co-producedNotorious(2009), andBlue(2009).[2][3]
Pitts has worked with artists who have amassed a total of 53 Grammy Awards nominations, and 10 wins.[4][5][6]
Early life and career
[edit]Pitts was born inBrooklyn, New York,on July 4, 1970. He was first introduced to music by his grandmother, a classically trained piano teacher who began giving Pitts lessons at the age of four. Pitts spent six years of his childhood at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, and later continued learning music at the High School of Music and Performing Arts, where he also studied art.
His professional music career started in the early 1990s, prior to enteringHoward University,when he formed a rap group called Three Left. He intended to pitch the rap group to his friendSean Combswho was working atUptown Recordsat the time.[7]After a meeting with Combs, Pitts decided that he wanted to work behind the scenes. In 1993, he started working with Combs at his entertainment companyBad Boy Entertainment,where Pitts managed theNotorious B.I.G.,Faith Evans,andChanging Faces.[8]Pitts would also arrange for his cousin and business partnerWayne Barrowto meet with B.I.G. as well.[9]Barrow would join Pitts in managing B.I.G.[10]
Pitts opened Mark Pitts Management (now ByStorm),[citation needed]took on additional artists such asNas,and a few years later negotiated an end to the public feud between Nas andJay-Z.He toldEssencemagazine:
"I have to say it’s one of my most proudest moments. It felt good and I always believe that having the two of them sit down and (reconcile) was something that BIG would have wanted me to do and in some way I felt like if BIG ever had the chance that’s what he would have done withTupac.At the time, when me and Nas first started working together, I said, 'We have to do something different. You're supposed to be a movement, so you need to do a song with Jay and get past all the bulls—. So I had a conversation with Jay and he was open. I couldn’t believe it was going down, and because they both felt comfortable and know my energy, and when we all got together that day, I couldn’t believe it was happening and we sat down and worked things out like men. That was definitely BIG guiding me. "[11]
In 1995, Pitts moved over to an executive position atUniversal Records(née Rising Tide) where he signed Philly-based rapper Tracey Lee,[12]and five years later became Senior Vice President of A&R forArista Records,where he worked with Usher on several albums including his albumConfessions[13]that was certified diamond (for sales of 10 million),[14]as well as TLC, Anthony Hamilton, and CeeLo Green. He signedChris Brownand Miguel while at Jive Records. In 2006, Pitts was made a father for the second time, after the birth of his daughter, Jaden.
In 2008, Pitts was diagnosed withBell's Palsy,which paralyzed the left side of his face. Through therapy and an adapted physical health regime, he recovered his facial mobility and full health after six months.[7]
2011 - 2019
[edit]In 2011, Pitts was named President of Urban Music atRCA Records.In his joint venture between his ByStorm Entertainment and RCA, his roster includesKardinal Offishall,J. Cole, Jawan Harris, Miguel,Ro James& Angel.[15][16]Ro James' gold-certified single "Permission"was nominated for his first-ever Grammy Award in the" Best R&B Performance "category from his debut albumEldorado,and the single held #1 spot on the Billboard Urban Adult Contemporary Songs chart for ten consecutive weeks.[17]
As president of Urban Music atRCA Records,Pitts executive produced the first four of J.Cole's[18]and all of Miguel's albums.[13]
In 2013, Pitts gained major success with Miguel’sKaleidoscope Dreamwhich grabbed five Grammy Award nominations.[19]He had also shepherded Brown'sFortune,which topped the charts that year.[20]
As president of RCA Records, Urban Music, Pitts continued to oversee everything on Chris Brown, who he originally signed at Jive Records[21]and moved to the RCA roster with the Jive-RCA merger in 2011. Pitts was instrumental in the decision to release 45 songs on the artist’s last album,Heartbreak on a Full Moon,which came out November 3, 2017.[22]
Pitts executive produced the second Miguel album,Kaleidoscope Dream,which featured the single, "Adorn."That track remained at No. 1 on theBillboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songsairplay chart for 23 weeks, making history[23]and won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 2013.[4]
Miguel'sWar & Leisurewas called "the album of 2017," byForbesmagazine. In the same article, the artist called Pitts his mentor.[24]TheBillboardTop 10 album features the platinum-selling single "Sky Walker" (featuringTravis Scott).[25]
Miguel collaborated onKygo’s single "Remind Me to Forget" on the latter’s RCA album,Kids in Love.[26]and the track received over 200,000,000-plusSpotifystreams[27]and was nominated for aniHeartRadio Music Award.[28]
Other achievements in Pitts’ urban division during the 2017-18 period include platinum-selling artistsSZAandKhalid,G-Eazy,among many others, and marked the 20th anniversary of ByStorm Entertainment.[26]The work of SZA, Khalid andGoldLinkearned first-time Grammy nominations that year[26]and SZA'sCtrlsold two million copies.[29][30]
Pitts continued to guide the career of Chris Brown, and was the A&R of the artist's 2019 single, "Go Crazy" withYoung Thug,as well as Brown's million-selling hit withDrake,"No Guidance." That track was nominated for a Grammy, and was one of the biggest-selling songs of 2019, breaking the record for the longest No. 1 onBillboard'sR&B/Hip-Hop Airplaychart for 27 weeks, an accolade that bested Pitts’ and ByStorm's own artist Miguel and his song, "Adorn".[31]
2020 - present
[edit]As the decade began, Pitts was instrumental in signing Atlanta rapperYoung Nudyto RCA, as well asBrooklyndrillfounders Winner's Circle and Grammy-nominatedDeante Hitchcock.
