Don Cannon

{{for-multi|the news anchor|Don Cannon (news anchor)|the architect|CannonDesign}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Don Cannon

| image = DCannon-112.jpg

| caption = Cannon in 2011

| birth_name =

| alias = DJ Don Cannon

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1979|8|2}}

| genre = {{flat list|

Hip hop
R&B

}}

| occupation = {{flat list|

Disc jockey
record producer
songwriter
record executive

}}

| birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| years_active = 2003–present

| label = {{flat list|

Cannon Music
Def Jam
Aphilliates
Atlantic
Generation Now

}}

| associated_acts =

{{flatlist|

}}

| website =

}}

Donald Cannon (born August 2, 1979) is an American DJ, record producer, and record executive who served as Vice President of A&R at Def Jam Recordings from 2012 to 2018. With DJ Drama, he is the co-founder of the record label Generation Now, an imprint of Atlantic Records that has signed artists including Lil Uzi Vert and Jack Harlow. Furthermore, Cannon and DJ Drama are members of the Atlanta-based mixtape collective, Aphilliates Music Group.

As a record producer, Cannon has produced singles and albums for artists including Jeezy, Logic, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, 50 Cent, and Eminem, among others.

Early life and education

Cannon was born on August 2, 1979, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.{{cite news | last=Madden| first=Sidney| title =Happy Birthday, Don Cannon!| work =XXL| date =2 August 2017| url =http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2017/08/happy-birthday-don-cannon/| access-date =12 September 2019}} He was raised largely in West Philadelphia. At the age of 5, he received his first set of turntables, a mixer, and a karaoke machine.{{cite news | last=Graham| first=Nadine| title =Inside the DJ Booth: DJ Don Cannon| work =The BoomBox| date =5 December 2012| url =http://theboombox.com/inside-the-dj-booth-dj-don-cannon/| access-date =12 September 2019}}{{cite news | last=Horton| first=Chad| title =Interview: DJ Don Cannon on working with Lecrae| work =Rapzilla| date =15 March 2012| url =https://rapzilla.com/2012-03-interview-dj-don-cannon-on-working-with-lecrae/| access-date =12 September 2019}} By age 11, he had DJed numerous events, including his aunt's wedding reception.{{cite news| title =Don Cannon: "I DJ'd My Aunt's Wedding When I Was 11 Years Old"| work =The Urban Daily| date =1 December 2010| url =https://theurbandaily.cassiuslife.com/1057505/don-cannon-i-djd-my-aunts-wedding-when-i-was-11-years-old/| access-date =12 September 2019}}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} After high school, Cannon moved to Atlanta, Georgia to attend Clark Atlanta University. While there, he met up with other Philadelphia natives, DJ Drama and DJ Sense. The three formed the Aphilliates while in college together as a loose collection of DJs. Cannon also began DJing parties and clubs in Atlanta's inner city.{{cite book | last =Hess | first =Mickey | title =Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide | publisher =Greenwood | date =25 November 2009 | pages =491 | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=XkCncJ7j744C&q=%22don+cannon%22+%22clark+atlanta%22&pg=PA491 | isbn =978-0313343216 }}

Career

Cannon, along with DJ Drama and DJ Sense, officially co-founded the Aphilliates Music Group (AMG) in Atlanta in 2003.{{cite news | last=Zisook| first=Brian| title =Asylum Records Announces Partnership With Aphilliates Music Group| work =DJ Booth| date =11 November 2006| url =https://djbooth.net/features/asylum-records-announces-partnership| access-date =12 September 2019}} Cannon often produced tracks on DJ Drama's prominent mixtape series, Gangsta Grillz, which featured artists like Jeezy, Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, Ludacris, Fabolous, T.I., and numerous others.{{cite news | last=C.M.| first=Emmanuel| title =DJ Drama Walks Fans Through his 'Gangsta Grillz' Mixtape Series| work =XXL| date =30 June 2016| url =http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/06/dj-drama-walks-fans-through-his-gangsta-grillz-mixtape-series/| access-date =12 September 2019}}

