Nigerian-British producer
P2J
P2J in 2022
Birth name Richard Olowaranti Mbu Isong Also known as Pro2Jay Born (1987-07-11 ) 11 July 1987 (age 36) Genres Occupation(s) Record producer songwriter Years active 2007–present Labels
Musical artist
Richard Olowaranti Mbu Isong (born 11 July 1987), known professionally as P2J is a Nigerian-British producer from
London , England. He has produced for high-profile pop artists including
Beyoncé ,
Wizkid ,
Stormzy ,
FKA Twigs ,
Burna Boy ,
Tems , and
Doja Cat , among others.
Career
P2J started to solidify his production career at age 14, when an instructor recommended he transfer to music courses.
[1] His career kickstarted in 2007 on the television station,
Channel U under the name P2J Project with the
grime song "Hands in the Air".
[2] He formerly produced songs under the name Pro2Jay, for the likes of
Tiwa Savage ,
Krept and Konan and
Lily Allen .
[3] In 2017, he produced the song "Covered in You" for
Chris Brown 's album
Heartbreak on a Full Moon .
[4]
In 2019, he became one of the go-to afrobeats producers, working with artists such as
Burna Boy ,
Wizkid ,
GoldLink ,
WSTRN ,
Doja Cat ,
Davido and more.
[5] His largest collaboration in 2019 was with
Beyoncé on the soundtrack album
The Lion King: The Gift producing 6 tracks, earning him a
Grammy nomination for
Best Pop Vocal Album .
[6] In 2020, he won his first Grammy award for
Best Global Music Album , on Burna Boy's album
Twice as Tall .
[7] P2J was the primary producer on Wizkid's album
Made in Lagos , which was nominated for a Grammy and included the song "
Essence ".
[8]
[9] The song became the first Nigerian song in history to chart on the
Billboard Hot 100 and the
Billboard Global 200 in 2021, and a remix featuring
Justin Bieber was later released.
[10]
[11]
In 2022, he produced for
FKA Twigs on the song "Jealousy" from her mixtape
Caprisongs .
[12] He has also produced 5 songs on
Young T & Bugsey 's mixtape Truth Be Told
[13] and "Fallen Angel" on
Ella Mai 's latest album "Heart on my Sleeve".
Artistry
P2J spoke on his production style in interview saying, "Wizkid and I were on the same path in terms of musicality when we met, in terms of merging different genres together, like merging reggae with the Afro, R&B with the Afro. He's been trying to get towards that through
Soundman Vol. 1 . We just eased into it with
Made in Lagos . If you listen to the album, there's like a specific bass line that I've done that's quite memorable."
[14] He also said that his goal to "infuse African music in anything I do. Whether it's African music like afro and R&B, afro and house, afro and pop, or afro and rap. I've always tried to infuse it in any way."
[5]
Production discography
2013
Nathan - Dark Room - single
2015
Krept and Konan -
The Long Way Home
07. "I Don't Know" (featuring Rebecca Garton) (produced with Crumz)
17. "So Easy" (produced with Big Mike)
Tiwa Savage -
R.E.D
2017
Stormzy -
Gang Signs & Prayers
Tiwa Savage -
Sugarcane
02. "Get It Now"
04. "Hold Me Down"
Star.One - Okay (P2J Remix) - Single
00. Okay (P2J Remix) (featuring Maleek Berry & Seyi Shay)
Gyyps - Killafornia
Yungen - All Night - Single
00. "All Night" (featuring
Mr Eazi )
Reblah - Back to Glory
04. "Wabamilo" (featuring P2J)
Chris Brown -
Heartbreak on a Full Moon
07. "Covered in You" (produced with Ayo & Keyz)
2018
Burna Boy -
Outside
03. "Koni Baje"
11. "Devil in California"
Lily Allen -
No Shame
04. "Your Choice" (featuring Burna Boy)
08. "Higher"
Rebecca Garton -
The Intent 2: The Come Up (soundtrack)
Mario -
Dancing Shadows
2019
KSI and Randolph -
New Age
09. "Pull Up" (KSI featuring
Jme ) (produced with Sammy SoSo)
GoldLink -
Diaspora
01. "https://error" (produced with
Ari PenSmith & GoldLink)
02. "Joke Ting" (featuring
Ari PenSmith ) (produced with
Ari PenSmith )
03. "Maniac" (produced with OBR)
05. "Zulu Screams" (featuring
Maleek Berry and
Bibi Bourelly )
06. "More" (featuring
Lola Rae )
07. "Cokewhite" (featuring
Pusha T ) (produced with Fwdslxsh, McKenzie, MD$ & Momberger)
