“in the studio writing with @TrickyStewart – last time this happened a song called BABY happened. LEGGO. #believe,” he tweeted. “At the studio writing for my album with @trickystewart and @soundzdope follow them … #BELIEVE.”

As the recording session proceeded, a bit of a Twittermance started between the three fellas. Now that Bieber is 17 and moving out of Tweenville, working with an edgier production team is certainly the way to go to make the transition from cutie pie teen to full-fledged crossover adult sensation.

Thanks to collabos with folks like Chris Brown and Kanye West, Bieber’s been hinting at his more adult side, and while he and Tricky have already turned out tweeny pop gold, the producer also has a history of making edgier tracks. Need some examples? How about Queen Beyonce’s “Single Ladies,” Rihanna’s “Umbrella” and “Hard,” Rick Ross’ “All I Really Want” and Britney Spears’ “Me Against The Music,” to name just a few. Also, Soundz has credits with artists like Flo-Rida and Rihanna.

What will they turn out this time around? Given the trio’s collective chart power and tastemaker status, anything is possible.

Click Here to read this story on MTV.com

With his contribution (“1+1”) to Beyoncé’s chart-topping album 4, and his own record label, Red Zone Records, and facing an imminent launch (with Island Def Jam), life is pretty good for superproducer Christopher “Tricky” Stewart. The man responsible for helping craft hits like Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” and Justin Bieber’s “Baby” called in to BET.com to talk about working with Queen Bey and his buzzworthy new artist Frank Ocean, but he was mum on rumors he was in the running to take L.A. Reid’s old job at Def Jam.

BET.com: People seem to be really embracing 4. How was it working with Beyoncé this time?

Tricky Stewart: Working with Beyoncé is always great because a lot of times when you work with artists you don’t know, they have other things going on or they have their attention on this, that or the other thing. But when you’re working with B, she’s always all about the music, hyper-focused, never rushed—everyone is just committed to finding that excellence. With an artist of that caliber, its great knowing that you have someone who’s really gonna rock with you.

BET.com: Besides “1+1,” what’s your favorite song on the album?

TS: Probably “Love on Top.” And “Party.” I love those two joints. Are you insinuating that I would have selected my own song? [laughs].

BET.com: What’s going on with The-Dream’s album? Is it finished?

TS: The-Dream’s album is sounding really good. He’s producing this one himself with a couple of other producers, but we were hanging out last Saturday and he played me some tracks from it. We have one song on there that we did together called “Rock Your Body,” which is real crazy. But everything I’ve heard is sounding really nice.

BET.com: How has it been working with Frank Ocean since the Odd Future explosion?

TS: Frank is just so creative, man. It’s very refreshing to be able to work with an artist like that. You know, when you’re breaking an artist it can be key for them to achieve their own sort of notoriety. At this point with Frank, he’s earned a tremendous amount of respect. He doesn’t have to play anyone else’s game anymore. What he did on Nostalgia, Ultra, which he put out as a mixtape, was phenomenal. So I think [the exposure] has really enabled him to strengthen his identity.

BET.com: Tell me about your new artist Ulrika. When will we hear from her in the States?

TS: Well we have three artists at Red Zone that we’re hoping to put out from 2011-2012. The first is obviously Frank Ocean, and then Ulrika, and then we have a new artist called Bryan J, who’s touring the Southeast right now. We’re gonna put out a mixtape from him soon. Mixtapes are the way to go now.

BET.com: What did you think of The Weeknd’s last project?

TS: I liked it. I like the fusion of sounds that are a little more artsy and eclectic. I’m interested that he’s making music that seems not to be driven by radio at all. I’m enjoying it a lot.

BET.com: Anyone else who you’ve been enjoying listening to?

TS: Beyoncé and Adele. And Wiz Khalifa. I’m late to that party, but his stuff is really cool. And I’ve been digging Chris Brown a lot, too. I think he made an awesome album. It’s a really, really awesome album.

BET.com: And what’s on deck? What other artists will we see you working with in the near future?

