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Dot da Genius

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Dot da Genius
Birth nameOladipo Omishore
Born (1986-07-17) July 17, 1986 (age 38)
New York City, U.S.
OriginBrooklyn, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
Years active2001–present
Labels
Member of
Alma materPolytechnic Institute of New York University
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2014; div. 2017)​
Children1

Oladipo Omishore (born July 17, 1986), known professionally as Dot da Genius, is an American record producer and audio engineer from Brooklyn, New York. He first gained recognition in 2008 for producing "Day 'n' Nite" by American musician Kid Cudi, with whom he is a longtime friend and frequent collaborator; the two would later form a rock band in 2010, known as WZRD.[1]

Engaged in various entrepreneurial pursuits, Omishore launched his own trans-media company HeadBanga Muzik Group which has collaborated with numerous brands and labels, such as: Universal Music Group, BMG, Nike, and Splice. He is known for working mostly with American rapper Kid Mescudi but his production has been featured on albums by several prominent artists in the music industry, including Nas, Kanye West, Eminem, Denzel Curry, Lil Nas X, JID, 6LACK, and Jhené Aiko, among others.[2]

Life and career

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1986–2005: Early life

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Omishore is from the Brooklyn borough of New York City. He is of Nigerian heritage, of the Yoruba tribe.[3][4] His parents always encouraged his interest in music, and at the age of seven, his father sent him to the Brooklyn Music School for piano lessons, where he studied with Tom Coote. Omishore preferred playing the guitar, but learning how to play a keyboard instrument was very beneficial later in life when he started producing. He attended Polytechnic Institute of New York University in New York, where he studied electrical engineering, was a member of the university basketball team, and graduated in 2008.[2][5]

2006–2009: Career beginnings and producing for Kid Cudi

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Omishore began his career in sound-mixing in 2003 at New York University by using Image-Line's FL Studio program. In 2004, Omishore created a studio in his basement with equipment bought by his parents and would later call it "Head Banga Muzik Studios."[6] After gaining attention for his production, he decided to change locations to the Brewery Recording Studio. In May 2009, Omishore partnered up with Andrew Krivonos, owner of Brewery Recording Studio, and helped move the studio to North Brooklyn in a new facility.[7]

Omishore and Kid Cudi met in 2006, and they lived together for two years. Both artists found a genuine liking for one another, and chose to work with each other on several music productions. "Day N' Nite" turned out to be the biggest hit production that both of them worked on together, with Omishore providing the beats and Cudi rapping and singing over the music. He produced the song in Head Banga Muzik Studios, and used several different methods of mixing and synthesizing the beats on this track. The song took a total of two days to complete, from the instrumental being made to the track's final arrangements. No edits were made after that two-day process ended. It was finished in 2007 and became popular two years later, in 2009.[2] "Day N' Nite" reached the top three in the United States and the United Kingdom.[2] It was released under the labels GOOD Music, Fool's Gold Records, Universal Motown Records, and Data Records. It is featured on the album Man on the Moon: The End of Day.

2010–2018: WZRD

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Main articles: WZRD (band) and WZRD (album)

WZRD is Omishore and Kid Cudi's collaboration alternative rock band. Kid Cudi focuses on the vocals, while Omishore is responsible for the production.[8] Their self-titled album was later released in February 2012. Together, they produced a self-made album titled WZRD. Much of their inspiration behind the album came from their love for Nirvana, The Pixies, and Pink Floyd.[8] They recorded much of the album in either their tour bus while they were on the road, or Cudi's basement studio in Hollywood Hills.[9] This album contained absolutely no profanity, including the "n word" that many rappers loosely use.[10] The album was first released on February 28, 2012. It reportedly sold 70,499 copies in its opening week.[11] Although Cudi finds the marketing and promotion of the album weak by Universal Music Group, it landed the number three spot on the album sales chart.[12] Universal Music Group also allegedly under-shipped copies of the album.[13] While "Rocket" was released prior to the release of WZRD, it was not featured on the album.[14]

2018–present: Solo debut album

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In 2018, Omishore and Woodro Skillson announced the signing of James Japan to their label, HeadBanga Muzik Group.[15]

In 2020, Omishore scored his first number-one hit single on the Billboard Hot 100, when "The Scotts," a collaborative effort between Cudi and his protege Travis Scott, debuted at the top spot in the US chart.

On June 24, 2022, Omishore released "Talk About Me", the lead single from his upcoming solo debut album. The song features vocals from American rappers Kid Cudi, Denzel Curry, and JID. In July 2022, Complex interviewed Omishore on his upcoming debut album.[16]

Artistry

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Musical style

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Omishore is a self-taught music producer and engineer.[2]

Influences

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Among Omishore’s favorite albums of all time are Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon, Dr. Dre's The Chronic, Outkast's ATLiens, and Coldplay's Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends.[17]

Personal life

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Omishore has one daughter, from a previous relationship.[18] In September 2014, American singer-songwriter Jhené Aiko, revealed she and Omishore were in a relationship. The two revealed their marriage in March 2016.[3][19] On August 9, 2016, Jhené Aiko filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences.[20] The divorce was finalized in October 2017.[21][22]

Discography

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See also: WZRD discography

Soundtrack albums

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List of soundtracks, with selected information
Title Album details
Entergalactic (Original Score)
(with Plain Pat)