Some of Cannon's most notable early production credits with Aphilliates included Jeezy's "Go Crazy" featuring Jay-Z, 50 Cent's "Man Down," and Ludacris' "Everybody Hates Chris." Cannon also helped develop mixtape series like Lil Wayne's Dedication, T.I. and P$C's In da Streets, and Jeezy's Trap or Die.{{cite news | last=Burgess| first=Omar| title =DJ Don Cannon Leaves Aphilliates| work =HipHopDX| date =10 December 2008| url =https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.8234/title.dj-don-cannon-leaves-aphilliates#| access-date =12 September 2019}}{{cite news | last=Phillips| first=Yoh| title =A Producer In The Rough: The Sounds & Impact of Don Cannon| work =DJ Booth| date =8 August 2016| url =https://djbooth.net/features/2016-08-08-sounds-of-don-cannon| access-date =12 September 2019}} He would go on to co-host a show on Atlanta's WHTA and became a music director for the show Streets Iz Watchin on the Sirius XM Radio station, Shade 45. Good Day Atlanta, the morning show on Atlanta's Fox affiliate, also named him "Atlanta's Best DJ."{{cite news | title =Don Cannon Named VP of A&R at Def Jam| work =The Hollywood Reporter| date =8 July 2013| url =https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/don-cannon-named-vp-a-581712| access-date =12 September 2019}}

In September 2006, the Aphilliates Music Group entered into a strategic partnership with Asylum Records. In January 2007, however, Aphilliates' Atlanta offices were raided by local police at the behest of the RIAA, and Cannon and DJ Drama were arrested on RICO charges. Authorities seized 81,000 mixtapes and various pieces of recording equipment in the raid.{{cite magazine | last=Crosley| first=Hillary| title =DJ Drama Arrested In Mixtape Raid| magazine =Billboard| date =17 January 2007| url =https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1055916/dj-drama-arrested-in-mixtape-raid| access-date =12 September 2019}}{{cite news | last=Sanneh| first=Kelefa| title =With Arrest of DJ Drama, the Law Takes Aim at Mixtapes| newspaper =The New York Times| date =18 January 2007| url =https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/18/arts/music/18dram.html| access-date =12 September 2019}}

That raid and others like it were subject to public outcry in the aftermath, with some music industry insiders describing the RIAA and its constituent members as "schizophrenic." Aphilliates had largely operated with the express permission of major record labels at the time, because AMG helped promote their artists.{{cite book | last =Sinnreich | first =Aram | title =Mashed Up: Music, Technology, and the Rise of Configurable Culture | publisher =University of Massachusetts Press | date =21 July 2010 | pages =1–3 | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=xCRfQMhIVpEC&q=%22don+cannon%22&pg=PA1 | isbn =978-1558498297 }} Neither Cannon nor DJ Drama were ever convicted in relation to the raid.{{cite news | last=Love| first=Tirhakah| title =How Hip-Hop Survived The Atlanta Mixtape Raid| publisher =MTV| date =18 January 2017| url =http://www.mtv.com/news/2973327/atlanta-mixtape-raid/| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20170214201358/http://www.mtv.com/news/2973327/atlanta-mixtape-raid/| url-status =dead| archive-date =February 14, 2017| access-date =12 September 2019}}{{cite news | last=Seabrook III| first=Robby| title =DJ Drama Arrested in Atlanta Mixtape Raid – Today in Hip-Hop| work =XXL| date =16 January 2018| url =http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2018/01/today-in-hip-hop-dj-drama-arrested-atlanta-mixtape-raid/| access-date =12 September 2019}}

In December 2008, Cannon announced his departure from the Aphilliates, opting to focus on his own production and promotion company, Cannon Music, LLC. In 2009, he produced the theme song for Tyler Perry's TBS sitcom, House of Payne. He also produced season themes for the Atlanta Hawks and the Atlanta Thrashers.{{cite news | last=Philson| first=Mike| title =Top 30 DJs In Hip-Hop Right Now| work =HotNewHipHop| date =3 November 2014| url =https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/top-30-djs-in-hip-hop-right-now-news.12424.html| access-date =12 September 2019}} From 2009 to 2012, Cannon produced, mixed, and/or hosted numerous mixtapes and tracks for artists like Big Sean (Finally Famous Vol. 3: Big), The Cool Kids (Gone Fishing), Curren$y (Smokee Robinson), Lecrae (Church Clothes) Jeezy (Trap or Die II),{{cite news | last=Macia| first=Peter| title =T.I. & DJ Drama vs Jeezy & Don Cannon in...THE BATTLE OF SHIT WE WILL LISTEN TO A LOT| work =The FADER| date =15 April 2010| url =https://www.thefader.com/2010/04/15/t-i-dj-drama-vs-jeezy-don-cannon-in-the-battle-of-shit-we-will-listen-to-a-lot| access-date =12 September 2019}}{{cite news | last=Escobedo Shepherd| first=Julianne| title =Don Cannon & Young Jeezy, Trap or Die II Mixtape MP3| work =The FADER| date =4 May 2010| url =https://www.thefader.com/2010/05/04/don-cannon-young-jeezy-trap-or-die-ii-mixtape-mp3| access-date =12 September 2019}} Trouble (Green Light),{{cite news | title =Mixtape: Trouble 'Green Light' (Hosted by Don Cannon)| work =Complex| date =20 September 2011| url =https://www.complex.com/music/2011/09/mixtape-trouble-green-light-hosted-by-don-cannon| access-date =12 September 2019}} and Lil Reese (Don't Like; hosted with DJ Drama).{{cite news | last=Drake| first=David| title =Download Lil Reese's Don't Like Mixtape| work =The FADER| date =5 July 2012| url =https://www.thefader.com/2012/07/05/download-lil-reeses-dont-like-mixtape| access-date =12 September 2019}}

