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Oladipo Omishore (born July 17, 1986), known professionally as Dot da Genius, is an American record producer and audio engineer from Brooklyn, New York. He first gained recognition in 2008 for producing "Day 'n' Nite" by American musician Kid Cudi, with whom he is a longtime friend and frequent collaborator; the two would later form a rock band in 2010, known as WZRD.

Engaged in various entrepreneurial pursuits, Omishore launched his own trans-media company HeadBanga Muzik Group which has collaborated with numerous brands and labels, such as: Universal Music Group, BMG, Nike, and Splice. He is known for working mostly with American rapper Kid Mescudi but his production has been featured on albums by several prominent artists in the music industry, including Nas, Kanye West, Eminem, Denzel Curry, Lil Nas X, JID, 6LACK, and Jhené Aiko, among others.

Life and career

1986–2005: Early life

Omishore is from the Brooklyn borough of New York City. He is of Nigerian heritage, of the Yoruba tribe. His parents always encouraged his interest in music, and at the age of seven, his father sent him to the Brooklyn Music School for piano lessons, where he studied with Tom Coote. Omishore preferred playing the guitar, but learning how to play a keyboard instrument was very beneficial later in life when he started producing. He attended Polytechnic Institute of New York University in New York, where he studied electrical engineering, was a member of the university basketball team, and graduated in 2008.

2006–2009: Career beginnings and producing for Kid Cudi

Omishore began his career in sound-mixing in 2003 at New York University by using Image-Line's FL Studio program. In 2004, Omishore created a studio in his basement with equipment bought by his parents and would later call it "Head Banga Muzik Studios." After gaining attention for his production, he decided to change locations to the Brewery Recording Studio. In May 2009, Omishore partnered up with Andrew Krivonos, owner of Brewery Recording Studio, and helped move the studio to North Brooklyn in a new facility.

Omishore and Kid Cudi met in 2006, and they lived together for two years. Both artists found a genuine liking for one another, and chose to work with each other on several music productions. "Day N' Nite" turned out to be the biggest hit production that both of them worked on together, with Omishore providing the beats and Cudi rapping and singing over the music. He produced the song in Head Banga Muzik Studios, and used several different methods of mixing and synthesizing the beats on this track. The song took a total of two days to complete, from the instrumental being made to the track's final arrangements. No edits were made after that two-day process ended. It was finished in 2007 and became popular two years later, in 2009. "Day N' Nite" reached the top three in the United States and the United Kingdom. It was released under the labels GOOD Music, Fool's Gold Records, Universal Motown Records, and Data Records. It is featured on the album Man on the Moon: The End of Day.

2010–2018: WZRD

WZRD is Omishore and Kid Cudi's collaboration alternative rock band. Kid Cudi focuses on the vocals, while Omishore is responsible for the production. Their self-titled album was later released in February 2012. Together, they produced a self-made album titled WZRD. Much of their inspiration behind the album came from their love for Nirvana, The Pixies, and Pink Floyd. They recorded much of the album in either their tour bus while they were on the road, or Cudi's basement studio in Hollywood Hills. This album contained absolutely no profanity, including the "n word" that many rappers loosely use. The album was first released on February 28, 2012. It reportedly sold 70,499 copies in its opening week. Although Cudi finds the marketing and promotion of the album weak by Universal Music Group, it landed the number three spot on the album sales chart. Universal Music Group also allegedly under-shipped copies of the album. While "Rocket" was released prior to the release of WZRD, it was not featured on the album.

2018–present: Solo debut album

In 2018, Omishore and Woodro Skillson announced the signing of James Japan to their label, HeadBanga Muzik Group.

In 2019, Omishore co-produced the hit single Panini by Lil Nas X along with producer duo Take A Daytrip. The single peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 2020, Omishore scored his first number-one hit single on the Billboard Hot 100, when "The Scotts," a collaborative effort between Cudi and his protege Travis Scott, debuted at the top spot in the US chart.

On June 24, 2022, Omishore released "Talk About Me", the lead single from his upcoming solo debut album. The song features vocals from American rappers Kid Cudi, Denzel Curry, and JID. In July 2022, Complex interviewed Omishore on his upcoming debut album.

Artistry

Musical style

Omishore is a self-taught music producer and engineer.

Influences

Among Omishore’s favorite albums of all time are Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon, Dr. Dre's The Chronic, Outkast's ATLiens, and Coldplay's Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends.

Personal life

Omishore has one daughter, from a previous relationship. In September 2014, American singer-songwriter Jhené Aiko, revealed she and Omishore were in a relationship. The two revealed their marriage in March 2016. On August 9, 2016, Jhené Aiko filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized in October 2017.