In 2020, Usher made history with two No.1 singles on theBillboardHot ACchart, "Bad Habits"in November preceded by"Don’t Waste My Time",featuringElla Maithe previous June.[32]
In January 2021, Pitts was named President of RCA Records.[33]
In March 2021, Chris Brown reached an historic milestone when his single, "Go Crazy"with Young Thug logged the 24th consecutive week at No. 1 on the R&B/Hip Hop Airplay chart. He now has had two songs with the most weeks at No. 1 in the chart’s 28-year history, with" Go Crazy "and" No Guidance ".[34]
Recognition and honors
[edit]Based on worldwide chart data in 2005, he was named "World's No.8 A&R of 2005" by the music industry A&R siteHitQuartersfor that year after success in breaking new artistsCiaraand Chris Brown.[35]
Pitts was featured inCrain'smagazine's "40 Under 40" in 2015.[36]
On June 11, 2018, Pitts received a proclamation as anAfrican-Americanpower influencer from New York City Council’s Black, Latino and Asian Caucus (BLAC) overseen by the city’s mayorBill de Blasio.[37]
Men’s Healthmagazine ran an editorial spread on Pitts in its January 2019 issue. "My diagnosis of Bell’s Palsy changed everything, and after, I began a training regime of five times a week. I’m very proud to be recognized byMen’s Health.This achievement is greater than a Grammy Award because my health is more important. I’m blessed to feel good now, "he said.[38]
Selected discography
[edit]| Year | Project | Artist | Record Label | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "We Got It Goin' On" | Changing Faces | Atlantic | Producer |
| 1997 | Life After Death | The Notorious B.I.G. | Bad Boy Entertainment | Executive producer |
| 1997 | "Gitty Up" | Salt 'N Pepa | London | Remix Producer |
| 1999 | Born Again | The Notorious B.I.G. | Bad Boy Entertainment | Executive producer |
| 2001 | Supernova | Lisa Left Eye Lopes | Arista | Co-producer |
| 2004 | Confessions | Usher | Arista | Executive producer |
| 2005 | Chris Brown | Chris Brown | Jive | Executive producer |
| 2007 | Exclusive | Chris Brown | Jive | Executive producer |
| 2008 | Here I Stand | Usher | LaFace | Executive producer |
| 2009 | Graffiti | Chris Brown | Jive | Executive producer |
| 2010 | Raymond v. Raymond | Usher | LaFace | Executive producer |
| 2010 | All I Want Is You | Miguel | Jive | Executive producer |
| 2011 | F.A.M.E. | Chris Brown | Jive | Executive producer |
| 2011 | Cole World: The Sideline Story | J. Cole | RocNation/Columbia | Executive producer |
| 2012 | Looking 4 Myself | Usher | RCA | Executive producer |
| 2012 | Fortune | Chris Brown | RCA | Executive producer |
| 2012 | Kaleidoscope Dream | Miguel | RCA | Executive producer |
| 2013 | Born Sinner | J. Cole | Dreamville/RocNation/Columbia | Executive producer |
| 2014 | "New Flame" | Chris Brown | RCA | Co-writer |
| 2014 | X | Chris Brown | RCA | Executive producer |
| 2014 | A.K.A. | Jennifer Lopez | A.K.A.-Capitol | Co-writer |
| 2014 | 2014 Forest Hills Drive | J. Cole | Dreamville/RocNation/Columbia | Executive producer |
| 2015 | Royalty | Chris Brown | RCA | Executive producer |
| 2016 | Hard II Love | Usher | RCA | Executive producer |
| 2015 | Wildheart | Miguel | RCA | Executive producer |
| 2016 | El Dorado | Ro James | Bystorm/RCA | Executive producer |
| 2016 | 4 Your Eyez Only | J. Cole | Dreamville/RocNation/Columbia | Executive producer |
| 2017 | Heartbreak on a Full Moon | Chris Brown | RCA | Executive producer |
| 2017 | War & Leisure | Miguel | RCA | Executive Producer |
| 2018 | A | Usher | RCA | Executive producer |
| 2019 | Indigo | Chris Brown | RCA | Executive producer |
References
[edit]- ^Carter, Caitlin (February 11, 2015)."Miguel New Album: RCA Records President Reveals Working Title, Release Date & More".Retrieved12 March2015.
- ^"Mark Pitts".IMDb.Retrieved12 March2015.
- ^Golding, Shenequa (February 11, 2015)."RCA's Mark Pitts Gives Details About Miguel's New Album And Title".Vibe.Retrieved12 March2015.
- ^ab"Miguel".grammy.Retrieved27 January2019.
