Organized Noize is an American production duo from Atlanta, Georgia, currently composed of Ray Murray and Sleepy Brown.[ AllMusic biography] Initially a trio, the team included Dungeon Family co-founder Rico Wade until his death in 2024.
History Among the hit records they have worked on include TLC's "Waterfalls", En Vogue's "Don't Let Go (Love)", and Ludacris' "Saturday (Oooh! Ooooh!)". They are most notable for producing a large amount of material for Outkast (including all of Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik and "So Fresh, So Clean" from Stankonia) and Goodie Mob (including all of Soul Food and "They Don't Dance No Mo" from Still Standing). Both groups are part of Organized Noize's Dungeon Family collective, which also includes Slimm Cutta Calhoun and Joi, among others. The "Dungeon" would be the name given to recording studio which was located in the basement of Organized Noize member Rico Wade's mother's house. The "Dungeon" studio, which attracted numerous aspiring musicians and artists, even made Wade a key architect of Atlanta hip-hop. In an interview with Billboard, Big Boi of Outkast explained that Organized Noize helped them early on in the music business, saying, "They were our big brothers, and they did a production deal with LaFace Records. They were the ones that gave us our first shot and we been doing music with them since the beginning."
They also contributed on the soundtrack of the 1996 critically acclaimed heist film Set It Off. In 2006, they contributed additional music to the film Miami Vice. In 2010 they produced several songs on the critically acclaimed Island/Def Jam solo debut from Big Boi titled Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty. In 2011, they produced the album Nappy Dot Org for Nappy Roots.
The documentary feature The Art of Organized Noize premiered on Netflix on March 22, 2016. The documentary, directed by Quincy Jones III, details the formation of the group, who met through Tionne Watkins of TLC, and the early days of their Dungeon Family collective.
On May 5, 2017, Organized Noize released an eponymous, seven-song EP, which had been in production for over 20 years. Ahead of the official EP release, the track "Kush" was released on April 20, 2017. The project was generally well-received, with Cult MTL writer Mr. Wavvy calling it "an enjoyable listen for any fans of the original Dungeon Family/Dirty South movement."
Rico Wade was the older cousin of Grammy winning rapper Future. He died on April 13, 2024, at the age of 52 of heart failure. Wade was considered to be the "cornerstone" of not only Organized Noize, but also its collaborative group Dungeon Family.
Impact Organized Noize are credited with jumpstarting the rise of Southern hip-hop in the early-to-mid 1990s. The group has been described as being, "the...production team behind some of the greatest songs ever," and "one of the most respected production teams in rap history," by NPR and Spin respectively. Billboard has stated that Organized Noize "pioneered the Dirty South sound."
Production discography Studio albums +List of albums, with selected chart positionsTitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsUSUSR&B/HHSouthernplayalisticadillacmuzik (Outkast) Released: April 26, 1994 Label: LaFace, Arista, RCA Format: CD, LP, Cassette, digital download202ATLiens (Outkast) Released: August 27, 1996 Label: LaFace, Arista, RCA Format: CD, LP, Cassette, digital download21Aquemini (Outkast) Released: September 29, 1998 Label: LaFace, Arista, RCA Format: CD, LP, Cassette, digital download22Stankonia (Outkast) Released: October 31, 2000 Label: LaFace, Arista, RCA Format: CD, LP, Cassette, digital download22Boomiverse (Big Boi) Released: 2017 Label: Organized Noize Productions Format: Digital Download/Streaming22Organized Noize EP Released: May 5, 2017 Label: Organized Noize Productions Format: Digital Download/Streaming - -"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Credits + Year Artist Song title Album title1992TLCWhat About Your Friends (Jazz Remix)N/A1993Sleigh RideA LaFace Family ChristmasShug & DapAnother Man (Remix)N/AXscapeWith You; TonightHummin' Comin' at ChaP.A.LifelineCB4 (OST)Entire AlbumGhetto Street Funk1994OutKastSouthernplayalisticcadillacmuzikTLCWaterfalls; Somethin Wicked This Way Comes; Waterfalls (ONP