Japhe Tejeda
{{short description|American singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Japhe Tejeda
|birth_place = New York City, New York, United States
|alma mater = University at Albany, SUNY
| module = {{Infobox musical artist |embed=yes
|genre = {{hlist|R&B|soul|hip-hop}}
|label = {{hlist|T.W.IsM.|A&M Records|PolyGram}}
|occupation = {{Hlist | Singer | songwriter | guitarist | producer}}
|background = person
}}
}}
Japhe Tejeda was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer, best known for co-writing "Don't Wanna Be a Player" and "The Boy Is Mine", as well as other various work with Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and his brother Fred Jerkins III.{{cite web | url=https://storyofsong.com/story/the-boy-is-mine/ | title=Brandy & Monica - the Boy is Mine | access-date=January 12, 2023 | archive-date=January 12, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112082458/https://storyofsong.com/story/the-boy-is-mine/ | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7w0EAAAAMBAJ&dq=japhe+tejeda&pg=PA54 | title=Songwriters & Publishers: No.1 Song Credits | magazine=Billboard | date=June 27, 1998 | access-date=January 12, 2023 | archive-date=November 15, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115224244/https://books.google.com/books?id=7w0EAAAAMBAJ&dq=japhe+tejeda&pg=PA54#v=onepage&q=japhe%20tejeda&f=false | url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.copyright.gov/history/lore/pdfs/201807%20CLore_July2018.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=January 12, 2023 |archive-date=January 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112082601/https://www.copyright.gov/history/lore/pdfs/201807%20CLore_July2018.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://www.solidarityinsound.com/blog/2019/1/14/herstory-21-brandy-and-monica | title=Herstory 21: Why Brandy & Monica "The Boy is Mine" Still Triggers Nostalgia | date=January 14, 2019 | access-date=January 12, 2023 | archive-date=January 12, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112082656/https://www.solidarityinsound.com/blog/2019/1/14/herstory-21-brandy-and-monica | url-status=live }} Tejeda, alongside friends Jermaine Paul, Danny Martinez, and Charles Paul, were former members of the R&B vocal quartet 1 Accord, one of the first signees on Shaquille O'Neal's short-lived The World Is Mine (T.W.IsM.) imprint in collaboration with A&M Records.{{cite web |date=February 10, 1998 |url=https://apnews.com/article/6e850b43c0b3753fd832fa0e757df961 |title=Shaq Signs Record Deal With A&M |website=AP News |access-date=December 19, 2022 |archive-date=December 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219071949/https://apnews.com/article/6e850b43c0b3753fd832fa0e757df961 |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |last=Chrysanthe |first=Eva |date=November 19, 1995 |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1995/11/27/bronxdale-housing-project |title=Bronxdale Housing Project |magazine=The New Yorker |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614211537/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1995/11/27/bronxdale-housing-project |access-date=December 19, 2022|archive-date=June 14, 2023 }}{{cite web |last=Sandler |first=Adam |date=February 9, 1998 |url=https://variety.com/1998/music/news/shaq-signs-with-a-m-records-1117467611/ |title=Shaq signs with A&M Records |website=Variety |access-date=December 19, 2022 |archive-date=December 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219071949/https://variety.com/1998/music/news/shaq-signs-with-a-m-records-1117467611/amp/ |url-status=live }}
Not much is known about Tejeda's private life, but as reported by close industry friend Fred Jerkins, industry R&B lovers on various blogging platforms, and other frequent collaborators, Tejeda has since passed away.{{Cite Instagram |user=fredjerkins |postid=CPEKQLJAGUT |date=19 May 2021 |title=It’s been 23 years since this song dropped!"The Boy Is Mine" was written by @rodneyjerkins, @fredjerkins, @brandy, LaShawn Daniels (RIP), and Japhe Tejeda (RIP)... [It] became both singers' first number-one hit. Bouncing from number 23 to the top spot, it became the second song in the history of the chart to ascend directly to number-one from a previous position beneath the Top 20..." #AnUncleFreddieCatalogMoment |access-date=15 July 2025}}
Career
=1990s: ''1 Accord'' and songwriting=
Tejeda and Charles Paul both attended University at Albany, SUNY in the early 1990s, and formed 1 Accord after recruiting Paul's younger brother Jermaine, performing at local Albany talent shows, coffeehouses, and live music venues in New York City.{{Cite web|url=https://www.success.com/jermaine-paul-emerges-as-the-front-man/|title=Jermaine Paul Emerges as the Front Man|first=Elisa|last=Henry|date=October 8, 2012|website=SUCCESS|access-date=January 26, 2024|archive-date=September 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926164629/https://www.success.com/jermaine-paul-emerges-as-the-front-man/|url-status=live}} By the time Jermaine had graduated from high school in 1996, and Martinez was added to the group, their demo had landed the group a recording contract with Shaquille O’Neal’s label. After signing with O’Neal and building a relationship with producer Rodney Jerkins, the group was asked to contribute to the soundtrack of Jamie Foxx film Booty Call, as well as other film soundtracks, label compilations, unofficial radio DJ mixtapes, and the debut album of Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz. 1 Accord's 1996 debut album The New Era, executive-produced by Jerkins, was shelved in 1997 after numerous delays, leading Tejeda to move further into songwriting. The group disbanded, and Tejeda would subsequently join Jerkins' camp of songwriters, first appearing as a background vocalist on Jerkins' singles for Simone Hines and Jason Weaver, and then co-writing notable Jerkins productions including "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" from Aaliyah album One in a Million, more than fifty percent of the 1997 debut album for Michael Jackson-signed boyband No Authority, Top 30 Joe single "Don't Wanna Be a Player", and 13-week Brandy/Monica number-one single "The Boy Is Mine", earning Tejeda an ASCAP Pop Award and a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards in 1999.{{cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19970608/7501/ | title=Official Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company | website=Official Charts | access-date=January 20, 2023 | archive-date=January 20, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120092314/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19970608/7501/ | url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/20-songs-turning-20-in-2018|title=Coming Of Age: 20 Songs Turning 20 In 2018|website=The Line of Best Fit|access-date=January 26, 2024|archive-date=October 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004102646/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/20-songs-turning-20-in-2018|url-status=live}} Tejeda subsequently appeared as a co-writer on multiple Jerkins-produced albums in 1998, including blockbuster album Never Say Never, as well as albums KW and 'Bout It. Both hit singles Tejada co-wrote have been sampled on multiple singles by other artists, charting internationally.