09. "Yard" (featuring Haile of
WSTRN )
10. "Spanish Song" (featuring WaveIQ)
11. "No Lie" (featuring WizKid) (produced with
Ari PenSmith & Deats)
Beyoncé -
The Lion King: The Gift
06. "Don't Jealous Me" (
Tekno , Lord Afrixana,
Yemi Alade and
Mr Eazi ) (produced with Beyoncé & Dixie)
08. "Ja Ara E" (Burna Boy) (produced with Beyoncé & Dixie)
14. "Water" (Salatiel,
Pharrell and Beyoncé) (produced with Beyoncé)
15. "Brown Skin Girl" (Beyoncé,
Saint Jhn and Wizkid featuring
Blue Ivy Carter ) (produced with Beyoncé & Dixie)
17. "Keys to the Kingdom" (Tiwa Savage and Mr Eazi) (produced with Beyoncé, Northboi Oracle, GuiltyBeatz & Dixie)
25. "Scar" (
070 Shake and
Jessie Reyez ) (produced with Beyoncé, Tim Suby, Hamelin,
Ari PenSmith , Dixie &
Mike Dean )
Burna Boy -
African Giant
Mark Ronson - Don't Leave Me Lonely (featuring
Yebba )
01. "Don't Leave Me Lonely" (featuring
Yebba )
WSTRN - WSTRN Season, Vol. 2
14. "Switch It Up" (produced with AoD & PRGRSHN)
Snoh Aalegra - Situationship - Single
Odunsi (The Engine) - Better Days / Wetin Dey - Single
00. "Better Days" (featuring Wani)
Justine Skye - Bare With Me
02. "Secrets"
03. "Bulletproof"
05. "When You're Ready"
Wretch 32 - 10/10 - Single
00. "10/10" (featuring
Giggs )
Krept and Konan - G Love - Single
00. "G Love" (featuring Wizkid)
Doja Cat -
Hot Pink
08. "Addiction" (produced with Ari PenSmith)
Jaz Karis - Summer Stories
03. "Bad Memories"
03. "Come Around"
04. "Owe You"
06. "Unwritten Rules"
Davido -
A Good Time
Skylar Stecker - Redemption
2020
Starboy -
Soundman Vol. 1
01. "Jam" (Wizkid featuring Chronixx)
Skip Marley - Slow Down (P2J Remix) - Single
00. "Slow Down (P2J Remix)" (featuring
H.E.R. )
Manny Norté - 4AM - Single
Lilah - Atlantis
01. "Atlantis"
03. "Summer Nights Fling"
04. "Oxymoron"
05. "Tired"
06. "Euphoria"
07. "Lilah's Lullaby"
Wretch 32 - Upon Reflection
04. "10/10" (featuring
Giggs )
05. "Burn" (featuring
Ghetts & Talay Riley)
Young T & Bugsey - Plead the 5th
Haley Cassidy - Stripped
03. "Beyond the Sun"
04. "Foolish"
07. "Life After You"
09. "So Gone (Interlude)"
10. "Still Stay" (featuring Tiggs Da Author)
11. "Why Didn't You Call?"
Aminé -
Limbo
Burna Boy -
Twice as Tall
Tiwa Savage - Celia
Alicia Keys -
Alicia
Gorillaz -
Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez
Wizkid -
Made in Lagos
01. "Reckless"
02. "Ginger" (featuring Burna Boy) (produced with
Kel-P )
03. "Longtime" (featuring Skepta) (produced with
Sarz )
04. "Mighty Wine"
05. "Blessed" (featuring
Damian Marley )
06. "Smile" (featuring
H.E.R. )
07. "Piece of Me" (featuring
Ella Mai )
08. "No Stress"
10. "Sweet One"
11. "Essence" (featuring
Tems ) (produced with
Legendury Beatz )
14. "Grace"
16. "Mood" (featuring Buju)
17. "Steady"
18. "Essence (Remix)" (featuring
Justin Bieber & Tems)
Griff - Say It Again - Single
Jessie Reyez - Before Love Came To Kill Us
Angel - Blessings (Remix)
2021
Dave - Titanium & Mercury - Single
Sinéad Harnett - Ready Is Always Too Late
Snoh Aalegra -
Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies
14. "Dying 4 Your Love" (produced with Marco Bernadis, Malik Venner & Jack Nichols-Marcy)
Dave -
We're All Alone in This Together
06. "System" (featuring Wizkid) (produced with Kyle Evans,
Jae5 & Joe Reeves)
07. "Lazarus" (featuring Boj) (produced with Jae5 & Joe Reeves)
10. "Twenty to One" (produced with Dave & Kyle Evans)
Not3s - 3 Th3 Album
WSTRN - Wonder Woman - Single
Tion Wayne - Green with Envy
07. "West End" (featuring
D-Block Europe )
12. "Realest One"
13. "Spend a Bag" (featuring 6lack)
15. "Homecoming"
Tamera - Afrodite
01. "Wickedest"
02. "New Hobby"
03. "Strong For Me"
04. "Angel Dust"
05. "Good Love" (featuring
Tay Iwar )
Pa Salieu - Afrikan Rebel
01. "Shining" (featuring Tay Iwar &
Zlatan )
Burna Boy - B.D'or featuring
Wizkid - Single
01. "B.D'or" (featuring
Wizkid )
Zhavia Ward - Big Girl$ Don't Cry - Single
01. "Big Girl$ Don't Cry"
2022
FKA Twigs -
Caprisongs
Young T & Bugsey - Truth Be Told
02. "Big Bidness"
04. "Caliente" (featuring
Aitch )
09. "Nice" (featuring