- ^"Usher".grammy.Retrieved27 January2019.
- ^"Chris Brown".grammy.Retrieved27 January2019.
- ^abPepper, Tracey."Mark Pitts".traceypepper.Retrieved19 January2019.
- ^"My Day: Mark Pitts, President of Urban Music, RCA Records & CEO of Bystorm Entertainment".Billboard.September 20, 2013.Retrieved12 March2015.
- ^Searchlight Pictures (May 8, 2008)."NOTORIOUS: Producer Wayne Barrow Q & A part 1".YouTube.RetrievedApril 11,2024.
- ^"We've Read the Screenplay for the Notorious B.I.G. Biopic".Vulture. February 25, 2008.RetrievedApril 11,2024.
- ^"Mark Pitts: My Brother's Keeper".Essence.December 16, 2009.Retrieved27 January2019.
- ^Whitener, Connie."Tracey Lee, the hip-hop attorney, delivers sound advice".AXS.Retrieved27 January2019.
- ^ab"Mark Pitts".allmusic.Retrieved27 February2019.
- ^Ellis, Stacy-Ann (March 24, 2014)."11 Albums To Get Diamond Certification".Vibe magazine.
- ^"Grammys 2015: Beyonce, Jay Z, Kanye, Pharrell Hit Up Roc Nation Pre-Awards Brunch".The Hollywood Reporter.7 February 2015.Retrieved12 March2015.
- ^"Hudson Mohawke says he's working with Miguel".Retrieved12 March2015.
- ^McDonnell, Brandy (March 31, 2018)."Listen: Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Ro James drops new EP 'Smoke'".The Oklahoman.Retrieved15 March2019.
- ^"Mark Pitts".discogs.Retrieved27 February2019.
- ^Caulfield, Keith (September 26, 2012)."Grammys Deadline Spurs Early Vinyl Releases From Cher Lloyd, Muse".Billboard.Los Angeles.Archivedfrom the original on June 24, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 27,2019.
- ^Conte, Richard."Watch Usher And Nicki Minaj Tear The Club Up In 'She Came To Give It To You' Video".Retrieved12 March2015.
- ^Bacher, Danielle (March 2, 2017)."Chris Brown's Downward Spiral: Insiders Open Up About His Struggles With Addiction and Anger".Billboard.Retrieved19 January2019.
- ^"Stream Chris Brown's New Album 'Heartbreak on a Full Moon'".Billboard.October 31, 2017.Retrieved19 January2019.
- ^Anderson, Trevor (October 4, 2018)."Ella Mai's 'Boo'd Up' Sets Record For Most Weeks at No. 1 Among Women On R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Chart".Billboard.Retrieved27 January2019.
- ^Baltin, Steve (December 4, 2017)."Why Miguel's 'War & Leisure' Is The Essential Album For 2017".Forbes.Retrieved19 January2019.
- ^Suarez, Gary (May 5, 2018)."Miguel Goes RIAA Platinum With 'Sky Walker'".Forbes.Retrieved19 January2019.
- ^abcMitchell, Gail (April 17, 2018)."RCA's Mark Pitts Celebrates 20th Anniversary of ByStorm Entertainment".Billboard.Retrieved19 January2019.
- ^"Remind Me To Forget".spotify.Retrieved19 January2019.
- ^Howard, Annie (January 9, 2019)."iHeartRadio Music Awards: Cardi B, Drake, Ariana Grande Lead Nominations".Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved19 January2019.
- ^"GOLD & PLATINUM".riaa.Retrieved24 March2021.
- ^"Billboard's 2018 R&B/Hip-Hop 100 Power Players Revealed".Billboard.September 27, 2018.Retrieved27 January2019.
- ^Newman, Melinda (January 14, 2021)."RCA Records Promotes Mark Pitts to President, John Fleckenstein to COO".Billboard.Retrieved26 January2021.
- ^Anderson, Trevor (December 4, 2020)."Usher's 'Bad Habits' Hits No. 1 on Adult R&B Songs Chart".Billboard.Retrieved23 March2021.
- ^Ingham, Tim (January 14, 2021)."SHAKE-UP AT RCA: MARK PITTS IN AS PRESIDENT, JOHN FLECKENSTEIN PROMOTED TO COO".Music Business Worldwide.Retrieved26 January2021.
- ^Anderson, Trevor (March 11, 2021)."Chris Brown Now Has the Two Longest Running No. 1s on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Chart".Billboard.Retrieved23 March2021.
- ^"Interview with MARK PITTS, A&R at Jive Records for Ciara (US No.1), Chris Brown (US No.1)".Retrieved12 March2015.
- ^"Mark Pitts".October 12, 2012.Retrieved12 March2015.
- ^Toure, Madina (June 12, 2008)."Lil Kim Honored by NYC Council for African-American Music Appreciation Month".Observer.Retrieved19 January2019.
- ^McCarron, Anthony (January 8, 2019)."Pain Meds for Weed The Intense AM Workout That Fuels a Hip-Hop Tastemaker".Men's Health.Retrieved19 January2019.