Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence
{{short description|American songwriter}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Ron {{nobold|"}}Amen-Ra{{nobold|"}} Lawrence
| image = Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence.jpg
| birth_name = Val Anthony Ronald Lawrence
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|11|14}}
| birth_place = Dominica
| origin = New York City, U.S.
| occupation = Record producer, filmmaker
| associated_acts = Sean Combs, The Notorious B.I.G, Jay Z, LL Cool J, Faith Evans, The Lox, Aretha Franklin, Beyonce and Luther Vandross
| website = {{URL|thisisron.com}}
}}
Val Anthony Ronald Lawrence (born November 14, 1965), known professionally as Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, is an American record producer.{{Cite web|url=http://sensay.com/sensaydominica/ronahmenra.html|title=RON AHMEN-RA LAWRENCE|website=Sensay.com|access-date=August 10, 2018}}
Early life
Lawrence was born on the island of Dominica. In 1970, his family immigrated to the United States,{{Cite web | url=https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2017/02/history-of-rapping-documentary-video/ |title = A New Documentary Shows Rap Has Been Around for More Than 70 Years (Video)|date = February 22, 2017}} settling in East Elmhurst, Queens, in New York City.{{Cite web | url=https://www.complex.com/music/2018/02/how-to-become-a-producer-five-rules |title = 5 Rules Every Aspiring Hip-Hop Producer Needs to Know|website=Complex.com}} After high school, he attended Howard University.
In college he met Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie,{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JywEAAAAMBAJ&q=d+dot+ron+lawrence+howard+university&pg=PA116 |title = Vibe|last1 = Group|first1 = Vibe Media|date = August 1998}} and formed the rap duo Two Kings in a Cipher, which released the album From Pyramids to Projects.{{Cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/from-pyramids-to-projects-mw0000675273 | title=From Pyramids to Projects - Two Kings in a Cipher | Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}} Later, the duo joined the Bad Boy Entertainment production team called "The Hitmen", with fellow Howard University alumnus Sean "Diddy" Combs.{{Cite web|url=http://www.badboyblog.com/item/2008/7/1/exclusive-the-hitmen-live.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509214634/http://www.badboyblog.com/item/2008/7/1/exclusive-the-hitmen-live.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 9, 2018|title=Bad Boy Blog » Exclusive: The Hitmen Live|website=Badboyblog.com|accessdate=January 17, 2021}}
Music career
The Hit Men produced numerous rapShawn Setaro, [https://www.complex.com/music/2018/08/how-producer-ron-lawrence-made-bad-boys-greatest-hits "How producer Ron Lawrence made Bad Boy's greatest hits"], Complex, August 2, 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ron-lawrence-mn0000319433/credits|title=Ron Lawrence {{!}} Credits {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=August 14, 2018}} and R&B{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kg8EAAAAMBAJ&q=ron+amen+ra+lawrence&pg=PA45|title=Billboard|date=May 10, 1997|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|language=en}} hits of prominent radio play. He is best known for the singles "Hypnotize"{{Cite web | url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7709057/notorious-big-hypnotize-sample-randy-badazz-herb-alpert-rise |title = Randy 'Badazz' Alpert Remembers 'Rise,' Sampled in the Notorious B.I.G.'s 'Hypnotize'|website=Billboard.com}} by The Notorious B.I.G, "Been Around The World" by Sean "Diddy" Combs,{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2018/08/how-producer-ron-lawrence-made-bad-boys-greatest-hits|title=How Producer Ron Lawrence Made Bad Boy's Greatest Hits|website=Complex|language=en|access-date=August 10, 2018}} "Where I'm From"{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/jay-z-50-greatest-songs-123196/u-dont-know-2001-125810/|title=Jay-Z: 50 Greatest Songs|author1=Christopher R. Weingarten |author2=Elias Leight |author3=Mosi Reeves |author4=Al Shipley |author5=Jason Newman |author6=Christina Lee |author7=David Drake |author8=Maura Johnston
