Jamal Fincher Jones (born October 15, 1977 or 1978), known professionally as Polow da Don, is an American record producer and rapper from Atlanta, Georgia. He began his career as a recording artist in the late 1990s, leaving college to pursue a career with the short-lived hip hop group Jim Crow. They signed with Epic Records in 1999 and released two albums—Crow's Nest (1999) and Right Quick (2001)—before being dropped from the label.
Polow da Don | |
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Birth name | Jamal Fincher Jones |
Also known as |
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Born | October 15, 1977 or 1978 (age 45–46) |
Origin | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
Genres | |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1997–present |
Labels | |
Formerly of | Jim Crow |
Although disappointed, Jones formed a Southern hip hop group with Bubba Sparxxx, Sean P, Pastor Troy, G Rock, and Timbaland; however, they split up without any releases.[1] Jones began producing instrumentals in 2001. His first beat tape made its way to Interscope Records founder, Jimmy Iovine, and its contents were ultimately used for the singles "Runaway Love" by Ludacris, "Buttons" by the Pussycat Dolls, and "This Is the Life" by Tru-Life.[2]
Since then, Jones has produced numerous hit singles for various artists throughout the following decade, including "Love In This Club" for Usher (2008), "Glamorous" and "London Bridge" for Fergie (2006), "Anaconda" for Nicki Minaj (2014), "Forever" for Chris Brown (2008), "Baby By Me" for 50 Cent (2009), "Throw Some D's" for Rich Boy (2007), "Promise" for Ciara (2006), and "John" for Lil Wayne (2011), among others. The former three songs peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100, while others each found success on the chart. Also known as a charismatic hype man, Jones' backing vocals can be heard on many of his productions.
Jones is also the founder of the record label Zone 4, which was briefly an imprint of Iovine's Interscope Records label and named after a section in his Atlanta hometown. Established in 2007, the roster included recording artists such as Keri Hilson, Lloyd, Kane Brown, Ayo & Teo, Roscoe Dash, Veronica Vega, Rich Boy, and Ester Dean among others. Outside of music, Jones has ventured into local radio broadcasting, and founded his own line of alcoholic beverages in 2022.[3]
Discography
editSelected production credits
edit- 2004: "Fallen (Zone 4 remix)" (Mýa feat. Chingy)
- 2005: "Pimpin' All Over the World" (Ludacris feat. Bobby Valentino)
- 2005: "Party Starter" (Will Smith)
- 2006: "Promise" (Ciara) (#11 US)
- 2006: "London Bridge" (Fergie) (#1 US)
- 2006: "DJ Play a Love Song" (Jamie Foxx feat. Twista)
- 2006: "Blindfold Me" (Kelis feat. Nas)
- 2006: "Runaway Love" (Ludacris feat. Mary J. Blige) (#2 US)
- 2006: "Buttons" (Pussycat Dolls feat. Snoop Dogg) (#3 US)
- 2007: "Glamorous" (Fergie feat. Ludacris) (#1 US)
- 2007: "Like This" (Kelly Rowland feat. Eve) (#14 US)
- 2007: "Crying Out for Me" (Mario)
- 2007: "Whatever U Like" (Nicole Scherzinger feat. T.I.)
- 2007: "Boy Looka Here" (Rich Boy)
- 2007: "Let's Get This Paper" (Rich Boy)
- 2007: "Throw Some D's" (Rich Boy feat. Polow da Don) (#6 US)
- 2007: "She's a Star" (will.i.am)
- 2007: "Get Buck" (Young Buck)
- 2007: "Lost In Love" (I-15)
- 2008: "Forever" (Chris Brown) (#2 US)
- 2008: "My Heart" (Jennifer Hudson)
- 2008: "Get Your Money Up" (Keri Hilson feat. Keyshia Cole & Trina)
- 2008: "Turnin Me On" (Keri Hilson feat. Lil Wayne) (#15 US)
- 2008: "Make Me Over" (Keyshia Cole)
- 2008: "Hero" (Nas feat. Keri Hilson)
- 2008: "Lie" (Nelly)
- 2008: "One & Only" (Nelly)
- 2008: "Party People" (Nelly feat. Fergie)
- 2008: "Problems" (Nelly)
- 2008: "Angel" (2PM)
- 2008: "Single" (New Kids on the Block feat. Ne-Yo)
- 2008: "Whatcha Think About That" (Pussycat Dolls feat. Missy Elliott)
- 2008: "Love in This Club" (Usher feat. Young Jeezy) (#1 US)
- 2009: "Baby by Me" (50 Cent feat. Ne-Yo)
- 2009: "Never, Ever" (Ciara feat. Young Jeezy)
- 2009: "Outta Here" (Esmée Denters produced with Justin Timberlake)
- 2009: "Drop It Low" (Ester Dean feat. Chris Brown)
- 2009: "Spotlight" (Gucci Mane feat. Usher)
- 2009: "Back to the Crib" (Juelz Santana feat. Chris Brown)
- 2009: "Stronger" (Mary J. Blige)
- 2009: "Patron Tequila" (Paradiso Girls feat. Lil Jon & Eve)
- 2009: "Medicine" (Plies feat. Keri Hilson)
