Static Major
{{Short description|American singer and rapper (1974–2008)}}
{{redirect|Stephen Garrett|the British film and TV producer|Stephen Garrett (producer)}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Static Major
| image = Static Major.jpg
| alias = {{hlist|Static|Static/Major}}
| birth_name = Stephen Ellis Garrett, Jr.
| birth_date = {{birth date|1974|11|11|}}
| caption = Static Major in 2001
| death_date = {{death date and age|2008|2|25|1974|11|11|mf=yes}}
| death_place = Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
| years_active = 1990−2008
| birth_place = Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
| genre = {{hlist|R&B|hip hop}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Record producer|singer|rapper|songwriter}}
| past_member_of = {{hlist|Playa|Swing Mob}}
| label = {{hlist|Def Jam|Universal|Blackground}}
}}
Stephen Ellis Garrett Jr. (November 11, 1974 – February 25, 2008), known professionally as Static Major (and previously as Static), was an American R&B and hip hop producer, singer, rapper, and songwriter from Louisville, Kentucky. He is best known for his posthumous guest appearance on Lil Wayne's 2008 single "Lollipop", which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100 and received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song and its music video were both released in memory of his death in February of that year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wdrb.com/wdrb-in-the-morning/popular-louisville-producer-and-songwriter-receives-long-overdue-lifetime-achievement/article_d91b3f7a-ae30-11ee-b027-33bc6d57de80.html|title=Popular Louisville Producer and Songwriter Receives Long Overdue Lifetime Achievement|date=January 8, 2024}}
Prior, he formed the R&B trio Playa in 1990, Virginia-based musical collective Swing Mob, led by DeVanté Swing. The former group signed with Def Jam Recordings and became best known for their 1998 single "Cheers 2 U", which entered the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and preceded the release of their sole studio album (1998). Garrett also worked in tandem with Swing Mob cohort Timbaland to co-write Ginuwine's 1996 single "Pony" and Aaliyah's 1998 single "Are You That Somebody?", both of which saw further success at numbers six and 21 on the chart, respectively. This served as a catalyst for Garrett to continue songwriting for other artists, most extensively for the latter; this resulted in credits for her 2000 single "Try Again" and the near-entirety of her self-titled third album (2001); the releases debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200, respectively.{{cite web|url=http://www.rapbasement.com/news/david-banner/david-banner-speaks-on-static-major-death.html|title=David Banner Speaks On Static Major Death|date=February 26, 2008|publisher=Rapbasement.com|access-date=November 16, 2008}}
Career
{{expand section|date=September 2024}}
Garrett started his producing career when he joined DeVante Swing's Swing Mob. He made a breakthrough working with R&B singer Ginuwine, writing and co-producing the 1996 song "Pony" which became a major hit and a milestone in both Garrett and Timbaland's careers.{{cite web|url=http://concreteloop.com/2008/02/stephen-static-garrett-1976-2008|date=February 26, 2008|title=» Stephen "Static/Major" Garrett – (1976–2008)|access-date=November 16, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108175005/http://concreteloop.com/2008/02/stephen-static-garrett-1976-2008|archive-date=January 8, 2009}} Garrett later became a member of the Def Jam group Playa, who were most known for their hit single "Cheers 2 U". Playa released an album of the same name in 1998.
After working with Ginuwine, Garrett assisted in producing songs for Nicole Wray for her 1998 debut album, Make It Hot. He would eventually become the lead songwriter for Aaliyah. His songwriting collaborations with Aaliyah include: "Are You That Somebody?", which was featured on the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack, and the Romeo Must Die soundtrack singles "Come Back in One Piece" and "Try Again" (her only Billboard Hot 100 number-one single). The songs "More than a Woman", "We Need a Resolution", "Rock the Boat", "Loose Rap" (which he was also featured on), "Extra Smooth", "I Refuse", "Read Between the Lines", "Those Were the Days", and "Never No More" were all featured on her third and final studio album Aaliyah.
