Around late 1999, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins was assured in his probabilities of successful a Grammy Award for producing Destiny Child’s “Say My Name.” When the feminine group’s second No. 1 pop single obtained three nominations just a few months later, the hit-making producer and songwriter was motivated to determine a approach that he may each evolve along with his musical sound — and his bodily form.
Anticipating his large second on music’s largest evening, there was no approach Jerkins—additionally well-known for producing such hits because the Brandy and Monica traditional collaboration “The Boy is Mine,” Whitney Houston’s “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay,” and quite a few tracks on Mary J. Blige’s “Share My World” album—wasn’t going to look his best. At the identical time, the trials of lengthy hours within the studio hit him more durable than a Mike Tyson uppercut as he turned extraordinarily obese.
Rodney Jerkins went on to win the Grammy that yr and in addition misplaced an enormous quantity of weight—practically 50 kilos. Like any profitable musical collaboration, it was a bunch effort. As one of many heavyweights within the music trade, Jerkins had the luxurious of having the ability to attain into his expansive contact listing and attain out out a real heavyweight for assist: “Iron” Mike Tyson himself, the previous boxing champion of the world.
As a baby, Jerkins and his pastor father watched Tyson’s meteoric rise from boxing prodigy to world icon. Now, months earlier than his largest skilled second, the then-girthy and prolific melody maker requested Tyson if he could be his private coach and boxing coach. Tyson agreed, providing Jerkins the chance to maneuver into his Las Vegas house for 30 days underneath one situation: He dedicated himself to following the boxing legend’s well being routine always throughout his one-month keep.
“I wasn’t feeling good about myself and my health,” the two-time Grammy winner stated. “I told myself I needed to lose some weight. I didn’t feel good, and I wasn’t feeling very good about myself or my health. The discipline in myself told me that I had to do it if I wanted to be great. Music is no joke.”
Neither was coaching with Tyson.
Rodney Jerkins Finds Himself in Mike Tyson’s World
Tyson, who skilled for fights in his prime at a fitness center simply blocks from Jerkins’ church in his hometown of Pleasantville, NJ, woke the out-of-shape producer each day at 4 a.m. for a three-hour exercise, which consisted primarily of cardio exercises on the treadmill or pedaling an train bike. Following the exercise, it was again house for breakfast, which generally consisted of egg whites, spinach, protein shakes, and typically oatmeal.
Following a two-hour energy nap, Jerkins and Tyson headed again to the fitness center round 11 a.m. for the day’s second exercise, which normally concerned weight coaching. Afterward the 2 would have a hearty lunch, then loosen up for just a few hours.
At 6 p.m., it was again to the fitness center for extra weightlifting and cardio, adopted by a salmon or rooster dinner and greens. Jerkins says it was onerous maintaining with Tyson’s vitality, and typically fatigue would set in at numerous factors of the week, particularly once they first began. On Sunday, which was scheduled as an off day, normally turned a 5-mile stroll or lengthy jog. But Rodney Jerkins bought accustomed to Iron Mike’s routine, and the outcomes started to take form, particularly the psychological facet of health, one thing Jerkins wasn’t used to.
“I saw myself really just thriving from that and doing more even from a higher level,” Jerkins, 45, stated. “Working out helps you think differently, and it opened up something in my mind. I had more clarity and could hear the music so much better that I was making.”
That rigorous coaching with Tyson recalibrated Jerkins’ focus and dedication to his craft. The composer of the theme to the UPN sitcom “The Parkers” went on to craft hits for artists like Michael Jackson, Toni Braxton, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson, Sam Smith, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Black Eyed Peas, Ariana Grande, H.E.R., SZA and Summer Walker.
Surprisingly, the 2 by no means sparred in the course of the monthlong keep in Vegas. Jerkins says nonetheless, that Tyson, was “an animal” when it got here to coaching and training, oftentimes telling his high-profile scholar to tempo himself and by no means to surrender. That ache on the finish of the exercises, Tyson advised Jerkins, was change leaving his physique.
“What you put into your body is what you get back,” Jerkins, now 45, continues. “My sleep habits were better. If you’re eating right and working out properly, it all matters in the workflow and daily life. Now, I had the energy, so it was nothing. You would have to tell me to go to sleep because I had so much energy.”