TS: I’m working with Mary J. Blige, Kelly Rowland, Melanie Fiona. I’m also working on a film called The Lorax that I did the score for with a composer named John Powell, so there’s a lot of stuff. We’ve just been having a ton of fun making some really great music, which is a blessing.

BET.com: Since L.A. Reid left Def Jam, there’s been a big vacancy at the company. Your name has come up as a possible replacement. Have you been in talks with anyone about that?

TS: No. No comment on that.

BET.com: Will you be tuning in to watch him on X-Factor?

TS: No doubt. L.A. Reid is a great friend of mine and I’m really close to some of the people on that panel, so I’ll definitely be supporting my friends.

Click Here to read this story on BET.com

” ‘Rolling in the Deep’ from Adele is my favorite thing out right now,” Stewart recently told Pop & Hiss. “I skip around a lot. I’m listening to Chris Brown a lot, Wiz Khalifa, Frank Ocean” (Stewart, it should be noted, produced Ocean’s first single, “Novacane”).

Stewart said he’s less attracted to “producer-driven tracks” as a music listener, drawn instead to the “connection between the artist and the music, and the realness of the story behind it.” When asked what someone would find if they scrolled through his iPod, Stewart had no idea — not that it was a lapse in memory.

“I have people that I respect their opinion make me iPods. I have a couple of different ones from people of music they think I should hear,” Stewart said, including his manager, close friend and assistant engineer who have pushed music on him. “I haven’t started listening to them yet.”

Stewart recently logged studio time with Kelly Rowland, Mary J. Blige, Leona Lewis, Ne-Yo, Drake, Jesse McCartney, Bieber and has two songs on Beyoncé’s latest album, “4,” including promotional single “1+1.”

Click Here to read the article on LATimes.com

“I’m trying to fill in the blanks on my discography between what David Foster and Quincy Jones have done,” Stewart says from his RedZone Entertainment studio in Atlanta, where he frequently works with production partner the-Dream. “I want to broaden our platform, show another side of what we do here.”

Stewart’s association with Sony Pictures’ “Burlesque”-which stars Cher and Christina Aguilera and bows nationwide Nov. 24-stems from his work on Aguilera’s 2010 album, “Bionic.” He calls Aguilera’s invitation to collaborate on the soundtrack a “crazy opportunity different from anything I’ve ever done before.” Up until that point, Stewart’s film résumé consisted primarily of song credits in various movies, including “Sex and the City 2″ and “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.” Both of those films featured Beyoncé’s smash “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” which Stewart and the-Dream-produced.

In addition to “Show Me How You Burlesque” and “Express,” two songs he co-wrote with Aguilera, Stewart produced three remakes on the soundtrack. Two of those, sung by Aguilera, are Etta James’ “Something’s Got a Hold on Me” and “Tough Lover.” Other producers on the soundtrack include Linda Perry and Matt Serletic. Among other songwriters lending their talents are Diane Warren, Claude Kelly and Sia. Cher sings the Warren-penned/Serletic-produced ballad “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me.”

A phone call in mid-October found Stewart and the-Dream switching gears to produce Simpson’s “Happy Christmas” album, which will also be sold by Macy’s, where Simpson’s line of shoes, clothing and accessories is available. The set marks two more firsts for Stewart: his first holiday album and his first time working with Simpson, whom he calls a “real professional who knows what she wants.” (This is Simpson’s second holiday collection. Her first, “Rejoice: The Christmas Album,” came out in 2004.)

According to Stewart, “Happy Christmas” features two original songs: “My Only Wish,” penned by him and RedZone colleague Aaron Pearce, and “Kiss Me for Christmas,” written by Stewart and the-Dream. Rounding out the set are various holiday classics, including duets with Willie Nelson (“Merry Christmas Baby”) and a U.S. marine (“I’ll Be Home for Christmas”).

In addition to the forthcoming Jackson album, the RedZone stamp will appear on several more projects arriving this year, including new albums by Rihanna, Ciara and T.I. On the 2011 slate are R&B newcomer and RedZone Records’ first artist, Bryan J.

