Warryn Stafford Campbell, Jr. (born August 21, 1975)[1][2] is an American record producer. He has worked with a number of gospel, hip hop and R&B artists. Campbell originally got his start as a session musician and producer under the tutelage of DJ Quik on his third album Safe + Sound.[3][4]

Warryn Campbell
Birth nameWarryn Stafford Campbell II
Also known as
  • Smiley
  • Baby Dubb
Born (1975-08-21) August 21, 1975 (age 48)
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Record producer
  • songwriter
  • actor
LabelsMy Block
Member of
Spouse(s)
(m. 2001)

Career edit

His work includes production and songwriting credits for Mary Mary, Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Xzibit, Yolanda Adams, Mos Def, Missy Elliott, Kierra Sheard, Brandy, Dave Hollister, Men of Standard, Mario, Kelly Price, Shanice, Dru Hill, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Musiq Soulchild and more.[5][6][7] He is also a member of the modern quartet-styled traditional gospel group The Soul Seekers signed to GospoCentric Records.[8] As a record executive, he served as vice president of A&R for Elektra Records briefly.[9]

He appears in the 2019 movie Strive as "The Pastor" as well as composing the music for the film.[10][11]

Personal life edit

Campbell is the son of Warryn and Sandra Campbell.[12] His younger sister is singer-songwriter Joi Campbell.[13] On May 26, 2001,[14] he married Erica Atkins of the gospel/R&B duo Mary Mary. They have a daughter, Krista Nicole Campbell, born September 13, 2004. On April 24, 2010, the couple's second child, Warryn Campbell III was born.[15] On July 19, 2011, Erica announced on Good Morning America that she was pregnant with their third child. She gave birth early to a girl, Zaya Monique Campbell, on January 24, 2012.[16]

Campbell was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2008 and had an emergency operation to remove one kidney.[17]

Awards and nominations edit

Grammy Awards edit

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2000 Mountain High... Valley Low (Yolanda Adams's album) (as producer) Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album Won
2001 Thankful (Mary Mary's album) (as producer)[18] Won
2002 Songs in A Minor (Alicia Keys's album) (as producer) Best R&B Album Won
2003 Full Moon (Brandy's album) (as producer) Best Contemporary R&B Album Nominated
2005 Afrodisiac (Brandy's album) (as producer) Nominated
It's About Time (Christina Milian's album) (as producer) Nominated
2006 Late Registration (Kanye West's album) (as producer)[18] Album of the Year Nominated
Best Rap Album Won
The Cookbook (Missy Elliott's album) (as producer) Nominated
Turning Point (Mario's album) (as producer) Best Contemporary R&B Album Nominated
Mary Mary (Mary Mary's album) (as producer) Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album Nominated
"Heaven" (Mary Mary)[18] Best Gospel Song Nominated
2007 Unpredictable (Jamie Foxx's album) (as producer) Best R&B Album Nominated
2008 Graduation (Kanye West's album) (as producer)[18] Album of the Year Nominated
Best Rap Album Won
Luvanmusiq (Musiq Soulchild's album) (as producer) Best R&B Album Nominated
2009 The Sound (Mary Mary's album) (as producer) Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album Nominated
Jennifer Hudson (Jennifer Hudson's album) (as producer) Best R&B Album Won
"Get Up"[18] Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance Won
Best Gospel Song Nominated
2010 "God In Me"[18] Won
2013 "Go Get It"[18] Won
Write Me Back (R. Kelly's album) (as producer) Best R&B Album Nominated
2018 "Too Hard Not To" (Tina Campbell song) (as writer)[18] Best Gospel Performance/Song Nominated
"My Life" (Walls Group Song) (as writer)[18] Best Gospel Performance/Song Nominated
2022 Donda (Kanye West album) (as writer and producer)[19] Album of the Year Nominated
Best Rap Album Nominated

References edit

  1. ^ Staff (June 18, 2001). "Mr. and Mrs". Jet: 27. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  2. ^ "Warryn S. Campbell (b. 1975)". mooseroots.com. Moose Roots.
  3. ^ Clark, Melanie. "Interview With Warryn Campbell". Gospelflava.com. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  4. ^ "DJ Quik - Safe + Sound". Discogs.com. 1995. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Credits / Warryn Campbell - TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Meet The Super Producer Who's Worked With Kanye, Snoop, Missy Elliott & More". The Music. July 13, 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  7. ^ Mitchell, Gail (2 May 2011). "Kelly Price releases first R&B album in eight years". Reuters. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Warryn Campbell of The Soul Seekers". Da Gospel Truth. September 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  9. ^ Hazelwood, Janell (July 24, 2012). "Cool Jobs: Music producer Warryn Campbell, Master of hit-making contemporary soul". Black Enterprise. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Strive (2019) Full Cast & Crew". IMDB. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  11. ^ Rodriguez, Liz (June 11, 2019). "'STRIVE' Starring Danny Glover Trailer Release". EMR Media. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Warryn & Sandra Campbell made a girl, named her Joi", Facebook, April 2, 2020, retrieved June 13, 2023
  13. ^ Robinson, Cheryl (July 24, 2022), "How Grammy-Nominated Artist JoiStaRR Scaled Her Brand With Luxury Real Estate", Forbes.com, retrieved June 13, 2023
  14. ^ "Articles - Erica Atkins (Mary Mary) and Warryn Campbell Wedding". GospelFlava.com. 2001-05-26. Retrieved 2013-03-31.
  15. ^ "Black News, Entertainment, Style and Culture - HuffPost Black Voices". Archived from the original on 2021-02-26. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  16. ^ "Erica & Warryn Campbell Welcome Their New Baby Girl, Zaya Monique Campbell". UGospel. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  17. ^ "He Lives: Warryn Campbell undergoes operation; Mary Mary pull out of UK concert". Crossrhythms.co.uk. 2008-04-23. Retrieved 2013-03-31.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Warryn Campbell". Grammy. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  19. ^ Billboard Staff (23 November 2021). "2022 Grammy Nominees: The Complete List". Billboard. Retrieved 16 December 2021.