Winston 'DJ BlackOut' Thomas
Background information
Birth nameWinston Thomas
BornFreeport, NY, United States
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Record producer, engineer, composer, mixing engineer, A&R
Years active2004–present
LabelsBlackOut Movement CEO, RecordGram (Co-Founder)
Websitedjblackout.com%20djblackout.com

Winston Thomas, better known by his stage name BlackOut or DJ BlackOut, founder & CEO of BlackOut Movement, is an American record producer, engineer and composer. Blackout is signed to Nicki Minaj's recording company Pink Friday Records.[1] Blackout is also co-founder of the music tech startup company, RecordGram.

Life and career

BlackOut was born "Winston Thomas" in Freeport, NY. His father is from Kingston, Jamaica, while his mother is from Mandeville, Jamaica.[2] He got his start working high school parties and local clubs in the New York area. It was in the club that he got his first break and met Wyclef Jean. Blackout joined the Refugee Camp as a deejay for the artist, Reptile, and got his first taste of touring in the music industry. During his time with the Refugee Camp, Blackout began dabbling in production and made it his hobby. It wasn't long before he became a staple in the deejay industry and began playing gigs nationwide. He eventually became linked with Jada Kiss and toured with him for three years. While playing a gig in a South Beach club, D.J. Blackout slipped a CD of beats to hip hop artist, Ja Rule. This chance meeting would mark the beginning of Blackout's career as a music producer. One of BlackOut's beats was selected to be on Ja Rule's Blood In My Eye Album. Soon after, BlackOut started his own production company Blackout Movement. Full steam ahead, BlackOut and his new company catapulted to the top of the game 1 year later when the company produced the debut album from hip-hop artist Mims, including the widely popular single “This Is Why I'm Hot”. Blackout Movement has since worked with some of the leading artists in the industry. In 2012, Blackout signed to Nicki Minaj's, Pink Friday record label. BlackOut is also co-founder of RecordGram, a music tech startup. RecordGram is 1 of 7 music tech companies to be accepted into Project Music, the music tech accelerator program in Nashville.

Production style

BlackOut produces various genres of music. Hip Hop, Pop, R&B, Reggae, and Dance Music. BlackOut states "being a DJ, I am exposed to a lot of music, all the time. That keeps me up to date" BlackOut chiefly produces with Akai MPC4000 and Pro Tools, and just recently been using Native Instruments' MASCHINE and LOGIC to create as he travels.

Production discography

Singles

Year Single U.S. Hot 100[3] U.S. R&B[4] U.S. Rap[5] U.S. Pop[6] Album
2007 "This Is Why I'm Hot" 1 2 1 11 Music Is My Savior
"Like This" (featuring Rasheeda) 32 54 11 24
Year Title Artist Album
2004 Niggas & Bitches Ja Rule Blood In My Eye
2005 No Daddy Teairra Mari Teairra Mari
Crunk Muzik Jim Jones ft Camron & Juelz Santana On My Way To Church
Spanish Fly Jim Jones feat Chico De Barge On My Way To Church
Life As A Ridah Jim Jones On My Way To Church
Bend n Stretch Jim Jones On My Way To Church
2006 Leave You Alone Camron Killa Season
This Is Why Im Hot MIMS M.I.M.S. (#1 Single)
2007 Superman MIMS M.I.M.S. (ALBUM)
Without You MIMS feat LaToya Luckett
Like This MIMS
They Don't Wanna Play MIMS feat Bun B
Don't Cry MIMS
Cop It MIMS
I Did You Wrong MIMS
Its Alright MIMS
This Is Why Im Hot (Reggae Version) MIMS ft Junior Reid & Cham
This Is Why Im Hot (Rock Version) MIMS feat Purple Popcorn Microsoft Zune Commercial
2008 Cocaine UGK Underground Kingz
She Can Get It DJ Laz feat Mims & Elijah Category 6
Ghetto Soldier Kymani Marley RADIO
Like This MIMS NOW Compilation #25
2009 Naked Serani No Games
Be With You
Dance With Me Aaron Carter feat Flo Rida Dance With Me
There He Go Fabolous feat Red Cafe Loso's Way
One Day MIMS feat Kymani Marley Guilt
Life Of A Star MIMS
One Last Kiss MIMS feat Soler Mesh
Heal Me MIMS
2010 If It Was Up To Me Bun B feat Junior Reid Trill
Perfect Jaicko Jaicko
Its My Birthday Ultimate feat Calibe Ultimate Domination
Encore Jason Derulo Jason Derulo
White Girl Trina feat Flo Rida & Git Fresh Amazin
Boom Shaka Laka Brianna feat Flo Rida Girl Talk
2011 Dance With Me Justice Crew feat Flo Rida Justice Crew (Single)
Blow Ya Mind Nicki Minaj Pink Friday
2012 Roman Holiday Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
FML (Fuck My Life) Don Omar feat MIMS Don Omar (Single)
2014 Angel Prostyle feat Nicki Minaj, Jeremih Prostyle (Single)
2015 Build Sean Paul Single
2015 All In Sean Paul ft MIMS, Amara La Negra Single
2016 Put It On Shaggy Single
2016 Take You Home DJ Shadow ft Sean Paul, Badshah Single

Awards and nominations

Year Organization Award Work Result
2008 ASCAP AWARDS Ringtone Of The Year Producer (MIMS - This Is Why Im Hot) Won
ASCAP AWARDS POP Music Award Producer (MIMS - This Is Why Im Hot) Won
ASCAP AWARDS #1 Performed Song of 2007 Producer (MIMS - This Is Why Im Hot) Won
2012 54th Grammy Awards Best Rap Album Nicki Minaj (Production) Nominated
2012 Latin Grammy Awards Best Urban Album Don Omar presents MTO2 Won

References

  1. ↑ "Elevate Music Group".
  2. ↑ "Blackout shines with Nicki Minaj". Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  3. ↑ "Mims Mane Album & Song Chart History: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
  4. ↑ "Mims Mane Album & Song Chart History: Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
  5. ↑ "Mims Mane Album & Song Chart History: Billboard Rap Songs". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
  6. ↑ "Mims Mane Album & Song Chart History: Billboard Pop Songs". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
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