Remix)CrazySexyCoolSounds of BlacknessBlack Butterfly (Organized Noise Remix)N/AA Few Good MenA Lil' Somethin' (Da' ONP Playa Mix)1995OutKastPhobiaHigher Learning OSTBenz or a BeamerNew Jersey Drive OSTPebblesHappy; Soul Replacement; Show MeStraight From My HeartSpeechLike Marvin Gaye Said (What's Going On) (Organized Noize Mix)N/AGoodie MobEntire AlbumSoul FoodWessyde Goon SquadCrazy (Remix Edit)N/AThe Hard BoyzThin IceUnderground HitzXscapeKeep It on the RealOff the Hook1996Organized Noize, Queen LatifahSet It OffSet It Off OSTEn VogueDon't Let GoGoodie MobbAngelic WarsBloodAmerica Is Dying SlowlyRemember What I SaidFled OSTCurtis MayfieldMs. Martha; Here But I'm GoneNew World OrderMistaEntire AlbumMistaOutKastEntire Album {except 3, 4, 6, 7, 13}ATLiens1997SWVTell Me How You Want It {co-produced by Marvin “Chanz” Parkman}Money Talks OSTBilly LawrenceParadiseParadise4.0Can I Spend the Night4.0Cool Breeze, Big BoiGangsta Partna {co-produced by Mr. DJ}Hoodlum OST1998WitchdoctorEntire Album {except 2, 4, 9}A S.W.A.T. Healin' RitualPAThe LickStraight No ChaseLil WillLookin for Nikki (ONP Remix)N/AGoodie MobThe Experience; Fly Away; The Damm; They Don't Dance No Mo {co-produced by Mr. DJ}; Gutta Butte; Distant Wilderness; I Refuse Limitation; See You When I See You; Inshallah {co-produced by DJ Muggs}; Just about Over {co-produced by David Whild}Still StandingEric ClaptonPilgrim (Remix)N/AOutKastReturn of the G; Skew It on the Bar-B; West Savannah; MamacitaAquemini1999Curtis MayfieldHere But I'm Gone Pt. IIMod MusicUGK, SmittyBelts to MatchThe Wood OSTKuruptI Call Shots; TequilaTha Streetz Iz a MothaCool BreezeWhole Album (except 10, 13, 16)East Point's Greatest HitsJim CrowCrow 5Crow's NestMacy GrayDo Something (ONP Remix)Music of the Heart: The AlbumYoungBloodz, Backbone, BoneCrusherHot HeatAgainst da GrainGoodie MobbHat LowThe PJs OSTWorld Party; Get Rich to This; I.C.U.; Street Corner; Cuddy BuddyWorld Party2000VariousOne Four Love (Pt 1 & 2)Hip Hop for RespectSleepy BrownAutomaticShaft OSTTerrellGrant's TombUptown InternationalPAProblemsMy Life Your EntertainmentLudacrisGame Got SwitchedBack for the First TimeOutKastSo Fresh So Clean; Spaghetti Junction; We Love Deez HoesStankonia2001NiveaDon't Mess With the Radio {co-produced by Swift C}NiveaBackboneConcrete Law; 5-Duce, 4-Tre; Hit & Run; Lord Have Mercy; Dungeon Ratz; Sho Ya Right; Yes Yes Y'allConcrete LawBubba SparxxxAll the Same; Bubba SparxxxDark Days, Bright NightsSlimm CalhounPiece of tha PieThe SkinnyLudacrisShe Said; Saturday (Ooh Ooh)Word of MoufDungeon FamilyEntire Album {except 1, 2, 5, 11}Even in DarknessJoiIt's Your LifeStar Kitty's Revenge2002The CalhounsOutfits; Street Life; Some PeopleMade in the Dirdy SouthBone-Thugs-n-HarmonyGuess Who's BackThug World OrderTLCGive It to Me While It's Hot; Get Away3D2003RoscoeWhat I Look Like; Head 2 Toe; I Call Shots Pt. IIYoung Roscoe PhilaphorniaThe D.O.C.DFWDeuceThrill da Playa, Big RubeAnyone I ForgotBroamz, Chrome and Redbones Bubba SparxxxLike It or Not; New South; Back in the MudDeliverance2004Sleepy Brown, OutKastI Can't WaitBarbershop 2 OSTCee Lo GreenChildz Play; ScrapmetalCee-Lo Green Is the Soul MachineBrandyNecessaryAfrodisiacLudacrisBlueberry Yum YumRed Light District2005Trey SongzComin for YouI Gotta Make ItBig Boi, Killer Mike, Bubba SparxxxOh NoXxX: SOTU OSTBubba Sparxxx, Killer Mike, Cool Breeze Claremont LoungeGot Purp? vol. 2Goodie MobbHold OnThe LumberjacksMurder Madness Music; Gothic Funk; They Comin Man; SuperfriendsLivin Life As LumberjacksEarth, Wind & FireThis Is How I Feel; The OneIllumination2006Bubba SparxxRepresent; Claremont Lounge; Wonderful; As the Rim Spins; The Other ManThe CharmCee-Lo OphidiophobiaSnakes on a Plane OSTOutKastMighty O; N2U; Peaches; Life Is Like a Musical; In Your DreamsIdlewildDa BackwudzMama Always Told MeWood Work2010Big BoiTurns Me On; For Yo Sorrows; The Train Part II; Back-up PlanSir Lucious Left Foot2012LinesVicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors2014Future, Andre 3000Benz Friendz (Whatchutola) {co-produced by Mr. DJ}Honest2017OverDoz.Manifesto2008Big K.R.I.T., UGKRide Wit Me {co-produced by Cory Mo}4eva Is a Mighty Long Time2018Janelle MonaeI Like ThatDirty Computer2022Ari LennoxOutside {co-produced by Elite}A/S/L2026T.I.Represent a TimeKill the King
References
External links Official website