- 2009: "Drop" (Rich Boy)
- 2009: "Back 2U" (2PM)
- 2009: "Yamaha Mama" (Soulja Boy)
- 2009: "All Night Long" (2PM)
- 2009: "Sex Therapy" (Robin Thicke)
- 2009: "Shakin' It 4 Daddy" (Robin Thicke feat. Nicki Minaj)
- 2009: "So Cold" (Chris Brown)
- 2009: "Wait" (Chris Brown feat Trey Songz & Game)
- 2009: "Remember Me" (T.I. feat. Mary J. Blige)
- 2010: "Lil' Freak" (Usher feat. Nicki Minaj)
- 2010: "Not Myself Tonight" (Christina Aguilera)
- 2010: "Woohoo" (Christina Aguilera feat. Nicki Minaj)
- 2010: "I Hate Boys" (Christina Aguilera)
- 2010: "Already Taken" (Trey Songz)
- 2010: "Fireworks" (R. Kelly)
- 2010: "Hot Tottie" (Usher feat. Jay-Z)
- 2010: "Lay It Down" (Lloyd)
- 2010: "Here I Am (Remix)" (Monica feat. Trey Songz)
- 2010: "The Way You Love Me" (Keri Hilson feat. Rick Ross)
- 2010: "In Love With You" (Jared Evan)
- 2010: "Heaven" (El DeBarge) (under the pseudonym Awesome Jones)
- 2010: "Fading" (Rihanna)
- 2010: "Long Gone" (Nelly feat. Plies & Chris Brown)
- 2011: "Cupid" (Lloyd)
- 2011: "Your Love" (Diddy – Dirty Money feat. Trey Songz)
- 2011: "Electricity" (2PM)
- 2011: "Sex Your Body" (Mohombi)
- 2011: "John" (Lil Wayne feat. Rick Ross)
- 2011: "Take It Down Low" (Akon feat. Chris Brown)
- 2011: "Be the One" (Lloyd feat. Trey Songz & Young Jeezy)
- 2011: "My Kinda Girl" (Pitbull feat. Nelly)
- 2011: "Dedication to My Ex (Miss That)" (Lloyd feat. André 3000 & Lil Wayne)
- 2012: "Sweet Love" (Chris Brown)
- 2012: "Without You" (Monica)
- 2012: "Cyeah Cyeah Cyeah Cyeah" (Gucci Mane feat. Chris Brown & Lil Wayne)
- 2012: "Party Ain't Over" (Pitbull feat. Usher & Afrojack)
- 2013: "Ready to Go" (Limp Bizkit feat. Lil Wayne)
- 2013: "Somebody Else" (Mario feat. Nicki Minaj)
- 2013: "Wickedest Style" (Sean Paul feat. Iggy Azalea)
- 2014: "Sex You" (Bando Jonez)
- 2014: "Dynamite" (Afrojack feat. Snoop Dogg)
- 2014: "Anaconda" (Nicki Minaj) (#2 US)
- 2015: "That's How I'm Feelin'" (Ciara feat. Pitbull & Missy Elliott)
- 2015: "Stuck With Me" (Tamia)
- 2015: "Just Right for Me" (Monica feat. Lil Wayne)
- 2015: "Catfish" (Tamar Braxton)
- 2015: "Used to Love You Sober" (Kane Brown)
- 2015: "Code Red" (Monica feat. Missy Elliott & Laiyah)
- 2015: "Last Minute Late Night" (Kane Brown)
- 2016: "Dumb Love" (Akevius feat. Plies)
- 2016: "M.I.L.F. $" (Fergie)
- 2016: "Freedun" (M.I.A. feat. Zayn)
- 2016: "Wet" (Polow da Don feat. Bando Jonez & Saint LaRon)
- 2016: "Pull Up" (Summerella feat. Jacquees)
Personal life
editIn September 2020, U.S. President Donald Trump gave Jones a shout-out at a rally in Atlanta. Jones later substantiated his support for the President with a video posted on Instagram.[4]
Awards
editBroadcasting
editIn 2019, via his company Young Country Holdings, Jones entered the broadcasting industry by purchasing the Nashville-area radio station WYCZ and its FM translator for $100,000. On June 6, 2019, the station launched a new hybrid country, pop, and urban format curated by Jones, YoCo 96.7.[9][10][11]
References
edit- ^ Hope, Clover (June 2007). "I'm Fresh". XXL magazine, p. 70.
- ^ Shepherd, Julianne (March/April 2008). "Polow Da Don: Back for the First Time Archived 2009-02-17 at the Wayback Machine". Scratch magazine. Accessed June 4, 2008.
- ^ "Polow da Don's 'Glamorous' Summer Includes Vodka Line and Rebirth of His 15-Year-Old Hit". Rolling Stone. June 20, 2022.
- ^ "President Trump and Polow da Don Reveal Friendship During Rally". September 27, 2020.
- ^ a b Rodriguez, Jayson (August 15, 2007). "Lil Wayne, T-Pain Win Big At Ozone Awards". MTV. Accessed September 12, 2009.
- ^ Mitchell, Gail (May 21, 2008). "BMI Pop Awards Crowns Polow Da Don Top Songwriter Archived July 28, 2012, at archive.today". Billboard.biz. Accessed June 4, 2008.
- ^ "Gamble & Huff Named BMI Icons at 57th Annual Pop Awards". BMI (May 20, 2009). Accessed September 23, 2009.
- ^ "BMI Honors George Clinton, T-Pain, Lil Wayne and Many More at Urban Awards in New York". BMI (September 10, 2009). Accessed September 23, 2009.
- ^ "First Listen: YoCo 96.7 Nashville". RadioInsight. June 11, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
- ^ "Young Country 96.7 To Bring Hip-Hop/Country Hybrid To Nashville". RadioInsight. June 3, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
- ^ "Producer Polow da Don to Launch Young Country Radio Station: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
External links
edit- Polow da Don on X