In July 2013, Cannon was named the Vice President of A&R at Def Jam Recordings. He is credited with signing and fostering numerous artists while at the label.{{cite news | last=Garvey| first=Meaghan| title =10 A&Rs Behind Your Favorite Artists of 2014| work =Complex| date =5 December 2014| url =https://www.complex.com/music/2014/12/10-a-and-r-behind-your-favorite-artists-of-2014/| access-date =12 September 2019}} In August 2013, Cannon reunited with DJ Drama and DJ Sense to co-found a new media collective called The academy.{{cite news| title =EXCLUSIVE: DJ Drama, Don Cannon and DJ Sense Form "The Academy"| work =AllHipHop| date =26 August 2013| url =https://allhiphop.com/news/exclusive-dj-drama-don-cannon-and-dj-sense-form-the-academy-iMWKOtQpfkiJDhI-1Giv9w/| access-date =12 September 2019| archive-date =12 December 2019| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20191212163556/https://allhiphop.com/news/exclusive-dj-drama-don-cannon-and-dj-sense-form-the-academy-iMWKOtQpfkiJDhI-1Giv9w/| url-status =dead}} In September of that year, The academy announced its initial roster of 23 DJs.{{cite news| title =It's Official! The Academy Announces 1st Wave of DJs| work =AllHipHop| date =6 September 2013| url =https://allhiphop.com/news/it-s-official-the-academy-announces-1st-wave-of-djs-e8uMR6J-b0ejmSFxuA7H0A/| access-date =12 September 2019| archive-date =18 September 2020| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20200918090207/https://allhiphop.com/news/it-s-official-the-academy-announces-1st-wave-of-djs-e8uMR6J-b0ejmSFxuA7H0A| url-status =dead}}

In 2015, Cannon and DJ Drama founded the record label, Generation Now, as an imprint of Atlantic Records. One of the first artists they signed that year was Lil Uzi Vert. Cannon served as executive producer on Uzi's 2015 debut commercial mixtape, Luv Is Rage.{{cite news| last =G| first =Nicky| title =DJ Drama and Don Cannon Share Details on their New Company "Generation Now" with Skeme and Lil Uzi Vert| work =Sway's Universe| date =14 October 2015| url =https://swaysuniverse.com/skeme-lil-uzi-vert-on-being-rich-writing-hits-working-with-kanye-steve-aoki/| access-date =12 September 2019| archive-date =3 August 2020| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20200803201050/https://swaysuniverse.com/skeme-lil-uzi-vert-on-being-rich-writing-hits-working-with-kanye-steve-aoki/| url-status =dead}} He also served as executive producer on Uzi's 2017 studio album, Luv Is Rage 2, which topped the Billboard 200 chart.{{cite news | last=Weinstein| first=Max| title =Here Are the Production Credits for Lil Uzi Vert's 'Luv Is Rage 2′| work =XXL| date =25 August 2017| url =http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2017/08/lil-uzi-vert-luv-is-rage-2-production-credits/| access-date =12 September 2019}}{{cite magazine | last=Saponara| first=Michael| title =Lil Uzi Vert's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks| magazine =Billboard| date =13 October 2017| url =https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7998589/lil-uzi-vert-songs-best-hits-list| access-date =12 September 2019}} Other artists that Cannon and Drama have signed to the label include, Skeme,{{cite news | last=Harris| first=Michael| title =Inglewood's Finest Skeme Drops New Mixtape '1st Notice,' Part One of Mixtape Trilogy Series (Listen) | work =GRIP| date =8 August 2017| url =http://www.gripmagazine.com/skeme-drops-new-mixtape-1st-notice/| access-date =12 September 2019}} Jack Harlow,{{cite magazine | last=Saponara| first=Michael| title =Jack Harlow Signs With Generation Now & Atlantic Records, Premieres Frenetic 'SUNDOWN' Video: Exclusive| magazine =Billboard| date =3 August 2018| url =https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8468418/jack-harlow-signs-with-atlantic-records-generation-now-sundown-video| access-date =12 September 2019}} Lil James,{{cite news | last=Nav| first=Josh| title =New Generation Now Artist Lil James Releases Debut Project '21 Years Later'| work =Hip Hop n More| date =13 August 2018| url =http://hiphop-n-more.com/2018/08/new-generation-now-artist-lil-james-releases-debut-project-21-years-later/| access-date =12 September 2019}} and Killumantii.{{cite news | last=P.| first=Milca| title =Killumantii Drops Off Debut "Yellow Tape" Album| work =HotNewHipHop| date =11 November 2018| url =https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/killumantii-drops-off-debut-yellow-tape-album-new-mixtape.118624.html| access-date =12 September 2019}}