Discography

Soundtrack albums

Singles

Guest appearances

Production discography

Awards and nominations

BET Hip Hop Awards

Black Reel Television Awards

Grammy Awards

MTV Video Music Awards

mtvU Woodie Awards

Filmography

• A Man Named Scott (2021) - Himself
• 1992 (2024) - Himself - Executive producer

References

1. "Dot Da Genius, producer/owner, Brewery recording Studio". Archived from the original on May 13, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
2. ^ Tingen, Paul (October 2009). "Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Dot Da Genius". Sound on Sound. Archived from the original on June 1, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
3. ^ Bodunrin, Sola (March 17, 2016). "American singer Jhene Aiko is married to Yoruba man". Naij. Archived from the original on April 1, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
4. Atisele, Kenneth (March 17, 2016). "While We Weren't Looking, Jhene Aiko Got Married To A Yoruba/American Producer". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
5. Witte, Rae. "Meet Dot Da Genius, the man behind Kid Cudi's sound and co-producer of Kids See Ghosts". factmag.com. Fact. Archived from the original on June 16, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
6. "About". Head Banga Muzik. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
7. "Studio". Brewery Recording Studio. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
8. ^ Fairfax, Jesse (February 28, 2012). "WZRD (Kid Cudi x Dot Da Genius)". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on September 2, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
9. La Puma, Joe (February 27, 2012). "WZRD: Band Of Brothers (2012 Online Cover Story)". Complex. Archived from the original on June 25, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
10. Weintraub, Jason (November 20, 2011). "Kid Cudi's New Album Will Contain No Curse Words, No N-Words". Hip-Hop Wired. Archived from the original on January 22, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
11. Moore, Jacob (March 6, 2012). "Kid Cudi & Dot Da Genius' "WZRD" Sells Over 70K In Week One". Complex. Archived from the original on April 18, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
12. Beadon, Leigh (March 8, 2012). "KiD CuDi's WZRD Debuts At No. 3 Despite Being Swept Under The Rug By Universal". Techdirt. Archived from the original on May 18, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
13. Jacobs, Allen (March 7, 2012). "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 3/4/2012". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
14. "DatNewCudi.com: Dot Da Genius Interview Part 1". Archived from the original on December 20, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2021 – via YouTube.
15. Espinoza, Joshua (March 2, 2018). "HeadBanga Muzik Signee James Japan Shares "Real"". Complex. Archived from the original on March 3, 2018. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
16. https://genius.com/Lil-nas-x-panini-lyrics
17. Blanchet, Brenton (July 6, 2022). "Dot da Genius is Stepping into the Spotlight". Complex. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
18. Ahmed, Insanul (March 4, 2012). "Dusty Grooves: Dot Da Genius' 25 Favorite Albums". Complex. Archived from the original on June 23, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
19. Ahmed, Insanul (February 29, 2012). "Dot Da Genius Tells All: The Stories Behind his Classic Records". Complex. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
20. Morris, Jessie (March 16, 2016). "Dot Da Genius Confirms His Marriage to Jhené Aiko in a Passionate Instagram Message". Complex. Archived from the original on May 8, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
21. Nessif, Bruna (August 11, 2016). "Jhene Aiko Files for Divorce from Dot da Genius". E! News. Archived from the original on August 12, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
22. Post, Chantilly (October 3, 2017). "Jhene Aiko's Divorce With Dot Da Genius Finalized". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
23. Eustice, Kyle (October 3, 2017). "Jhené Aiko's Divorce From Dot Da Genius Is Official". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
24. Callas, Brad (October 17, 2022). "Dot Da Genius Shares Soundtrack From Kid Cudi's Netflix Special 'Entergalactic'". Complex Media.
25. "Dot da Genius Whips up Some "Fettuccine" on Debut Single as Solo Artist". Complex Networks.
26. "Kid Cudi Announces Denzel Curry, JID Collaboration, "Talk About Me"". HNHH. June 22, 2022.
27. Leah Greenblatt, "BET Hip Hop Award nominations announced; will top nominee Kanye show?" MusicMix.
28. Complex, Valerie (June 15, 2023). "Black Reel 7th Annual Television Awards Featuring Gender Neutral Categories Announces Nominations; 'The Best Man: Final Chapters' Leads With 18 Noms". Deadline. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
29. "Awards Nominations & Winners". Grammy.com. April 30, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
30. "2009 Video Music Awards". Mtv.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
31. "2009 Woodie Awards". Mtv.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2021.

External links

• Dot Da Genius at AllMusic
• Dot Da Genius discography at Discogs
• Dot da Genius on Myspace

• 1986 births
• Living people
• 21st-century American musicians
• American hip-hop record producers
• American rock musicians
• East Coast hip-hop musicians
• Musicians from Brooklyn
• Polytechnic Institute of New York University alumni
• American people of Yoruba descent
• Yoruba musicians
• American people of Nigerian descent
• 21st-century Nigerian musicians
• American male pianists
• 21st-century American keyboardists
• 21st-century American pianists
• Record producers from New York (state)
• 21st-century American male musicians
• African-American DJs
• DJs from New York City
• African-American record producers
• WZRD (band) members
• American male film score composers