"Da 5ifeLementâ€, born Chris Colbey in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, NY on July 16th, 1974, is a Hip-hop & RnB Producer/Songwriter who has been producing & writing songs for the past 2yrs. Da 5if first got his start back in 91’ as a writer for a group of friends who did local talent showcases in the neighborhood. But it wasn’t until 92’ when one of his biggest influences Pete Rock first dropped “Mecca & the Soul Brother†that solidified him as becoming a Hip-hop producer. “Yeah when I first heard my dude Pete Rock bangin them jointz outta dat MPC…I was like yo, that’s’ what I wanna doâ€. Still writing for the newly formed rap group, Da 5if (who went by the name “Da Specialistâ€) was inspired by the likes of Pete Rock & Dr. Dre & started to focus on his production skills & began producing for the group as well.
Now some 16 years later… Da 5ifelement is ready to put his signature on the game. “I am all grown up now I got a wife & son at home to take care of, so my attitude about becoming successful is a lot greater then before.†Da 5ifelement also had a brief but productive stay in the ATL, taking a 6 week course in production & engineering & having the opportunity to watch India Arie’s bass player work in the studio. “Taking that engineering course & getting the opportunity to watch India’s bass player “Khari Simmons†go to work with some of Atlanta’s talented artist, was a great learning experience for me, it allowed me to learn how to go from just making a beat to actually producing and arranging a song.†Currently residing in PA to be closer to both his & Hip Hop’s birth place (NY), Da 5ifelement has setup his studio and already begun to assemble a powerhouse team of talented writers & musicians which will undoubtedly make an impact in the music industry. Although he has no “Major†placement credit (as of yet), 5if has definitely positioned himself to reach that goal in the VERY near future. “Yeah I was out in L.A in Feb. of 08’ for the Dynamic Producer Conference(which I am a member of also) during “Grammy Weekendâ€, and a track that I submitted for one of the conference showcases was picked by a VERY talented female RnB artist outta the Bay Area named Jimmie Reign… Jimmie wrote an amazing song and performed it at the conference...the song was so great that we almost got it placed on Brandy’s upcoming album that’s tentatively set to release in November of 08’.†Along with going to different showcases, and shopping tracks to almost every “Major†Artist in the “Industryâ€, Da 5ifelement is currently working with Jimmie Reign and her team MPrint Music on her debut Solo Album set to release later this year and will be going into the studio with Jimi Kendrix(50cents "I like da way she do it") to work on some future projects.5if’s weapons of mass destruction: Mpk49, a Yamaha SY85 synthesizer, a Numark TT1600 turntable with over 500 classic records and his DAW consist of: Reason4(sequencer) CubaseSX3(Mixing) & Nuendo3(Mastering) along with Recycle2.0
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