Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins was born into a religious family in Pleasantville, New Jersey in 1977. His religious upbringing meant he wasn’t allowed to listen to mainstream music at a young age, but classical training on the piano from the age of five allowed Rodney to initiate a lifelong bond with the creation of music.

A mentorship with producer Teddy Riley (a founding member of Blackstreet and the Godfather of New Jack Swing) gave Darkchild a connection to early R&B that is still evident in his production style today. Jerkins’ work with Mary J. Blige, and especially his work on Brandy’s first record, brought him to the forefront of modern R&B production, and gave him the opportunity to work with the most definitive R&B and pop acts of the late 90s and early 00s. Destiny’s Child, Toni Braxton, Britney Spears, and even the King of Pop, Michael Jackson — these artists all sought Darkchild’s signature sound, blending synthetic strings and drum machines with intricate vocal layering.

Darkchild maintains an iconic presence in the world of pop production today, and upcoming projects with Justin Bieber and Nelly Furtado show that Darkchild’s legacy is still evolving, and pushing the boundaries of contemporary pop music. Here are some of Darkchild’s career highlights thus far.