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Christopher “Tricky” Stewart built his brand on a few irrefutable tenants -- be creative and authentic, and remain classy while doing so. It’s a formula that has reaped tremendous personal and professional dividends for Tricky during the last decade-plus. Today, the media magnate is an accomplished musician, writer, producer, entrepreneur, leader, husband and father whose work (producer of Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” Beyonce’s “Single Ladies [Put A Ring On It],” Rihanna’s “Hard,” and Fabolous’ “Throw It In The Bag,” among others) has helped define modern music and has helped shape the way people think, dance and feel. Given the diverse artists with which he works, C. “Tricky” Stewart does not approach a song or project with a preconceived idea or sound. Instead, he studies the artist and why they’ve been successful, reviewing their resume like an athlete would game film. From there, Tricky brings his magical sonics, ones that are able to transcend genre. “For me, it’s music,” he says. “I don’t separate genre. I separate authenticity. Things that are authentic win. Things that aren’t don’t.” As a label executive, Tricky guides his RedZone Records and RedZone Entertainment companies with this mindset. Anchored by emerging R&B artist Bryan J, whose music will be released in conjunction with Island Def Jam, the RedZone roster is chock full of multi-talented acts who are as driven and passionate about their craft as their boss. “The mindset of this label is to be in business with artists who would be doing it till the day they die without us,” Tricky explains. “It’s not a bunch of propped-up things and vehicles for me to put my songs on. It’s people who write their own songs. We’re making partnerships with people who I think are like me, people that are ‘By any means necessary’ like me, that do what they have to do to be successful.” Tricky extends the same philosophy to Remarkable Music, the publishing company he owns and operates with longtime business partner Monti Olson. In addition to Tricky’s material, the company is also home to Grammy-winning songwriter Ester Dean, whose credits include Rihanna’s “Rude Boy” and “What’s My Name,” Usher’s “Love Em All” and “Hot Tottie” and Katy Perry’s “Firework” and “Peacock.” In the coming months, Tricky’s songwriting, producing and publishing arms will remain robust, as he’s slated to work with Maroon 5, Beyonce, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, The-Dream, and Jesse McCartney, as well as RedZone acts Brian J and Frank Ocean, among others. Many of these songs will be recorded either at Tricky’s 5,000 square foot Atlanta studio or his pristine Los Angeles recording house. Given Tricky’s penchant for elegance, it’s a natural progression for him to expand his scope into the world of design. To this end, he has partnered with the renowned Thomas Schoos to launch a string of businesses, including restaurants, coffee shops, lines of eyewear and candles, and an appointment-only shop for exclusive items. With a multitude of music businesses thriving concurrently, his undertakings with Schoos and his burgeoning Artificial Television company, Tricky must remain organized and focused, all while delegating to a growing staff of employees and collaborators. Indeed, collaboration has been a hallmark of Tricky’s life. He grew up in a Southwestern Chicago suburb and was raised in a family where music was a way a life. His older brother was a music producer, and he and his cousins sang television commercials. Tricky also loved playing instruments, including guitar and keyboards, and he was writing full songs before he hit his teenage years. As enamored as he was with music, Tricky found sports equally attractive. In fact, sports taught him several valuable life lessons. “Because I come from a sports background, I really understand the concept of team more than most people in our industry,” says Tricky, who is managed by his brother Mark. “My being the captain of the football, basketball and baseball teams helped me understand that you can lose games, not because of something that you did or that you were out-prepared, but that you were out-coached. From that standpoint, the difference is my leadership and ability to bring people in, to have them believe in something and focus on something and give it their all. It’s different than anyone that I’ve seen since L.A. Reid in the early ‘90s.” Reid, of course, is the Grammy-winning record executive who co-founded LaFace Records and has been instrumental in the success of such artists as Mariah Carey, P!nk, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Kanye West, Avril Lavigne, Toni Braxton, TLC, Usher, Ciara and OutKast, among others. Like his mentor Reid, Tricky has been able to straddle genres (some of Tricky’s other productions include “Who Dat” for rapper JT Money and “Case Of The Ex” for R&B chanteuse Mya), create groundbreaking music (“Umbrella” by pop star Rihanna) and impart his sensibilities on both the music industry and society at large. Tricky’s focus and dedication to excellence suggests his legacy will continue expanding. “I’m trying to take music and apply it to good parties, good restaurants, good coffee houses, good eyewear, good candles,” he says. “It’s all the same job. It’s creativity. While it may seem like a lot, to me it’s just a creative person being creative.” All while remaining authentic and classy.
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