And what about Stewart and the-Dream’s reteaming with Beyoncé on her new album, rumored for early next year? “I can just say,” Stewart says, “that she’s working hard.”

Click Here to read this story on Billboard.com

Thaddis Harrell, Terius Nash and Christopher Stewart accept for Song of the Year at the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards on YouTube

He has been showcasing the alternative pop singer/songwriter to top A&R executives during a series of private sessions that will begin again next week. In addition to working on her debut album, Ulrika is co-writing with Stewart on a project for Jesse McCartney. A native of Stockholm, Sweden, Ulrika relocated to the U.S. after high school graduation and is based in Los Angeles and Atlanta.

CLICK HERE to read the news at billboard.com.

Christopher “Tricky” Stewart built his brand on a few irrefutable tenants — be creative and authentic, and remain classy while doing so.

It’s a formula that has reaped tremendous personal and professional dividends for Tricky during the last decade-plus. Today, the media magnate is an accomplished musician, writer, producer, entrepreneur, leader, husband and father whose work (producer of Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” Beyonce’s “Single Ladies [Put A Ring On It],” Rihanna’s “Hard,” and Fabolous’ “Throw It In The Bag,” among others) has helped define modern music and has helped shape the way people think, dance and feel.

Tricky owns and operates with longtime business partner Monti Olson and brother/manager Mark Stewart various publishing venures including Remarkable Music and 2412 Music Publishing. The trio’s company’s writers have included such hit makers as Grammy-winning songwriter Ester Dean, whose credits include Rihanna’s “Rude Boy” “S&M” and “What’s My Name,” Usher’s “Love Em All” and “Hot Tottie” and Katy Perry’s “Firework” and “Peacock.”

We caught up with Tricky for this exclusive interview:

Akai Professional: Where does the name Tricky come from?

Tricky Stewart: I got the name “Tricky,” from playing football when I was younger, I was hard to tackle. I always wanted a nickname so it stuck.

AP: How long have you been a producer?

TS: I have been a professional producer since 1992, my early credits include production on Chante Moore, Aaron Hall, and Immature.

AP: How did you get your start or big break?

TS: I got my big break from my older brother, Laney Stewart, who at the time was a producer and had great relationship with the late great Louil Silas. Louil Silas always prided himself in being in business with the newest hottest, and at one time I qualified as being just that, and the rest is history.

AP: What got you started producing?

TS: Music has always been a big part of my family. Everyone is involved in the arts in one way or another, whether it was in church, or just for fun playing in bands. My most direct inspiration came from my brother Laney, who started to make records first-he was my first musical mentor.

AP: What Akai Pro gear do you use?

TS: I use a lot of Akai Pro gear. I have an MPK49, MPC3000, MPC2000xl, MPC2500 and an MPC5000. I can’t get enough.

AP: How long have you been using an MPC and which one was your first?

TS: I started using since I started producing in 1992, the first one was the MPC 60.

AP: What sets the MPC apart from its competitors?

TS: I don’t know, do you have competitors? I’ve never had another drum machine.

AP: Do you have a favorite feature on the MPC that you just can’t do without?

TS: 16 level tuning gives me the ability to control my 808′s and my different pitches in a way that I can’t do without.

AP: Who are your favorite artists and producers today?

TS: I respect a lot of artists, but right now my favorites are Beyonce, Jay-Z, Adele, and Rihanna.

AP: Tell us about the music scene in Atlanta. How does it differ from other places?

TS: Atlanta is rich in talent and has a “sound”, a “swag”, and a culture that has to be lived up to in a way. For instance, when you are from Atlanta, your record has to be hot in Atlanta first before the world can accept it.

AP: What’s the funniest thing to happen at one of your events?

TS: During my 2011 Grammy party, I hired Jay-Z’s drummer, Tony Royster Jr. and we realized we forgot to order microphones to mic the drums until an hour before we opened the doors to 1200 guests.

AP: What do you do outside of producing?

TS: Outside of producing, I love spending time with my family as well as going to concerts and sporting events. I am an avid sports fan and I enjoy listening to other people’s music. I also enjoy throwing exclusive, high-end events for my friends and family periodically throughout the year.