In 2005, Garrett collaborated with R&B group Pretty Ricky on their song "Juicy". He was featured on Lil Wayne's chart-topping 2008 song "Lollipop", which he co-wrote.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2008/02/static_major_dies/ |magazine=Vibe |title=Producer Static major, of Former R&B Group Playa, Dies |access-date=November 16, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080826070139/http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2008/02/static_major_dies/ |archive-date=August 26, 2008 }}{{Cite web|title=New Music: Lil Wayne f/ Static – 'Lollipop'|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2008/03/11/new-music-lil-wayne-f-static-lollipop/|access-date=April 22, 2021|website=Rap-Up|language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine|title=Lollipop by Lil Wayne Featuring Static Major {{!}} Billboard The Hot 100 Chart|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2008-05-03?rank=1|access-date=April 22, 2021|magazine=Billboard|date = January 2, 2013}} The music video for "Lollipop" was dedicated to his memory.{{Cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2IH8tNQAzSs|title=Lil Wayne - Lollipop (Official Music Video) ft. Static|website=Youtube|date=June 16, 2009 |access-date=July 1, 2012}}
Garrett once reflected on where his inspiration came from, saying "I stay in the streets, that's where I draw my inspiration [...] If it can't be played in the hood, then it just doesn't work for me. And nobody can hold me in harmony. My whole aura is not your typical R&B aura."
Death
Garrett died at age 33 at the Baptist Hospital East in Louisville, Kentucky, on February 25, 2008, from complications of a medical procedure.{{cite web|title=Static Major: the forgotten genius behind Aaliyah's hits|url=https://www.dummymag.com/features/static-major-the-forgotten-genius/|first=Ruth|last=Saxelby|work=Dummy|access-date=April 12, 2021|date=November 11, 2011}} Earlier that day, Garrett had felt extremely sick and went back to his hometown to seek medical attention. According to the Jefferson County Coroner's Office, he went into respiratory arrest and bled to death after the removal of a catheter that was improperly inserted into his neck.{{Cite web |last=leoweekly |date=2009-03-19 |title=Static Major's doctor speaks |url=https://www.leoweekly.com/2009/03/staticmajors-doctor-speaks/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=LEO Weekly |language=en-US}} After his sudden death, Garrett's wife alleged medical negligence.{{Cite web |date=2009-03-12 |title=Static Major's Family Want Privacy Law Exception |url=https://www.contactmusic.com/news/static-majors-family-want-privacy-law-exception_1097601 |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Contactmusic.com}}{{Cite web |last=YoRapper |date=2008-03-16 |title=Lil Wayne's Producer/Singer Static Major Dead {{!}} Yorapper |url=https://www.yorapper.com/lil-waynes-producersinger-static-major-dead/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |language=en-US}}
Posthumous releases
Garrett was featured posthumously on Drake's 2018 song "After Dark", which peaked at number 41 on the Hot 100.
In 2020, Garrett was featured alongside Bryson Tiller on Jack Harlow's "Luv Is Dro", from his debut album Thats What They All Say. The track is largely a reworking of Static's own song "Love Is Dro", which had been previously released in 2018.
