Kool Kojak
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Kool Kojak
| image = Kjk przm.png
| background = non_performing_personnel
| birth_name = Allan Peter Grigg
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|07|31|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
| origin = Cubatão, São Paulo, Brazil
| genre = Latin, hip hop, samba, reggae fusion, funk, bossa nova, electro, zouk, charanga, rock
| label = TRIZM, KojakTrax, IYF Productions
| occupation = Musician, songwriter, record producer, composer, artist
| associated_acts = Urban Legend, Peter Svensson, Max Martin
| website = {{URL|www.instagram.com/kooolkojak}}
}}
Allan Peter Grigg,{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/en/showperson.asp?name=Kool+Kojak|title=ultratop.be – Allan Grigg|work=Ultratop|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=2011-01-03}} better known by his stage name Kool Kojak and stylized as "KoOoLkOjAk," is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, composer, and artist notable for music in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,{{cite web |title=How Producer Kool Kojak Used Iris 2 in 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' |url=https://www.izotope.com/en/learn/how-producer-kool-kojak-used-iris-2-on-spider-man-enter-the-spider-verse.html |website=Izotope |access-date=8 January 2020}} co-writing and co-producing Flo Rida's #1 Billboard{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2009-02-28|title=The Hot 100 Chart|website=Billboard.com|access-date=January 17, 2021}} hit single "Right Round," Doja Cat's hit single "Cyber Sex," Nicki Minaj's hit single "Va Va Voom," The Boss Baby Theme, and Ke$ha's top 10 single "Blow."[http://mp3.rhapsody.com/flo-rida/roots--misc-edited Flo Rida "Right Round" credits on Rhapsody] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091129051041/http://mp3.rhapsody.com/flo-rida/roots--misc-edited |date=November 29, 2009 }} Kool Kojak has written and produced for artists such as Sean Paul, Yelle, DMX, Waka Flocka Flame, Onyx, Travis Barker, Kim Petras, Ed Helms, Britney Spears, Jesse and Joy, Andy Milonakis, Icona Pop, Matisyahu, comedian Chelsea Peretti, N.A.S.A.,{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/NASA-The-Spirit-Of-Apollo/release/1705465|title=N.A.S.A. (4) - The Spirit Of Apollo|website=Discogs.com|access-date=January 17, 2021}} Dirt Nasty,{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jefKFLmrxfY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/jefKFLmrxfY |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Kojak and Andy Milonakis 'Let Me Twitter Dat' video |publisher=YouTube|access-date=January 17, 2021}}{{cbignore}} Lordz of Brooklyn, Ursula 1000,{{Cite web|url=http://www.eslmusic.com/artist/ursula_1000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804090856/http://www.eslmusic.com/artist/ursula_1000|url-status=dead|title=Ursula 1000 credits|archive-date=August 4, 2009|access-date=January 17, 2021}} Phil Greiss and Warren G. Kool Kojak has created original music for many major motion pictures. He was a featured producer on the Simon Cowell TV program X Factor and has appeared as himself on the Nickelodeon show Victorious. He has won two ASCAP Pop Awards and one ASCAP Urban Award, a WormTown Sound Award, and has been awarded the Key to the City of Worcester, Massachusetts.
Early life and music career
Kool Kojak was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he created the 1980s underground cassette legends IYF Productions. After studying under Archie Shepp at the University of Massachusetts, Kojak began professionally creating music in 1995, DJing, playing in bands, and producing hip-hop records in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Harlem. His first commercial success was as composer and producer of the Brazilian multi-platinum selling #1 Splenda album O Charada Brasileiro.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cliquemusic.com.br/artistas/artistas.asp?Status=DISCO&Nu_Disco=10067|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050523033746/http://www.cliquemusic.com.br/artistas/artistas.asp?Status=DISCO&Nu_Disco=10067|url-status=dead|title=Cliquemusic : Disco : O CHARADA BRASILEIRO|archive-date=May 23, 2005|website=Cliquemusic.com.br|access-date=January 17, 2021}} This album sold 16 million copies on the Brazilian bootleg street market.
In 2009, Kojak signed with Dr. Luke's Prescription Songs and began co-producing various tracks with the producer.{{Cite magazine |last=Seabrook |first=John |date=2013-10-07 |title=The Doctor Is In |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/10/14/the-doctor-is-in |access-date=2024-11-09 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}}
Kojak served as musical director and performer for the live Splenda show, which took place at Rock in Rio 3, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2001.