Singles

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List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Fettuccine"[24]
(featuring Tunji Ige, Fat Tony and Price) 		2018 non-album single
"Talk About Me"[25]
(with Kid Cudi, Denzel Curry and JID) 		2022 TBA

Guest appearances

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List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Burrow" 2022 Kid Cudi, Don Toliver, Steve Aoki Entergalactic

Production discography

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Main article: Dot da Genius production discography

Awards and nominations

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BET Hip Hop Awards

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Year Nominated work Award Result
2009[26] Day 'n' Nite BET Hip Hop Award for Track of the Year Nominated
Day 'n' Nite BET Hip Hop Award for Best Hip Hop Video Nominated

Black Reel Television Awards

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Year Nominated work Award Result
2023[27] Entergalactic Outstanding Musical Score Nominated

Grammy Awards

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Year Nominated Work Award Result
2010[28] "Day 'n' Nite" Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance Nominated
"Day 'n' Nite" Grammy Award for Best Rap Song Nominated
2019 “Panini” Best Rap/Sung Performance Nominated

MTV Video Music Awards

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Year Nominated work Award Result
2009[29] "Day 'n' Nite" MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist Nominated

mtvU Woodie Awards

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Year Nominated Work Award Result
2009[30] "Day 'n' Nite Best Video Woodie Nominated

Filmography

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References

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  1. ^ "Dot Da Genius, producer/owner, Brewery recording Studio". Archived from the original on May 13, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Tingen, Paul (October 2009). "Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Dot Da Genius". Sound on Sound. Archived from the original on June 1, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Bodunrin, Sola (March 17, 2016). "American singer Jhene Aiko is married to Yoruba man". Naij. Archived from the original on April 1, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  4. ^ Atisele, Kenneth (March 17, 2016). "While We Weren't Looking, Jhene Aiko Got Married To A Yoruba/American Producer". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  5. ^ Witte, Rae. "Meet Dot Da Genius, the man behind Kid Cudi's sound and co-producer of Kids See Ghosts". factmag.com. Fact. Archived from the original on June 16, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  6. ^ "About". Head Banga Muzik. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  7. ^ "Studio". Brewery Recording Studio. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Fairfax, Jesse (February 28, 2012). "WZRD (Kid Cudi x Dot Da Genius)". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on September 2, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  9. ^ La Puma, Joe (February 27, 2012). "WZRD: Band Of Brothers (2012 Online Cover Story)". Complex. Archived from the original on June 25, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  10. ^ Weintraub, Jason (November 20, 2011). "Kid Cudi's New Album Will Contain No Curse Words, No N-Words". Hip-Hop Wired. Archived from the original on January 22, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  11. ^ Moore, Jacob (March 6, 2012). "Kid Cudi & Dot Da Genius' "WZRD" Sells Over 70K In Week One". Complex. Archived from the original on April 18, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  12. ^ Beadon, Leigh (March 8, 2012). "KiD CuDi's WZRD Debuts At No. 3 Despite Being Swept Under The Rug By Universal". Techdirt. Archived from the original on May 18, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  13. ^ Jacobs, Allen (March 7, 2012). "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 3/4/2012". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  14. ^ "DatNewCudi.com: Dot Da Genius Interview Part 1". Archived from the original on December 20, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2021 – via YouTube.
  15. ^ Espinoza, Joshua (March 2, 2018). "HeadBanga Muzik Signee James Japan Shares "Real"". Complex. Archived from the original on March 3, 2018. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  16. ^ Blanchet, Brenton (July 6, 2022). "Dot da Genius is Stepping into the Spotlight". Complex. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  17. ^ Ahmed, Insanul (March 4, 2012). "Dusty Grooves: Dot Da Genius' 25 Favorite Albums". Complex. Archived from the original on June 23, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  18. ^ Ahmed, Insanul (February 29, 2012). "Dot Da Genius Tells All: The Stories Behind his Classic Records". Complex. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  19. ^ Morris, Jessie (March 16, 2016). "Dot Da Genius Confirms His Marriage to Jhené Aiko in a Passionate Instagram Message". Complex. Archived from the original on May 8, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  20. ^ Nessif, Bruna (August 11, 2016). "Jhene Aiko Files for Divorce from Dot da Genius". E! News. Archived from the original on August 12, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
  21. ^ Post, Chantilly (October 3, 2017). "Jhene Aiko's Divorce With Dot Da Genius Finalized". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  22. ^ Eustice, Kyle (October 3, 2017). "Jhené Aiko's Divorce From Dot Da Genius Is Official". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  23. ^ Callas, Brad (October 17, 2022). "Dot Da Genius Shares Soundtrack From Kid Cudi's Netflix Special 'Entergalactic'". Complex Media.
  24. ^ "Dot da Genius Whips up Some "Fettuccine" on Debut Single as Solo Artist". Complex Networks.
  25. ^ "Kid Cudi Announces Denzel Curry, JID Collaboration, "Talk About Me"". HNHH. June 22, 2022.
  26. ^ Leah Greenblatt, "BET Hip Hop Award nominations announced; will top nominee Kanye show?" MusicMix.
  27. ^ Complex, Valerie (June 15, 2023). "Black Reel 7th Annual Television Awards Featuring Gender Neutral Categories Announces Nominations; 'The Best Man: Final Chapters' Leads With 18 Noms". Deadline. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  28. ^ "Awards Nominations & Winners". Grammy.com. April 30, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  29. ^ "2009 Video Music Awards". Mtv.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  30. ^ "2009 Woodie Awards". Mtv.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
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