Discography

Recognition and awards

class="wikitable"
Year ! Award ! Category ! Nominee(s) ! Result ! Ref.
rowspan="3"\| 2008 \| Justo Mixtape Awards \| Best Mixtape Producer \| Don Cannon \| {{won}} ! align=center\|{{cite news \| title =Crooked I, The Aphilliates Win Big At Mixtape Awards\| work =HipHopDX\| date =1 May 2008\| url =https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.6848/title.crooked-i-the-aphilliates-win-big-at-mixtape-awards?related\| access-date =12 September 2019}}
Justo Mixtape Awards \| Best Mixtape Team \| The Aphilliates \| {{won}} ! align=center\|
Justo Mixtape Awards \| Best Mixtape Series \| Gangsta Grillz \| {{won}} ! align=center\|
2018 \| Global Spin Awards \| DJ Record Label of the Year \| Don Cannon and DJ Drama (Generation Now) \| {{won}} ! align=center\|{{cite news \| last=Caslin\| first=Yvette\| title =Revolt's 6th annual Global Spin Awards honors hip-hop heavyweights\| work =Rolling Out\| date =17 February 2018\| url =https://rollingout.com/2018/02/17/revolts-6th-annual-global-spin-awards-honors-hip-hop-heavyweights/\| access-date =12 September 2019}}

class="wikitable"

Year

! Award

! Category

! Nominee(s)

! Result

! Ref.

rowspan="3"| 2008

| Justo Mixtape Awards

| Best Mixtape Producer

| Don Cannon

| {{won}}

! align=center|{{cite news | title =Crooked I, The Aphilliates Win Big At Mixtape Awards| work =HipHopDX| date =1 May 2008| url =https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.6848/title.crooked-i-the-aphilliates-win-big-at-mixtape-awards?related| access-date =12 September 2019}}

Justo Mixtape Awards

| Best Mixtape Team

| The Aphilliates

| {{won}}

! align=center|

Justo Mixtape Awards

| Best Mixtape Series

| Gangsta Grillz

| {{won}}

! align=center|

2018

| Global Spin Awards

| DJ Record Label of the Year

| Don Cannon and DJ Drama (Generation Now)

| {{won}}

! align=center|{{cite news | last=Caslin| first=Yvette| title =Revolt's 6th annual Global Spin Awards honors hip-hop heavyweights| work =Rolling Out| date =17 February 2018| url =https://rollingout.com/2018/02/17/revolts-6th-annual-global-spin-awards-honors-hip-hop-heavyweights/| access-date =12 September 2019}}

References

External links

[http://www.thegenerationnow.com/ Generation Now]

Category:1979 births

Category:African-American record producers

Category:American hip-hop DJs

Category:American hip-hop record producers

Category:East Coast hip-hop musicians

Category:Living people

Category:Clark Atlanta University alumni

Category:Mixtape DJs

Category:Musicians from Philadelphia

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:Record producers from Pennsylvania

Category:21st-century African-American people

Category:20th-century African-American musicians