Select production discography
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Artist ! Song ! Album ! Role |
|---|
| 1989
|In Your Face Productions | |Music From The Plaid Gnu |Rapper/Producer/Engineer |
| 1996
|Average White Boys |"Billy Dee Williams Butter Sculpture" |Knuckle Sandwich |Co-Writer/Producer |
| 1997
|Rump Rangers featuring Heather Hunter and Kool Keith |"Toot Toot Beep Beep" | |Remixer |
| 1998
|Binger The Voyager |"Sweet Taste of Nothing" | |Co-Producer |
| 1998
|Supla Zoo |"Bossa Furiosa" |Album |Co-Producer/ Composer / Rapper |
| 1999
|Ursula 1000 |"Arrastao" | |Co-Writer/Producer with Ursula 1000 and Dr. Luke |
| 2000
|"O Charada Brasileiro" |#1 Album |Co-Writer/Producer |
| 2002
|Holly Tree |"Greatest Shits" |album |Co-Producer |
| 2002
|Average White Boys |"Knuckle Sandwich" |album |Producer |
| 2004
|Average White Boys |"Keg Pahty" |House Of Booze |Co-Writer/Producer |2007 |George of the Jungle (TV show) |Theme song | |Producer and performed with J-Radical |
| 2005
|Being Bobby Brown (TV show) | | |Music producer |
| 2009
|Ursula 1000 |"Zombies" |Mystics |Co-Writer/Rapper |
| 2010
|"There Will Be Tears" |Co-Writer/Co-Producer with Ammo |
| 2010
|"Kissin' U" |Co-Producer with Ammo |
| 2007
| |Tranquilidad Cubana |Co-Writer/Producer |
| |Three 6 Mafia featuring Tech N9ne
|"Shots" |Laws of Power |Backing Vocals |
| 2009
|"Maneatrr" |Co-writer/Producer |
| 2011
|Hitomi featuring Rivers Cuomo |"Rollin Wit Da Homies" |Producer/Co-writer |
| 2011
|Dirt Nasty featuring Too Short and Warren G |"Milk, Milk, Lemonade" |Writer/Producer (leaked) |
| 2012
|Victoria Justice and Ariana Grande |"L.A.Boyz" |Co-Writer/Co-Producer |
| 2012
|"Faster Than Boys" |Co-Writer/Producer |
| 2012
|"365 Days" |Victorious 3.0 (Deluxe version) |Co-writer/Producer |
| 2012
|"Countdown" |Co-writer/Producer |
| 2011
|Victorious: Music from the Hit TV Show |Co-Writer/Producer |
| 2010
|"Heartbeat (KooLkOjAk remix)" |Single |Remixer |
| 2011
|"4 Times" |Single |Producer |
| 2009
|"Let Me Twitter Dat" |Single |Co-writer/Producer |
| 2011
|Dirt Nasty featuring Too $hort, Warren G, Andy Milonakis and Benji Hughes |"As Nasty As I Wanna Be" |Co-Writer/Producer |
| 2011
|Dirt Nasty featuring Kesha |"Boombox" |Co-Writer/Producer |
| 2009
|*N.A.S.A. featuring Kanye West, Lykke Li, and Santo Gold |"Gifted" |Co-writer/Co-Producer |
| 2009
|N.A.S.A. featuring Kool Kojak |"O Pato" |Co-writer/Performer |
| 2010
|"Miracle" |Single |Co-Writer/Producer |
| 2011
|"Can A Drumma Get Some KoOoLkOjAk SuRfPuNk mEgAmIx" |Single |Remixer |
| 2011
|Travis Barker featuring Bun B and Tech N9ne |"Raw Shit" |Co-Writer/Co-Producer with Travis Barker |
| 2011
|Travis Barker featuring Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, E-40 and Dev |"Knockin'" |Co-Writer/Co-Producer with Travis Barker |
| 2009
|"Right Round" |R.O.O.T.S. |Co-Writer/Co-Producer with Dr. Luke |
| 2010
|"Blow" |Co-Writer/Co-Producer with Dr. Luke and Max Martin |
| 2010
|"Fallin'" |Single |Co-Writer/Producer with J Kash & Robb Mahweenie |
| |Roberto Carlos
|"Jesus Cristo (Zegon Kojeazy Official Remix)" |Single |Producer with DJ Zegon of N.A.S.A. |
| 2012
|"Voodoo Love" |Single |Co-writer/Producer |
| |David Choe
| |Dirty Hands (DVD) |Producer Kojak Beatz |
| 2012
| |Gangland Mixtape |Producer |
| 2012
|Michel Telo featuring Becky G |Single – UK Remix |Producer |
| 2012