On December 17, 2021, a new posthumous single from Aaliyah was released, titled "Poison". The song featured The Weeknd, who was credited as a co-writer alongside Garrett and Belly. "Poison" contains vocals recorded by Aaliyah shortly before her death in 2001. Garrett can be heard delivering background vocals.{{cite web|url=https://thatgrapejuice.net/2021/12/poison-new-aaliyah-song-featuring-the-weeknd-confirmed-drop-this-week/|title='Poison': New Aaliyah Song Featuring The Weeknd Confirmed to Drop This Week|website=That Grape Juice|date=December 14, 2021|access-date=December 15, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/aaliyahs-posthumous-song-with-the-weeknd-poison-coming-soon-report-news.144584.html|title=Aaliyah's Posthumous Song With The Weeknd "Poison" Coming Soon|last=Zidel|first=Alex|website=Hot New Hip Hop|date=December 14, 2021|access-date=December 15, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/aaliyah-and-the-weeknd-to-appear-on-new-collaborative-single-poison-3119944|title=Listen to Aaliyah and The Weeknd's collaborative new single, 'Poison'|website=NME|date=December 17, 2021|access-date=December 17, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/poison/1600120783?i=1600120796|title=Aaliyah & The Weeknd – Poison (single)|date=December 17, 2021|access-date=December 17, 2021}}
Discography
= Singles =
== As a lead artist ==
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" |Title !rowspan="2"|Year !Peak chart positions !rowspan="2"|Album |
scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:90%;"| US R&B |
---|
scope="row"| "Bus Stop Breezy"
| 2006 |— | rowspan="4" |Suppertime |
scope="row"| "Your Valentine"
| rowspan="3"|2007 |— |
scope="row"| "I Got My" {{Small|(featuring Lil Wayne)}} |98{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} |
scope="row"| "Till the Wheels Fall Off" {{Small|(featuring Pretty Ricky)}} |— |
== As a featured artist ==
== Guest appearances ==
- 1994 Brand Nu ( with Da Bassment Crew)
- 1994 "Peepin My Style "( with Da Bassment Crew)
- 1994 Another Level (with Da Bassment Crew)
- 1994 True O.G. (with Da Bassment Crew)
- 1994 Sugah Thang ( with Da Bassment Crew)
- 1994 Joy (with Da Bassment Crew)
- 1994 Dat Funk ( with Da Bassment Crew)
- 1994 Ain't Nothing But A B Party (wit Swing Mob)
- 1995 Nothing But A B Party ( Da Bassment Crew)
- 1995 "Gin & Juice" (with Da Bassment Crew)
- 1998 "What Cha Talkin' Bout" (with Timbaland & Magoo) on Tim's Bio: Life from da Bassment
- 1998 "Put 'Em On" (with Timbaland & Magoo on Tim's Bio: Life from da Bassment
- 2000 "Change the Game" (with Jay-Z) on The Dynasty: Roc La Familia
- 2001 "Loose Rap" (with Aaliyah) on Aaliyah
- 2001 "Indian Carpe" (with Timbaland & Magoo) on Indecent Proposal
- 2001 "I Am Music" (with Timbaland & Magoo) on Indecent Proposal
- 2004 "I Came to Bring the Pain" (with Lil' Flip) on U Gotta Feel Me
- 2004 "Crank It Up" (with David Banner) on MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water
- 2005 "Juicy" (with Pretty Ricky) on Bluestars
- 2007 "Good Weather Music (Never Thought)" (with T-Hud) on Undrafted
- 2008 "Lollipop" (with Lil Wayne) on Tha Carter III
- 2009 "Gotta Get Me One" (with Twista) on Category F5
- 2018 "After Dark" (with Drake and Ty Dolla Sign) on Scorpion
- 2020 "Luv Is Dro" (with Jack Harlow and Bryson Tiller) on Thats What They All Say
- 2021 "Body Rock" (with 5AM) on You're Going To Be Fine
- 2023 "Nobody Else" (with EST Gee) on El Toro 2
Notes
{{notelist-ua}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100529000427/http://www.staticmajorismusic.com/ Static Major official website]
- [https://www.myspace.com/demplayaboys/ Playa official website]
- [http://www.dubcnn.com/blogs/haywire/#may2008 Static Major — Lollipop: A Hard to Swallow Reality on Dubcnn]
- {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p290572}}
- [http://leoweekly.com/news/static-star Static star – Louisville's Alt-Weekly – LEO Weekly]
{{Static Major}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Static Major
|list =
{{Grammy Award for Best Rap Song}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Hip-Hop Video}}
{{IFPI Global Year-End}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:20th-century African-American male singers
Category:20th-century American male singers
Category:20th-century American singers
Category:21st-century African-American male singers
Category:21st-century American male singers
Category:African-American male singer-songwriters
Category:American male singer-songwriters
Category:African-American record producers
Category:American contemporary R&B singers
Category:American hip-hop record producers
Category:American hip-hop singers
Category:Def Jam Recordings artists
Category:Grammy Award winners for rap music
Category:MTV Video Music Award winners
Category:Singers from Louisville, Kentucky
Category:Record producers from Kentucky
Category:Singer-songwriters from Kentucky