Songwriting and production credits
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:22.5em;"| Title ! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Artist ! scope="col"| Album |
| scope="row"|"Everything's Gonna Be Alright"
|rowspan="2"| 1996 | Aaliyah |
|---|
| scope="row"|"You Got Me Goin'" |
| scope="row"|"Don't Wanna Be a Player"
|rowspan="7"| 1997 | Joe |
| scope="row"|"Don't Stop"
|rowspan="6"| No Authority |rowspan="6"| Keep On |
| scope="row"|"Up And Down" |
| scope="row"|"Girlfriend" |
| scope="row"|"Please Don't Break My Heart" |
| scope="row"|"If You Want Me" |
| scope="row"|"Never Let You Go" |
| scope="row"|"The Boy Is Mine"
|rowspan="12"| 1998 |
| scope="row"|"Never Say Never"
|rowspan="4"| Brandy |rowspan="4"| Never Say Never |
| scope="row"|"Put That on Everything" |
| scope="row"|"Happy" |
| scope="row"|"Tomorrow" |
| scope="row"|"I Warned You"
|rowspan="3"| Keith Washington |rowspan="3"| KW |
| scope="row"|"Tell Me (Are You with It)" |
| scope="row"|"You Let Me Down" |
| scope="row"|"Still Not A Player" (Featuring Joe)
| Big Pun |
| scope="row"|"Are You Missin' My Love?"
|rowspan="2"| Jesse Powell |rowspan="2"| 'Bout It |
| scope="row"|"Up and Down" |
| scope="row"|"Oogie Boogie"
| MC Lyte |
| scope="row"|"It's Mine"
| 1999 |
| scope="row"|"Why?"
|2001 | Get In The Booth |
| scope="row"|"Don't Leave"
| 2005 | N2U | Issues |
| scope="row"|"The Girl Is Mine" (Featuring Destiny's Child & Brandy) {{cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/dance-singles-chart/20150118/104/ | title=Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company | website=Official Charts | access-date=January 20, 2023 | archive-date=January 20, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120092421/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/dance-singles-chart/20150118/104/ | url-status=live }}
| 2015 | 99 Souls | {{N/A|Non-album single}} |
| scope="row"|"Right Back" (Featuring A Boogie wit da Hoodie) {{cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20190927/7501/ | title=Official Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company | website=Official Charts | access-date=January 20, 2023 | archive-date=June 27, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627175205/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20190927/7501/ | url-status=live }}
| 2019 | Khalid |
| scope="row"|"Playa" (Featuring H.E.R.)
|rowspan="3"| 2022 |
| scope="row"|"Bionic Boy"
| {{N/A|Non-album single}} |
| scope="row"|"Mine"
| Tink |
| scope="row"|"Need Me"
| 2023 | Tec |
| scope="row"|"Mazacote"
| 2024 | Farruko & Ñengo Flow | CVRBON VRMOR |
Guest & miscellaneous vocal appearances
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of guest appearances as a member of 1 Accord and/or with other performing artists, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" style="width:20em;"| Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Other performer(s) ! scope="col" | Album |
| scope="row"| "Don't Wanna Be Alone"
|rowspan="2"|1996 |1 Accord, Shaquille O'Neal |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Stay With Me (LP Version)"
|Stay With Me (Shelved) |
| scope="row"| "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!"
|rowspan="4"|1997 |
| scope="row"| "A Dream"
|Mary J. Blige, 1 Accord, Darkchild Choir |
| scope="row"| "Don't Stop, Don't Quit"
|1 Accord |
| scope="row"| "Shortie Girl"
|1 Accord, Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz |The New Era (Shelved) |
| scope="row"| "River (Interlude)"
|rowspan="4"|1998 |1 Accord, Shaquille O'Neal |
| scope="row"| "Startin' Somethin'"
|1 Accord, Chauncey Black, Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz |rowspan="3"|Make It Reign |
| scope="row"| "A Night in the Bronx With Lord & Gunz"
|1 Accord, Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz |
| scope="row"| "My Time to Go"
|1 Accord, Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz |
| scope="row"| "Ooh Ooh Baby"
|2000 |1 Accord, DJ Capone |The Cartel Compilation Mixtape |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Ceremony ! scope="col"| Award ! scope="col"| Result !Ref |
| rowspan="2"| 1999
| Grammy Award for Best R&B Song (The Boy Is Mine) | {{Nominated}} | {{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/japhe-tejeda/15467 |title=Japhe Tejeda - Artist |website=GRAMMY.com |access-date=December 19, 2022 |archive-date=December 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219071943/https://www.grammy.com/artists/japhe-tejeda/15467 |url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1999-01-06-9904280571-story.html | title=More Grammy Awards nominees | date=January 6, 1999 | access-date=January 12, 2023 | archive-date=January 12, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112082856/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1999-01-06-9904280571-story.html | url-status=live }} |
| ASCAP Pop Awards
| Most Performed Songs (The Boy Is Mine) | {{Won}} |