Kip Collins

Alarza Lee Collins Jr. (1969 – 2006), known to many as “Kip,” was born on April 26, 1969 in Queens, New York. Kip Collins was an American record producer and composer who had collaborated with a number of major label music artists in the 1990’s and early 2000’s, and scored the soundtrack for “MTV’s Carmen: A Hip Hopera” (2001) as well as music for UPN’s hit comedy series “Half & Half” (2002-2006) amongst others. He was the president and founder of both ALC Productions and Blackdraft Entertainment.

Biography

Early Years

Kip Collins was a very precocious toddler and his musical abilities were apparent at an early age. At the age of 18 months, Kip was able to emulate a member of his father’s band and began playing the drums. When Kip was 4 years old his father (Alarza Lee Collins Sr.) decided to make the band a family affair and allowed his son to play with him. At age 14, his parents brought him to the Harlem School for the Arts for a year long program that Kip finished within three months. A year later, Kip completed the piano program at the Harlem school in the same amount of time. He sustained his love of music in his teenage years both as a member of the Maria Regina High School symphony orchestra, as well as a saxophone player for the Hempstead High School marching band. From 1987 – 1992 Kip attended Morgan State University. At this time, when most college students are waiting anxiously for money from their parents Kip refused any financial help. During his collegiate years, Kip earned money by giving haircuts and provided rides to other Morgan State students back to their homes in New Jersey and New York. At school, his musical career flourished as he continued playing the saxophone with the Morgan State marching band. Finally in 1992 Kip completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Television Broadcasting.

Professional Path

In the early 90’s, Kip Collins started on his path of professional musical collaborations by taking on Keith and Hank Shockley of the Bomb Squad as one of his first clients. In 1993 Kip collaborated with R&B singer Aaron Hall on his album “The Truth,” and then in 1995, he scored his first major hit with singer Monifah on her song “I Miss You”. Kip then went on to work with artists such as Heavy D and contribute songs to the “Living Single” Soundtrack. He was also the music director for the short lived Warner Brothers’ sitcom “Built to Last” in 1997.

In 2000, Kip Collins wrote, produced, and played instruments for Faith Evans and Jennifer Lopez. One of his biggest musical accomplishments blossomed when he was given the opportunity to create the musical score and produce numerous songs for MTV’s “Carmen: A Hip Hopera.” Later on in 2002, Kip became the musical director and composer for UPN’s TV series “Half & Half.”

Death

In 2006, while riding on his 2000 Yamaha motorcycle on Uniondale Avenue in Long Island, New York, Collins died in a collision with a car that was backing out of its driveway.

Discography

Year	Album	Song - Artist	Role
1993	The Truth	Aaron Hall	Programming
	Joy and Blues	Head Top – Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers	Keyboards/Drum Programming
1994	Time To Taste Bass	Dancin’ Dirty – Dirty Curt	Producer/Engineer/Mixing
	Debelah	Debelah Morgan	Producer
1996	Moods…Moments	You Don’t Have To Love Me; I Miss You (Come Back Home); Nobody’s Body; It’s Alright –Monifah	Producer/Keyboards
1997	Living Single: Music from & Inspired by the Hit TV Show	Don’t Waste My Time – Esaga (featuring Pamela Bryant), Gamin – Deborah Williams, I Commit To You – Chris Gaddy & Pamela Bryant	Mixing/Guitar/Programming/Producer/Engineer
1999	The Notorious K.I.M.	Hold On –Lil’ Kim	Keyboards
2000	Love Crimes	Are You Fuckin’ Around – Ruff Endz	Producer
2001	MTV’s Carmen: A Hip Hopera	The Introduction – Da Brat, What We Gonna Do – Rah Digga, If Looks Could Kill (You Would Be Dead) – Beyonce ft. Mos Def, Sam Sarpong, Cards Never Lie – Beyonce ft. Wyclef Jean, Rah Digga, The Last Great Seduction – Beyonce ft. Mehki Phifer, B.L.A.Z.E – Rah Digga ft. Casey Lee, Joy Bryant, Black & Blue – Mos Def ft. Mekhi Phifer, Stop That! – Beyonce ft. Mekhi Phifer, Blaze Finale – Casey Lee, Immortal Beloved (Outro) – Da Brat	Producer/ Engineer
	J.Lo	Come Over - Jennifer Lopez	Instrumentation/Producer
	Faithfully	Brand New Man - Faith Evans	Producer
	Kamnesia	Benefits - Kam	Producer
2006	Uncovered/Covered	Just A Dream - Kenny Lattimore/Chante Moore	Producer/Engineer

References

"Kip Collins" Website: http://www.discogs.com/artist/Kip+Collins

Valenti, John. "Motorcycle crash kills man in Uniondale" Newsday, August 31, 2006