Blxst )
10. "Roberto C" (featuring
Unknown T )
11. "Glitter Ain't Gold"
Ella Mai -
Heart on My Sleeve
"Fallen Angel" (produced with Meko yohannes, Jahaan Sweet, Gaetan Judd,
Mustard & Ari PenSmith)
Burna Boy -
Love, Damini
02. "Science"
06. "Whiskey"
10. "Dirty Secrets"
12. "For My Hand" (featuring
Ed Sheeran )
Omah Lay -
Boy Alone
02. "i"
13. "tell everybody" (featuring Tay Iwar)
Beyoncé -
Renaissance
Aitch -
Close to Home
Santigold -
Spirituals
CKay -
Sad Romance
02. "Mmadu" (produced with Ckay)
M.I.A. -
MATA
02. "Zoo Girl" (produced with Ckay)
A Boogie wit da Hoodie -
Me vs. Myself
03. "Take Shots" (featuring Tory Lanez)
Wizkid -
More Love, Less Ego
01. "Money & Love"
03. "Bad to Me"
04. "2 Sugar" (featuring
Ayra Starr )
05. "Everyday"
06. "Slip n Slide" (featuring
Skillibeng &
Shenseea )
07. "Deep"
08. "Flower Pads"
09. "Wow" (featuring
Skepta &
Naira Marley )
11. "Plenty Loving"
13. "Frames (Who's Gonna Know)"
Stormzy -
This Is What I Mean
02. "This Is What I Mean" (featuring
Black Sherif ,
Amaarae &
Ms Banks )
05. "Need You" (featuring tendai & Ayra Starr)
06. "Hide & Seek"
10. "Bad Blood" (featuring
NAO )
11. "I Got My Smile Back" (featuring
India.Arie )
2023
Kali Uchis -
Red Moon in Venus
Chlöe -
In Pieces
Jorja Smith - falling or flying
Tay Iwar - Summer Breeze
Masego - Masego
10. "Say You Want Me" (produced with E.Y. & Dan Foster)
J Hus -
Beautiful and Brutal Yard
02. "Massacre"
03. "Who Told You" (featuring
Drake )
04. "Militerian" (featuring Naira Marley)
19. "Playing Chess"
Lil Tjay - 222
Tori Kelly –
Tori
2024
Kali Uchis -
ORQUÍDEAS
02. "Me Pongo Loca"
05. "Diosa"
Tyla -
TYLA
Awards and nominations
References
^ Augustine, Camille (27 August 2019).
"Views From The Studio: Producer P2J Discusses 'The Lion King: The Gift' Album" . Vibe .
^
"Stories of All the Best Channel U Memories from Its 15 Years On-Air" . Vice .
^
"Credits - P2J" . AllMusic .
^
"Chris Brown 'Heartbreak On A Full Moon' Album Track List Revealed Feat. 45 Songs" . HipHop n More . 14 October 2017.
^
a
b High, Kemet.
"How Afrobeats Is Influencing American Pop Music, According to Producer P2J" . Complex .
^ Alake, Motolani (25 November 2019).
"Grammy 2020: Here are the 11 Nigerians nominated" . Pulse .
^
"Here Are The Producers Of The Grammy Award Winning Global Music Album – "Twice As Tall" by Burna Boy" . 9jabreed .
^
"Grammy Contenders 2022: Wizkid on His Breakthrough Year and the Blessing of 'Made in Lagos' " . Rolling Stone .
^
"Wizkid: My producer was sceptical about success of 'Made in Lagos' " . The Cable . 13 December 2021.
^
"Wizkid's 'Essence' Enters Hot 100" .
Billboard . 15 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021 .
^
"New Around the World: Wizkid & Tems Spotlight Nigeria on Global 200" .
Billboard . 22 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021 .
^
"FKA twigs Announces New Mixtape Caprisongs" . Pitchfork . 6 January 2022.
^
"Young T & Bugsey Announce 'Truth Be Told' Project With Chronixx Collab "Blessings" " . Complex .
^
" 'You Don't Need No Other Body': An Oral History of Wizkid's 'Essence' " . Rolling Stone .
^
"Views from the Studio: Producer P2J Discusses 'The Lion King: The Gift' Album" . 27 August 2019.
^
"Grammy Award Results for Beyoncé Giselle Knowles" .
The Recording Academy .
Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2020 .
^ Shafer, Ellise (14 March 2021).
"Grammys 2021 Winners List" .
Variety . Retrieved 14 March 2021 .
^
"Rolling Stone Names Wizkid, Tems and P2J's "Essence" Top Song of 2021" . 6 December 2021.
^
"Jorja Smith, Central Cee & More Take Home 2021 GRM Rated Awards: Full Winners List" . Billboard .
^
"Wizkid, Burnaboy, oda Nigerian artists wey dey 2022 Grammy nomination" . BBC News Pidgin . Retrieved 2021-11-23 .
^
"The A&R Awards 2023: The finalists revealed!" . Music Business Worldwide . 26 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023 .
^
"The A&R Awards 2023: All The Winners" . Music Business Worldwide . 8 November 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2024 .