|author8-link=Maura Johnston |author9=Dan Hyman|date=October 27, 2017|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=August 10, 2018|language=en-US}} by Jay-Z,{{Cite web|url=http://aintnojigga.tumblr.com/post/171497978475/jay-z-and-ron-amen-ra-lawrence-photographed|title=NO ONE HAS DONE IT BETTER - Jay-Z and Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, photographed...|website=NO ONE HAS DONE IT BETTER|language=en|access-date=August 10, 2018}} "Money, Power, Respect" by The Lox,{{Cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Lox-Money-Power-Respect/release/547623 | title=The Lox - Money, Power & Respect|website=Discogs.com}} the Grammy-nominated "Love Like This"{{Cite web | url=https://genius.com/Faith-evans-all-night-long-lyrics |title = Faith Evans (Ft. Diddy) – All Night Long|website=Genius.com}} as well as "All Night Long" by Faith Evans,{{Cite web | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1428696/faith-evans-picks-up-grammy-nod-as-lauryn-hill-track-found-ineligible/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104170002/http://www.mtv.com/news/1428696/faith-evans-picks-up-grammy-nod-as-lauryn-hill-track-found-ineligible/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 4, 2018 | title=Faith Evans Picks up Grammy Nod as Lauryn Hill Track Found Ineligible|website=Mtv.com}} "Phenomenon" by LL Cool J, "You Should Be Mine"{{Cite web | url=https://genius.com/Brian-mcknight-you-should-be-mine-dont-waste-your-time-lyrics |title = Brian McKnight (Ft. Ma$e) – You Should be Mine (Don't Waste Your Time)|website=Genius.com}} by Brian McKnight, "Can't Let Her Go"{{Cite web | url=http://www.soulbounce.com/2017/12/soulbounces-class-of-1997-boyz-ii-men-evolution/ |title = SoulBounce's Class of 1997: Boyz II Men 'Evolution' | SoulBounce |website=Soulbounce.com|date = December 23, 2017 }} by Boyz II Men, "Cold Rock a Party" remix{{Cite web | url=https://musicbrainz.org/release/7573af1a-6453-4be0-8579-93edd1839669 |title = Release "Cold Rock a Party" by MC Lyte|website=Musicbrainz.org}} by MC Lyte, and "The Theme (It's Party Time)"{{Cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/composition/9a4c2abe-586e-41c3-a738-755a6dbabb62-The-Theme |title = The Theme|website=Discogs.com}} by Tracey Lee. He produced the song "Wonderful" for Aretha Franklin{{Cite web | url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/aretha-franklin | title=Aretha Franklin|website=Grammy.com| date=June 4, 2019}} for her album So Damn Happy.{{Cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/so-damn-happy-mw0000315382 | title=So Damn Happy - Aretha Franklin | Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}} On June 23, 1998, Lawrence received a Governors Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences on.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-AkEAAAAMBAJ&q=ron+lawrence+naras+award&pg=PA7-IA4|title=Billboard|date=July 11, 1998}} In 1999, Ron produced "In For Life" by Terror Squad from their self-titled debut album and featured verses from Big Pun, Triple Seis, Prospect, and Cuban Link.
Lawrence created the hip-hop source score of Spike Lee's film Bamboozled,{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0493001/|title=Ron Lawrence|website=IMDb|access-date=August 14, 2018}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0215545/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast |title = Bamboozled (2000)|website=IMDb.com}} and appearing in it as a musical engineer. He produced the theme song " A Woman Like Me", by Beyoncé, for the Pink Panther soundtrack. Lawrence himself later studied film at the New York Film Academy and created the short film Founding Fathers,{{cite news|title=Founding Fathers: The Untold Story Of Hip Hop [Full Movie]|url=http://www.vanndigital.com/founding-fathers-untold-story-hip-hop-movie/|website=VannDigital.com|accessdate=October 31, 2015}} a documentary on hip hop's birth and evolution.
In 2014, Lawrence started a film production company Spotlyte Media. In 2015, he produced and edited the short film Above the Sun.{{Cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5101368/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast |title = Above the Sun (2015)|website=IMDb.com}} In 2016, he wrote, directed and produced the short film, Angel of Light{{Cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5437734/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_3 | title=Angel of Light|website=IMDb.com}} and the documentary Commutation for Guy Fisher.{{Cite web|url=https://rappersiq.com/2016/04/28/commutation-for-guy-fisher-new-doc-on-the-harlem-legend-gfishermusik/|title=Commutation for Guy Fisher New Doc. on the Harlem Legend @GFisherMusik|website=Rappersiq.com|date=April 28, 2016|accessdate=January 17, 2021}} In 2017, he produced, directed and edited the documentary Rap Dimension, and Rolling Stone published Jay-Z's 50 greatest songs with Lawrence's production{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/jay-z-50-greatest-songs-123196/|title=Jay-Z: 50 Greatest Songs|first1=Christopher R. Weingarten, Elias Leight, Mosi Reeves, Al Shipley, Jason Newman, Christina Lee, David Drake, Maura Johnston, Dan|last1=Hyman|first2=Christopher R.|last2=Weingarten|first3=Elias|last3=Leight|first4=Mosi|last4=Reeves|first5=Al|last5=Shipley|first6=Jason|last6=Newman|first7=Christina|last7=Lee|first8=David|last8=Drake|first9=Maura|last9=Johnston|first10=Dan|last10=Hyman|magazine=Rolling Stone |date=December 4, 2019|accessdate=January 17, 2021}} coming at number one.