|"Sunshine" "Crossroads" featuring J Ralph and Adrien Brody – "Searchin" "Buffalo Soldier" featuring Shyne "Breathe Easily" "I Believe In Love" "Fire Of Freedom" "Desert Eagle" "Bal Chemptov" "King Crown Of Judah" featuring Shyne "Shine On You" |Spark Seeker LP |Producer/Co-writer |
| 2012
|"Take It All Away" |Co-Writer/Co-Producer |
| 2012
|"Coffee Crankin Thru My Sys" |Single |Producer |
| 2012
|"How Bad Can I Be" |Dr. Seuss' The Lorax: Original Songs from the Motion Picture |Co-Writer/Co-Producer with John Powell |
| 2012
|"Gold Trans Am" |Warrior (Deluxe version) |Co-Writer/Producer |
| 2012
|"Wonderland" |Co-Writer/Producer |
| |Jean-Michel Basquiat
|"SAMO" (film) featuring Fab Five Freddy, Money Mark, N.A.S.A. & Kool Kojak – | |Co-Writer/Co-Producer for MOMA Films |
| 2012
|"Rock Me" |Co-Writer/Co-Producer with Peter Svensson and Sam Hollander |
| 2012
|"Va Va Voom" |Co-Writer/Co-Producer with Dr. Luke, Cirkut and Max Martin |
| 2012
|Single |Co-Writer/Producer |
| 2013
|"Chloe (You're the One I Want)" |Co-Writer/Co-Producer with Peter Svensson |
| 2013
|Kesha: My Crazy Beautiful Life (TV Show) | | |Music producer |
| 2013
|"On A Roll" |Co-producer with Shellback |
| 2013
|"はじける" |Scott & Rivers |Co-writer with Rivers Cuomo / Producer |
| 2013
|Los Barkers (featuring Lando, Bama and Travis Barker) |"We Like Vegetables" |Songs for a Healthier America |Co-Writer/Producer |
| 2013
|Matisyahu, Ariana Grande, Travis Barker, Kool Kojak and Salad Bar |"U R What U Eat" |Songs for a Healthier America |Co-Writer/Producer |
| |TropKillaz featuring Kool Kojak and Lloyd Pop
|"Klap Ur A$$" | |Writer/Producer |
| 2013
|Kool Kojak |"B-Boyin' Freak Freakin'" |Battle of the Year Official Soundtrack |Writer/Producer |
| 2013
|"Hold on Tight" |Britney Jean (deluxe version) |Co-Producer with A.C. |
| 2014
|"Bed Squeak" |Opulence EP |Co-Writer with Brooke Candy & Jesse Saint John / Co-Producer with A.C |
| 2014
|Aries Onasis |"7even" |album |Composer / Producer |
| 2014
|"Minha Mina Ta Loca" |Single |Co-Writer with AJ Junior & Bilal Hajji |
| 2014
|"Florence en Italie" |Complètement Fou |
| 2014
|"Live Life" |The Book of Life Soundtrack |Co-Writer with Jesse Joy and Nate Campany |
| 2014
|Sophia Black |"Vibration" |Single |Co-Writer / Producer with Aaron Joseph and Sophia Black |
| 2014
|"One of the Greats" |Netflix Comedy Special |Composer |
| 2015
|"Party & Bullshit featuring Affion Crockett" |The Wedding Ringer Soundtrack |Producer / Mixer |
| 2015
|"Hands Up Don't Shoot!" featuring Sean Paul & Lizzo" |Single |Producer / Mixer |
| 2015
|"ThE KoOoL kOjAk A.D.D. Ba$$iN MeGaMiX" |French Radio Hot Track Single |Remixer |
| 2015
|Waka Flocka Flame featuring Good Charlotte |"Game On" |Pixels Movie |Composer/Producer/Mixer with RAS |
| 2015
|TimeFlies |"Burn It Down" |Single |Composer/Producer with TimeFlies |
| 2015
|"Iko" |Single |Composer/Synths |
| 2015
|"Jihad Love Squad" |Single |Composer/Synthesizer Master |
| 2015
|N.A.S.A. featuring DMX and Priyanka Chopra |"Meltdown" |Single |Composer/Synthesizer Master/DMX Rap Coach |
| 2015
|"Bust It" |Single / Soundtrack "The Perfect Guy" |Composer / Producer |
| 2016
|"UR Love" |Single |Composer / Producer |
| 2016
|KoOoLkOjAk |"!!!Holla Deck StackEmUp!!!" |Original Film Score "Passengers" |Composer / Producer / Artiste |
| 2017
|Allie X |"Casanova" | |Composer |
| 2017
|Boss Baby TV Program |"Boss Baby I'm The Boss Boss Baby Boss Boss" |TV show Theme Song |Composer / Producer / Rapper |
| 2017
|Onyx |"Problem Child" |as featured on Silicon Valley |Composer / Producer |
