Login
Login

Polow da Don

{{short description|American record producer}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Polow da Don

| image =

| birth_name = Jamal Fincher Jones

| alias = {{hlist|Awesome Jones|Shorty Pimp}}

| birth_date = {{birth date|1977|10|15}} or 1978 (age {{age|1978|10|15}}–{{age|1977|10|15}})

| birth_place =

| origin = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

| genre = {{hlist|Hip hop|R&B}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Record producer|rapper|songwriter|singer|hype man}}

| years_active = 1997–present

| label = {{hlist|Zone 4|Interscope}}

| past_member_of = Jim Crow

| website =

}}

Jamal Fincher Jones (born October 15, 1977 or 1978), known professionally as Polow da Don, is an American record producer from Atlanta, Georgia. He began his career as a recording artist in the late 1990s, leaving college to pursue a career with the short-lived hip hop group Jim Crow. They signed with Epic Records in 1999 and released two albums—Crow's Nest (1999) and Right Quick (2001)—before being dropped from the label.

Although disappointed, Jones formed a Southern hip hop group with Bubba Sparxxx, Sean P, Pastor Troy, G Rock, and Timbaland; however, they split up without any releases.Hope, Clover (June 2007). "I'm Fresh". XXL magazine, p. 70. Jones began producing instrumentals in 2001. His first beat tape made its way to Interscope Records founder, Jimmy Iovine, and its contents were ultimately used for the singles "Runaway Love" by Ludacris, "Buttons" by the Pussycat Dolls, and "This Is the Life" by Tru-Life.Shepherd, Julianne (March/April 2008). "[http://www.scratchmagazine.com/online/?p=9 Polow Da Don: Back for the First Time] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217235353/http://www.scratchmagazine.com/online/?p=9 |date=2009-02-17 }}". Scratch magazine. Accessed June 4, 2008.

Since then, Jones has produced numerous hit singles for various artists, including "Love in This Club" for Usher (2008), "Glamorous", "London Bridge" and "M.I.L.F. $" for Fergie (2006, 2016), "Anaconda" for Nicki Minaj (2014), "Forever" for Chris Brown (2008), "Baby by Me" for 50 Cent (2009), "Throw Some D's" for Rich Boy (2007), "Promise" for Ciara (2006), and "John" for Lil Wayne (2011), among others. The former three songs peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100, while others each found success on the chart. Also known as a charismatic hype man, Jones' backing vocals can be heard on many of his productions.

Jones is also the founder of the record label Zone 4, which was briefly an imprint of Iovine's Interscope Records label and named after a section in his Atlanta hometown. Established in 2007, the roster included recording artists such as Keri Hilson, Lloyd, Kane Brown, Ayo & Teo, Roscoe Dash, Veronica Vega, Rich Boy, and Ester Dean among others. Outside of music, Jones has ventured into local radio broadcasting, and founded his own line of alcoholic beverages in 2022.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/product-recommendations/lifestyle/polow-da-don-young-country-radio-yoco-vodka-1365406/ | title=Polow da Don's 'Glamorous' Summer Includes Vodka Line and Rebirth of His 15-Year-Old Hit | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=June 20, 2022 }}

Discography

= Selected production credits =

{{See also|Category:Albums produced by Polow da Don}}

Personal life

In September 2020, U.S. President Donald Trump gave Jones a shout-out at a rally in Atlanta. Jones later substantiated his support for the President with a video posted on Instagram.{{Cite web|url=https://allhiphop.com/news/president-trump-and-polow-da-don-reveal-friendship-during-rally/|title = President Trump and Polow da Don Reveal Friendship During Rally|date = 27 September 2020}}

Awards

  • 2007: Ozone Awards – Best ProducerRodriguez, Jayson (August 15, 2007). "[https://web.archive.org/web/20071220043105/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1567174/20070815/lil_wayne.jhtml Lil Wayne, T-Pain Win Big At Ozone Awards]". MTV. Accessed September 12, 2009.
  • 2007: Ozone Awards – Club Banger of the Year ("Throw Some D's")
  • 2008: BMI 56th Annual Pop Awards – Songwriter of the YearMitchell, Gail (May 21, 2008). "[http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3ic93424cac69485c20a0898bfab35d6b4 BMI Pop Awards Crowns Polow Da Don Top Songwriter] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120728111459/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3ic93424cac69485c20a0898bfab35d6b4 |date=July 28, 2012 }}". Billboard.biz. Accessed June 4, 2008.
  • 2009: BMI 57th Annual Pop Awards – Songwriter of the Year"[http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/538583 Gamble & Huff Named BMI Icons at 57th Annual Pop Awards]". BMI (May 20, 2009). Accessed September 23, 2009.
  • 2009: BMI Urban Awards – Producer of the Year"[http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/539591 BMI Honors George Clinton, T-Pain, Lil Wayne and Many More at Urban Awards in New York]". BMI (September 10, 2009). Accessed September 23, 2009.

Broadcasting

In 2019, via his company Young Country Holdings, Jones entered the broadcasting industry by purchasing the Nashville-area radio station WYCZ and its FM translator for $100,000. On June 6, 2019, the station launched a new hybrid country, pop, and urban format curated by Jones, YoCo 96.7.{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/ross/177684/first-listen-yoco-96-7-nashville/|title=First Listen: YoCo 96.7 Nashville|date=June 11, 2019|website=RadioInsight|language=en-US|access-date=June 12, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/177396/young-country-96-7-to-bring-hip-hop-country-hybrid-to-nashville/|title=Young Country 96.7 To Bring Hip-Hop/Country Hybrid To Nashville|date=June 3, 2019|website=RadioInsight|language=en-US|access-date=June 6, 2019}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/8514073/producer-polow-da-don-launch-young-country-radio-station|title=Producer Polow da Don to Launch Young Country Radio Station: Exclusive|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 12, 2019}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{Twitter}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Don, Polow da}}

Category:1977 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American male musicians

Category:21st-century American rappers

Category:African-American male rappers

Category:21st-century American male rappers

Category:African-American record producers

Category:African-American male songwriters

Category:American hip-hop record producers

Polow

Category:Rappers from Atlanta

Category:Record producers from Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:Songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:21st-century African-American musicians