September 04, 2008 @ 10:56 am

You Don't Know Me: Mista Raja (Producer’s Special)

Linda Hobbs

The hottest, under-the-radar producers stake their claim... In their own words.

My Name Is: Mista Raja
Straight Outta: The Boogie Down Bronx

This Is My Story:
I grew in a home where there was a lot of gospel music. That’s all my parents listened to. By the time I was in 8th grade, I knew music was my calling.

Fast-forward: In ’97, I met Jason Weaver. We did a song called, "Stay With Me" [for Motown]. This was the first record I featured on. We shot the video and I was hooked like pookie to crack.

In 2000, I came home from work one day and checked my machine. It was Diddy on my voicemail. He said he’d heard a demo I had written for an artist. Before I knew it, I had quit my job as a UPS worker and was on a plane to the Bahamas. The three weeks I was there Diddy and I made "PE 2000," "What You Want," and the Grammy-nominated song that set off my writing career, "Satisfy You" off the multi-platinum album, Forever.

This Is My Influence:
Growing up in the BX, it was impossible not to hear hip hop. I went to St. Augustine’s School of the Arts. This is where my love for music was embraced and groomed. I played piano, guitar even sang in the bass section of the choir.

This Is Why I’m Hot:
I got to work with Akon, Devyne Stevens, Erick Sermon, Jazzy Pha, Pastor Troy, KRS-One, Armando Colon, Dallas Austin, T-Boz, Tricky Stewart, Shakespeare, and Barry White, as a producer, writer, or artist.

I've started a company called Associ Industries, a production company founded by my best friend Mark Monarch and I. We signed D. Smitty, Mr. Williams, and Sef Millz, three of the hottest up-and-coming producers. Together we made "Shut Up Bitch," and “Quiet” off Lil Kim’s album, Naked Truth, which got 5 mics in The Source. I later co-wrote "Come to Me," off Diddy’s "Press Play" and earned my first BMI award.

While working with Lil Kim, I met Jean Nelson, A&R for Atlantic Records. We started working together and that’s when I met Maino. Me and Maino put our heads together and brought New York forward with the anthem, "HI HATER," which I produced. I also co-produced the soon-to-be strip club anthem, "Dump Dick," off Maino’s debut If Tomorrow Comes. Right now I’m working on my album, The Ghost In The Machine, and Missy's upcoming album.

Eventually I’ve learned that a leader is only as strong as his followers. I put God first, and the rest is easy.