| 2017
|"Slow It Down" | single |Composer / Producer |
| 2017
|"Off & On" Podcast Theme |theme song |Composer / Producer |
| 2018
|Randy Liedtke |"Now U R Hi" |Soundtrack single |Composer / Producer |
| 2018
|Jahsh Banks |"Nite Life" |single |Composer / Producer |
| 2018
|Tropkillaz feat Aloe Blacc |"Milk N Honey" |single |Composer / Producer |
| 2018
|Sophia Black featuring Kyle (musician) |"Real Shit" |single |Composer / Producer with Shea Taylor |
| 2018
|The Fever |"Hunting Season" featuring Travis Barker |single |Composer |
| 2018
|Eric Nam |"FLOAT" |original song for Hotel Transylvania 3 |Composer / Producer |
| 2018
|Mely Mel feat. Mozart La Para |"No One" |single |Composer / Producer |
| 2018
|Teen Titans |"GO! Battle Remix" |single |Composer / Producer |
| 2018
|"Can't Knock The Hustle" |single |Additional Production / Mariachi stuff |
| 2018
|Kool Kojak feat. Destani Wolf |"Can I B Ur Air" |original song for Goosebumps 2 |Composer / Producer / Mixer |
| 2018
|Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse |"Spidey BugOut MegaMix " |MegaMiX for Miles and Uncle Aaron bombin graffiti in tha subway tunnels" |Producer / MegaMixer |
| 2018
|Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse |"Spidey Bells " |Original Song for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse |Producer |
| 2018
|Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse |"Joy To The Spidey " |Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Holiday Album |Producer |
| 2019
|The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part |"Gotham City Guys " |Original Song for Lego Movie 2 |Producer |
| 2019
|The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part |"Not Evil" |Original Song for Lego Movie 2 |Producer |
| 2019
|"Cyber Sex" |Single |Producer w/ tizhimself |
| 2019
|Call Chelsea Peretti |"CESSPOD" |Podcast |Super Producer |
| 2019
|"Castles" |Single |Producer w/tizhimself |
| 2020
|Jahsh Banks |"Drunk Anthem" |Single |Producer w/ tizhimself |
| 2020
|"OatMilk" feat. Reggie Watts |Single |Producer w/ Ruffsound |
| 2020
|"Late" |Single |Composer / Producer / Performer |
| 2020
|"Chore" feat. Chika |Single |Composer / Producer / Performer |
| 2020
|"Soundproof Bathroom" |Single |Composer / Producer / Performer |
| 2020
|"Dad" featuring Will Schwartz |Single |Composer / Producer / Performer |
| 2020
|"BDR" featuring Kathleen Hanna |Single |Composer / Producer with Money Mark |
| 2020
|"Green Tea" featuring Wale |Single |Composer / Producer |
| 2020
|"Expresso" featuring Nick Kroll + Kid Mero |Single |Composer / Producer with Billboard |
| 2020
|Allan Kingdom |"Blessed" |Single |Producer with tizhimself |
| 2020
|"Malibu" |Single |co-Composer / co-Producer |
| 2020
|Bright & Guilty |"Soft Age featuring Tim Lefev" |KoOoLkOjAK remix |remixer |
| 2020
|Zpextre |"Laidback Air" |single |producer with Brian Bender and Zpextre |
| 2020
|Zpextre |"Electrify" |single |producer with Zpextre |
| 2020
|Zpextre |"Souvenir" |single |producer with Zpextre |
| 2020
|"Love (Es Nuestra Idioma) " |Single |Composer with Julie Frost, Jesse y Joy |
| 2020
|"Fuego" |Single |Composer with Marty James, Jesse y Joy |
| 2020
|"Spotless Mind" |Single |Producer |
| 2020
|Porsh Bet$ |"Apple Eyes" |Single |producer,composer |
| 2020
|Porsh Bet$ |"Handle" |Single |Producer with SoundBySol |
| 2020
|Poolfire |"Radio Man" |Single |arranger with Phil Greiss |
| 2022