In 2018, he produced and edited the webisode series "Diary of a Music Producer".{{Cite web | url=http://grandgood.com/2018/06/19/ron-lawrence-takes-a-quick-look-at-the-culturally-rich-and-diverse-history-of-east-elmhurst-queens/ |title = Ron Lawrence Takes a Quick Look at the Culturally Rich and Diverse History of East Elmhurst, Queens « GRNDGD}} In 2019, Lawrence published his autobiography{{Cite web|url=https://www.thisisron.com/book-store|title=Book Store|website=Ron Lawrence|language=en-US|access-date=October 25, 2019}} titled Where I'm From, a book about his life story growing up in East Elmhurst, his experience at Howard University and creating hits for various musicians. He also appeared in the Netflix series, Hip-Hop Evolution, season 3{{Cite web|url=https://www.netflix.com/title/80141782|title=Hip-Hop Evolution {{!}} Netflix Official Site|website=Netflix.com|language=en|access-date=October 25, 2019}} episode 2 which is titled Life After Death,{{Citation|title=Hip-Hop Evolution: Season 2 {{!}} Official Trailer [HD] {{!}} Netflix|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9Rs15Fjwo4|language=en|access-date=October 23, 2019}} covers a segment on Sean "Diddy" Combs and The Hitmen.
Studio album
With Two Kings in a Cipher
- From Pyramids to Projects (Bahia/RCA, 1991)
Production credits
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Artist !Song !Album |
| rowspan="2" |1994
|A.D.O.R. |Life Flow |The Concrete |
| Ed O.G.
|Going Out My Mind (No More Love Mix) |{{Non-album single}} |
| 1995
|Suga |What's Up Star |The Show (soundtrack) |
| 1996
|MC Lyte |Cold Rock a Party (Remix) |Bad As I Wanna Be |
| rowspan="10" |1997
|You Should Be Mine (Don't Waste Your Time) | |
| Notorious B.I.G.
|Hypnotize |Life After Death |
| Tracey Lee
|The Theme (Keep Your Hands High); Big Will; Clue (Who Shot J.R.?) |Many Faces |
| Puff Daddy
|Big Ole Butt |In the Beginning... There Was Rap |
| Boyz II Men
|Can't Let Her Go |Evolution |
| Puff Daddy (+ Family)
|Been Around the World; Don't Stop What; I Love You Baby (feat. Black Rob) |No Way Out |
| LSG
|You Got Me |LSG |
| LL Cool J
|Phenomenon; Hot Hot Hot |Phenomenon |
| Mase
|Do You Wanna Get Money?; Will They Die 4 U?; Wanna Hurt Ma$e? |Harlem World |
| Jay-Z
|I Know What Girls Like; Where I'm From |In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 |
| rowspan="9" |1998
|The Lox |Money, Power, Respect; So Right |Money, Power, Respect |
| rowspan="2" |MC Lyte
|Woo Woo (Freak Out) |Woo (soundtrack) |
| Oogie Boogie
|Seven & 7 |
| All City
|The Hot Joint |Metropolitan |
| Tyrese
|You Get Yours |Tyrese |
| Faith Evans
|Love Like This; All Night Long; Life Will Pass You By |Keep the Faith |
| Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz
|My Time to Go |Make It Reign |
| R. Kelly
|Spendin' Money |R. |
| System of a Down, Boys
|Will They Die 4 U? |Chef Aid: Soundtrack |
| rowspan="4" |1999
|The Madd Rapper |They Just Don't Know |Tell 'Em Why U Madd |
| Terror Squad
|In for Life |Terror Squad: the Album |
| Rakim
|Uplift; Real Shit |The Master |
| Mase
|Stay Out of My Way |Double Up |
| rowspan="2" |2000
|Mau Maus |Blak Iz Blak |Bamboozled (soundtrack) |
| Carl Thomas
|Cold Cold World |Carl Thomas |
| rowspan="4" |2001
|Mary J. Blige |Love |No More Drama |
| G Dep
|Everyday |Child of the Ghetto |
| Jimmy Cozier
|No More Playing Games |Jimmy Cozier |
| Luther Vandross
|How Do I Tell Her |Luther Vandross |
| rowspan="2" |2002
|LL Cool J |Throw Ya L's Up; 10 Million Stars |10 |
| Blu Cantrell & Lady May
|Round Up |Bittersweet |
| 2003
|Aretha Franklin |Wonderful |So Damn Happy |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://thisisron.com/book-store/ Autobiography]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lawrence, Ron}}