Production

Making the music to make you jump and get funky

While Rich Medina is renowned as a World Class DJ with a vast musical vocabulary and an unrivaled record collection, some of the finest gems in his repertoire lie within his own studio productions. With a carefully tuned ear, Medina began his production career in 1999 when Philly soulstress Jill Scott approached Rich Medina to produce a track on what would become her platinum-selling debut, "Who Is Jill Scott? Words & Sounds Vol.1". Reluctant at first, Rich recalled, "I told her I was a DJ, not a producer". However, Scott, a peer of Medina's from his poetic roots in Philly, simply laughed and told him he had two months to become one. "With all the records you own, it shouldn't be hard," she joked. Shortly after meeting Scott's challenge with "Watchin' Me", production quickly became an involved passion for Medina, a brand new perspective to apply to his love of music and perspective as an artist.

In the decade since, Rich has worked with with a wide variety of artists spanning a vast array of genres for a massive collective of labels. After collaborating with KemeticJust for "Minstrel Speak" (Diaspora/2002), DJ Spinna on "Reality" (Wonderwax/2002), King Britt on "Adventures in Lo-Fi" (BBE/2003), as well as Phil Asher aka Restless Soul on "Chaos In The Boardroom" (Estereo/2003) and Nathan Haines for his album "Squire For Hire" (Chilli Funk/2004), Medina was finally ready to release his very own debut LP in 2005, "Connecting the Dots" (Kindred Spirits USA/2005). The album is an innovative blend of soul, dance, hip hop, future funk and spoken word with Rich's production, songwriting and arrangements backing the superb guest vocals by Martin Luther, Jneiro Jarel, Michelle Shaprow, Ivana Santilli, John Doe, Alma Horton, Siji, Justice, Maya Azucena, Ginelle Summer, Sy Smith, DeLouie Avant Jr. as well as his own vocal contributions.

These days, Medina is producing a bossa nova-inspired pop album by Ranjit, which promises to be an inspired turn from what people may expect from him. He is also in the process of remixing several tracks from UK artist Rox's latest album "Memoirs" on Rough Trade/Beggars Group. In the past decade, Rich's relationship with The Marksmen and Mark Hines has been an incredible space of growth for him as a producer as well, with AfroStreet remixes and collaborations, branded TV show and commercial beat placement, and other diversified collaborative efforts musical and otherwise. The Marksmen team has placed music in:

House Of Glam (Oxygen Network) 2010/11

Coca Cola Urban Ad Campaign 2007

Verizon

Heineken

Target

BET News(BET)

Rap City (BET)

The Chop Up (BET)

VH1 - see marksmen.net

MTV - see marksmen.net

 

Rich also holds writing, production and voiceover performance credits on EA Sports NBAStreet V3, EA Sports NBA Street Homecourt, and song placement for Holdin' Up (Connecting The Dots LP/Kindred Spirits) on Saints Row (Rockstar Games), Philadelphia School Board Anti Gun Campaign Radio Ads, SAT Exam Ad Campaign, Temple University Radio Ad Campaign, and Nike City Attack Print & Radio Ad Campaign.

 

ARTISTS RICH HAS PRODUCED, RECORDED WITH AND/OR REMIXED

Jill Scott

Platinum Pied Pipers Featuring J Dilla

Madlib

Scratch (The Roots)

Phil Asher

Antibalas

Martin Luther

DJ Spinna

King Britt

Bobbito Garcia

J-Boogie's Dubtronic Science

Weldon Irvine

Don Blackmon

KemeticJust

Martin Brew

Shukie

Vanessa Freeman

Ivana Santilli

Nathan Haines

Alma Horton

John Doe

IG Culture

Heavy

Kid Sublime

Bayaka

Okada Taxi

Mitsu The Beats

Travis Blaque

Ty

Sy Smith

Jafar & Touch

Chico Mann

Goapele

Alex From Tokyo

CCP Ink

Philly's Finest (Maylay Sparks, Chief Kamachi, etc)

Outtaspace

Nu Clarity

Yukihiro Fukitomi

Forss

Steal Vybe

The Marksmen

AfroStreet

HVW8

Gloria Ryann

Maya Azucena

Outta Space

Ursula Rucker

Dynas

Capital A

 

LABELS FEATURING RICH'S PRODUCTIONS & REMIXES

Kindred Spirits/ Kindred Spirits USA

Ubiquity

Rush Hour

Rough Trade

Five Six Media

WonderWax

RopeADope

Blue Note

Om

Invincus

Diaspora

Timeless Interpretations/Dopeness Galore

Unique

Tru Thoughts

Nodlew Records

BBE

Big Dada

Jazzy Sport

File Records

Cosmic Lounge

Fat City

Serenity

Sony

Hidden Beach

SpaceKat

Restless Soul

Phlash & Friends

Studio Distribution

ChilliFunk

Goya Distribution

Fat Beats

TRC Distribution

Dance Traxx Records

DubSpot

Kindred Spirits

Kindred Spirits USA

FatBeats

Fondle Em

Rush Hour

Space Kat

Sonar Kollektiv