|Sean Paul featuring Gwen Stefani and Shenseea |"Light My Fire" |Single |Producer Composer with AC |
Art
Kool Kojak is also a graffiti artist and sculptor in the US and Brazil. His body of art includes an album cover for Ultramagnetic MCs and New York City murals he painted for 1990's Free Tibet Campaign. In Brazil's early 2000s, Kool Kojak provided hip-hop and graffiti symposiums for the city run youth programs in the Favelas of São Paulo. He has painted murals with Brazilian artists, like Os Gêmeos, Vitche, and Juneca. In 2013, Kool Kojak auctioned off a graffiti sculpture to benefit the Pete Carroll charity A Better L.A. Kool Kojak's artwork adorns the front doors of The Worcester Historical Museum in Worcester, Massachusetts. His work is part of the museum's permanent collection. In 2014, he collaborated with David Choe on a dress. Collectors of KoOoL kOjAk artwork include The Disney Corporation, Sony Pictures, The Worcester Historical Museum, Carly Rae Jepsen, Julia Michaels, Claude Kelly, Martin Johnson, Peter Svensson, and Ammo Pro.
Filmography
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! colspan="4" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Film |
| style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year ! Film ! Role ! Notes |
| 2005
| Score Composer | "The Infamous Chicken Beat" & many others |
| 2009
| Composer - End Credits | "Right Round" |
| 2009
| Composer | "Right Round" |
| 2009
| Composer | "Right Round" |
| 2012
| Composer / Vocalist | "How Bad Can I Be" |
| 2012
| Composer / Vocalist | "Boombox" |
| 2012
| Pitch Perfect | Composer | "Yo Mama" |
| 2013
| Battle Of The Year 3D | Composer | "B Boyin Freak Freakin" |
| 2013
| One Direction : This Is Us | Composer | "Rock Me" |
| 2013
| Composer / Producer / Actor | "The Bad Roommate" "Best Friend's Brother" "L.A. Boys" |
| 2013
| Composer | "Live Like A Warrior" |
| 2014
| The Book Of Life | Composer/Producer - End Credits | "Live Life" |
| 2015
| Producer and Additional Programmer | "Party & Bullshit" |
| 2015
| Pixels | Composer/Producer/Mixer | "Game On" |
| 2015
| Composer/Producer/Mixer | "Bust It" Sean Paul |
| 2015
| We Are Blood | Soundtrack | "Meltdown" featuring DMX and Priyanka Chopra |
| 2016
| Passengers | Original song for film | "!!!Holla Deck StackEmUp!!!" |
| 2017
| Boss Baby (TV program) | Theme Song | "Boss Baby I'm The Boss Boss Baby Boss Boss" |
| 2017
| Composer / Producer with Onyx | "Problem Child" |
| 2018
| Randy Wants To Try Marijuana | Funny Or Die Documentary | "Now U R Hi" |
| 2018
| Hotel Transylvania 3 | Composer / Producer / Engineer / Mixer | "Float" |
| 2018
| Teen Titans GO! To The Movies | Composer / Producer | "GO! Battle Remix" |
| 2018
| GooseBumps 2 | Composer / Producer | "Can I B Ur Air" feat. Destani Wolf |
| 2018
| Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse | Composer / Producer | "SpideyBellz" |
| 2018
| Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse | Producer / Megamixer | "Miles and Uncle Aaron Bomb Graffiti" |
| 2019
| The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part | Producer | "Gotham City Guys" |
| 2019
| The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part | Producer | "Not Evil" |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://m.imdb.com/name/nm4755600/ Kool Kojak] on IMDb
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kool Kojak}}
Category:Record producers from Massachusetts
Category:Songwriters from Massachusetts