The outcomes: In one month, Jerkins went from a excessive weight of 334 kilos to 290 previous to the 2001 Grammy Awards, by which Destiny Child’s smash “Say My Name” received for Best R&B tune.
Jerkins’ exercises with Tyson even impressed his collaborators. Tennis greats Venus and Serena Williams turned common guests within the studio when he was placing collectively Brandy’s third album, “Full Moon,” in 2002. “Every morning before our sessions, Brandy would go and play tennis with them,” Jerkins remembers.
Fitness Helped Produce a More Focused Jerkins
These days, Jerkins, who earned a second Grammy in 2014 when the Sam Smith hit “Stay with Me” received Record of the Year, is empowering the following era of musical expertise with the identical perseverance, self-discipline, and consistency he discovered from observing Tyson. The sought-after hitmaker is main a contest on Protege, a music-centered mentorship app, to seek out 10 undiscovered songwriters, producers or artists to take part in one among his intense, two-day songwriting camps.
Contestants can submit 60-second audition entries for direct suggestions from Jerkins himself. Those aspiring skills chosen will earn a stipend and the prospect to doubtlessly have their music pitched or positioned on initiatives with high-profile acts.
Comparing his songwriting camps to NBA tryouts, the finalists are paired into rotating groups with Jerkins going over concepts with them and monitoring their chemistry and work ethic. Protege permits Jerkins to raise the camps he began internet hosting at late singer Whitney Houston’s visitor home in 1999 that launched the careers of his mentees like Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr,
Grammy-and Oscar-winning producer D’Mile, Grammy-winning singer Lucky Daye, and producers Harmony Samuels and Tommy “TBHits” Brown.
The camps remind Jerkins of these days he didn’t wish to rise up early or felt ache from a drill however pushed himself to complete his units. “It’s trying to get the best song possible,” Jerkins stated, “and it gives me a chance to see who works well together and who doesn’t work well together. This is the opportunity to prove that you can hang. If you wanna be in this game, you gotta prove yourself.”
“It may not happen in the first two or three years, but by the seventh year, you’re walking down that Grammy aisle and up to that stage and getting your just due. It’s only because you kept pushing. You could’ve given up, stopped, but made that choice to keep going.”
Jerkins Continues His Boxing Journey—in Different Ways
Rodney Jerkins is at the moment creating and govt producing a undertaking based mostly on veteran boxer Roberto Duran set for 2023. There’s additionally a tv collection within the works based mostly on Jerkins’ personal life, much like “Everybody Hates Chris.”
The former govt music producer for “Empire” has partnered with actress Taraji P. Henson on “Hyde Park Academy,” a collection based mostly on a music college in Chicago. “StoryMakers,” a brand new digital collection produced by HUE Unlimited and Jerkins’ firm, Evolve Media Group, permits songwriters and producers to share their journeys with the artists they’ve labored with. There’s additionally a characteristic documentary on Jerkins’ life and profession coming together with a brand new imprint, Alienz Alive.
Jerkins has additionally change into a board member for boxing and fitness equipment brand SPARBAR, One of Jerkins’ closest buddies, boxing coach Raynard McCline, the identical one that took Jerkins to the fitness center the place Tyson used to coach, prompt that he make investments into one thing boxing-related. McCline made the introduction to SPARBAR and related Jerkins with its CEO, London-based Jasvinder “Jazz” Gill.
“I’m a sports head, and I like the whole fitness side of it,” Jerkins stated. “If there are products that can better people’s lives or their craft, then I would love to get behind it.”
Although he admits he hasn’t been as proactive about exercising as intensely as these 30 days he spent with Tyson, Jerkins significantly appreciates how Tyson’s steerage impacted each his well being and inventive output. “I was just telling myself I need to get back into it,” Jerkins stated. “I’m older now, so my metabolism has slowed down so much—I gotta figure out how to kick it back up,” he says. “I still live in the moment, so I gotta make sure I stay on my toes and keep creating. I’m looking forward to getting back to a place where I’m having that regimen.”
Follow Rodney Jerkins on Instagram @rodneyjerkins.