AP: When the party is done, how do you chill out?

TS: I like to take trips when I can, truthfully with my schedule that isn’t often. I find the best way to truly relax is to get away from it all.

AP: Who inspired you when you were learning your craft?

TS: I was inspired by LA Reid, Babyface, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Teddy Riley, and of course who can forget Quincy Jones.

AP: What’s on tap for you in 2011?

TS: 2011 is going to be big. I am launching my record label, RedZone Records. I am working to open my first restaurant, LA Canvas by the end of the year. On the creative side I have the upcoming debut of the highly anticipated album from Frank Ocean. And, of course, I will be setting up to have another monster run of 25 top 5 records over the next 5 years, with a new sound and a new swag.

Tricky answers questions for Grammy.com. Click here to check out the videos.

By Matthew Perpetua
March 14, 2011 12:15 PM ET

Justin Bieber Has Top Concert Film of All Time
Justin Bieber’s Never Say Never has grossed over $70 million in ticket sales, making it the top grossing concert film of all time, just ahead of Miley Cyrus’ Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds. Without adjusting for inflation, it has also pulled in more money than Prince’s Purple Rain. [Popdust]

Foo Fighters Release Covers Album
Foo Fighters will release Medium Rare, a limited edition vinyl album featuring covers of songs by Paul McCartney, Cream, Pink Floyd and Prince on April 16th. This set will be a Record Store Day exclusive and will only be available at record shops. [NME]

Thurston Moore Announces New Album With Beck
Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore will release his third solo album Demolished Thoughts on May 24th. The album, which will be issued by Matador Records, was produced by Beck, and will feature performances by violinist Samara Lubelski, harpist Mary Lattimore, bassist Bram Inscore, and drummer Joey Waronker. [Pitchfork]

Ne-Yo Developing Animated Series
Ne-Yo is developing a new animated series called I Heart Tuesdays with the Cartoon Network. The show is created in honor of the singer’s sister and will be about a 16-year-old girl who is forced to save the world every Tuesday for the rest of her life. [Rap-Up]

Dave Brubek Drummer Joe Morello Dead at 82
Joe Morello, a jazz drummer best known for his work with the Dave Brubek Quartet has died at the age of 82. Morello performed on several of Brubek’s most famous recordings, include “Take Five,” one of the best-selling jazz singles of all time. [BBC]

For more pics:

http://theybf.com/2011/02/12/grammy-fab-tricky-stewart-and-cee-lo-host-hot-parties-with-brandy-faith-eans-and-ciara

http://concreteloop.com/2011/02/party-pics-ciara-parties-w-the-dream-tricky-stewart

http://www.essence.com/entertainment/star_gazing/ciara_tricky_stewart_pre_grammy_parties.php

http://www.kellyrowland.com/kelly-daily/115-tricky-stewart-and-redzone-entertainment-pre-grammy-party.html

http://iluluonline.com/photos-tricky-stewart-and-redzone-entertainment-pre-grammy-party/

http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/tricky-stewart-s-redzone-grammy-party-is-1005033232.story

http://rollingout.com/insiderohome/ro-today/13231-kelly-rowland-celebrates-birthday-at-tricky-stewart-and-red-zones-qplayhouseq-grammy-affair.html

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/EOEg8KXp_aj/Tricky+Stewart+RedZone+Entertainment+Pre+GRAMMY/dJMo3FB_hBi/DJ+Ruckus

*Click image to download*

For more info: www.teambryanj.com

Michael Jackson ‘Michael’
“Keep Your Head Up” Produced by Tricky

Diddy – Dirty Money ‘Last Train to Paris’
“Change” Produced by Tricky and Dream

TI ‘No Mercy’
“No Mercy” feat The-Dream Produced by TheDream and Tricky

Ron Isley ‘Mr. I’
“I Need You” & “If I Lose My Woman” Produced by Tricky

Jessica Simpson “Happy Christmas”

‘Burlesque’ soundtrack with Christina Aguilera

CLICK HERE to read the full article.

CLICK HERE to read the full article on billboard.com