Static Major

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Stephen "Static Major" Garrett (November 11, 1974 – February 25, 2008) was an American R&B singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer from Louisville, Kentucky. A member of the R&B trio Playa, Static also worked extensively as a songwriter for artists such as Aaliyah, Ginuwine, Destiny's Child, Brandy, and JoJo.

Biography

Stephen Ellis Garrett was born and raised in Louisville in a family of musicians. Growing up, he sang in the choir at his church, where his sister played piano, his mother was the musical director, and his father was the pastor.

As a member of Playa, Static began his musical career under the tutelage of Jodeci's DeVante Swing, and formed kinships with fellow members of DeVante's Swing Mob such as Missy Elliott, Timbaland, and Ginuwine. After the Swing Mob members parted company with DeVante, Static and the rest of Playa worked extensively as songwriters, co-producers, and background singers for their colleagues. Static was one of Ginuwine's main songwriters, penning the lyrics to Timbaland-produced Ginuwine hits such as "Pony", "What's So Different", and "So Anxious".

Static also wrote much of Playa's material when the group signed with Def Jam Records in the mid-1990s, including Playa's 1998 hit single "Cheers 2 U" from the album of the same name. Also in 1998, Static wrote the lyrics for Aaliyah's hit single "Are You That Somebody". Following the success of "Are You That Somebody", Static became Aaliyah's main lyricist, and wrote many singles and album tracks for the singer. Static's writing credits for Aaliyah included "Come Back in One Piece", "We Need a Resolution", "Rock the Boat", "More Than a Woman", and the number-one single "Try Again" from the 2000 film Romeo Must Die. During this period, Static also wrote for Nicole Wray ("Eyes Better Not Wander") and Destiny's Child ("Say My Name (Timbaland's Remix)") as well.

Static went on to write for other artists; his later co-writing credits included Truth Hurts' "Addictive" and Brandy's "Come as You Are". Aside from his longtime association with Timbaland, Static also collaborated with producers Scott Storch, Dr. Dre, and Jazze Pha. In the mid-2000s, Static worked with R&B group Pretty Ricky, R&B singer Tank, and appeared on David Banner's 2004 single "Crank It Up".

Static later signed to Blackground Records, label home of Aaliyah and Tank, as a solo artist. He died on February 25, 2008 in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. The cause of death was due to complications during surgery at Baptist East Hospital. It was originally suspected to be due to brain aneurism.

He was last featured on Lil Wayne's song "Lollipop" and video which was shot in Las Vegas, the most recent single off Tha Carter III, before his death.

Solo discography

Albums

• 2008: Suppertime

Singles

• 2005: "Till The Wheels Fall Off"
• 2006: "Bus Stop Breezy" (featuring Goodfella & Native)
• 2008: "I Got My" (featuring Lil' Wayne)

Songwriting/production highlights

• 1996: "Pony" for Ginuwine
• 1997: "I Need To Be"-Mase featuring Monifah
• 1997: "Luv 2 Luv U (Remix)"-Timbaland & Magoo featuring Aaliyah and Missy Elliott
• 1997: "Luv 2 Luv U (Original Version)-Timbaland & Magoo
• 1997: "Smoke In Da Air"-Timbaland & Magoo featuring Playa
• 1998: "Intro (Interlude)-Playa Album
• 1998: "All The Way"-Playa
• 1998: "Don't Stop The Music-Playa
• 1998: "Derby City/Interlude"-Playa
• 1998: "Together"-Playa
• 1998: "Top of the World"-Playa
• 1998: "I'll B 2 C U"-Playa
• 1998: "Push"-Playa
• 1998: "Cheers 2 U" for Playa
• 1998: "Are You That Somebody?" for Aaliyah
• 1998: "Same Ol' G"-Ginuwine
• 1999: "Eyes Better Not Wander" for Nicole Wray
• 1999: "So Anxious"-Ginuwine
• 1999: "Final Warning/Interlude"-Ginuwine featuring Aaliyah and Static
• 1999: "No. 1 Fan"-Ginuwine
• 2000: "Say My Name (Timbaland's Remix)" for Destiny's Child
• 2000: "Try Again" for Aaliyah
• 2000: "Come Back In One Piece" for Aaliyah (featuring DMX)
• 2000: "We At It Again"-Timbaland & Magoo featuring Static
• 2000: "Simply Irresistible"-Ginuwine
• 2001: "We Need a Resolution" for Aaliyah
• 2001: "More Than a Woman" for Aaliyah
• 2001: "Rock The Boat"-Aaliyah
• 2001: "Loose Rap"-Aaliyah
• 2001: "Never No More"-Aaliyah
• 2001: "Extra Smooth"-Aaliyah
• 2001: "Read Between The Lines"-Aaliyah
• 2001: "I Refuse"-Aaliyah
• 2001: "It's Whatever"-Aaliyah
• 2001: "I Am Music"-Timbaland featuring Aaliyah and Static
• 2002: "Addictive" for Truth Hurts
• 2002: "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" for Aaliyah
• 2002: "Erica Kane" for Aaliyah
• 2004: "Come as You Are" for Brandy
• 2005: "Juicy" for Pretty Ricky
• 2005: "Can I Take U Home" for Jamie Foxx
• 2006: "Tell Me" for Diddy (featuring Christina Aguilera)
• 2007: "On the Hotline" for Pretty Ricky
• 2007: "Late Night Special"-Pretty Ricky
• 2007: "Leave It All Up To Me"-Pretty Ricky
• 2007: "Peer Pressure"-Pretty Ricky
• 2007: "Paradise"-TQ
• 2007: "Make It Like It Was"-Pretty Ricky

Guest appearances

• 1995: "Gin & Juice" (Devante featuring Static Major)
• 1995: "True O.G." (Mr. Dalvin & Static Major)
• 1998: "To My" (Timbaland featuring Nas, Mad Skillz & Static)
• 1998: "What Cha Talkin' Bout" (Timbaland featuring Magoo, Lil' Man & Static)
• 2000: "We At It Again" (Timbaland & Magoo featuring Lil' Man & Static Major)
• 2000: "Change the Game" (Jay-Z featuring Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel, & Static Major)
• 2001: "Loose Rap" (Aaliyah featuring Static Major)
• 2001: "Indian Carpet" (Timbaland & Magoo featuring Static Major)
• 2001: "I Am Music" (Timbaland & Magoo featuring Aaliyah & Static Major)
• 2004: "Crank It Up" (David Banner featuring Static Major)
• 2004: "I Came to Bring the Pain" (Lil' Flip featuring Ludacris, Static Major and Titti Boi
• 2007: "Good Weather Music" (T-Hud featuring UGK & Static Major)
• 2008: "Lollipop" (Lil Wayne featuring Static Major)

See also

• Playa

External links

• Steve "Static/Major" Garrett at MySpace