Static Major

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Static Major bigraphy, stories - Singer-songwriter, record producer

Static Major : biography

October 11, 1974 – February 25, 2008

Stephen Ellis Garrett (November 11, 1974 – February 25, 2008), also known as Static Major, was a Grammy Award-Winning American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer from Louisville, Kentucky. He was a member of the R&B trio Playa. Static Major gained posthumous fame for appearing on Lil Wayne’s 2008 album Tha Carter III on the song "Lollipop". He was a producer of songs from several artists, including Aaliyah, Ginuwine, and Pretty Ricky. He died unexpectedly on the operating table before his debut album was released. His debut album was slated to be released around the 5th anniversary of his passing in 2013, but nothing surfaced.

Death

Garrett died suddenly at Baptist Hospital East in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky on February 25, 2008. After a number of tests, he was diagnosed with a rare condition called myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disorder with hallmark symptoms of muscle weakness and fatigue. Doctors recommended a procedure called plasmapheresis, a treatment similar to dialysis that removes the autoantibodies from the blood using an implanted catheter as a central line through the neck and into the chest area. A large bore catheter must be inserted into the patient’s arm in order to perform this procedure. When a nurse was instructed to remove it, he went into respiratory distress and did not recover.

Music career

Static started his producing career when he signed with Swing Mob Records. Major made a breakthrough working with R&B singer Ginuwine. Major helped produce the song "Pony" which become a major hit and a milestone in both Major’s and Timbaland’s careers. He later became a member of the Def Jam group Playa, who were most known for their hit single "Cheers 2 U." Playa released an album of the same name in 1997. After working with Ginuwine, Static assisted producing the songs for Nicole Wray for her 1998 debut album, Make It Hot. Songs that Static produced and wrote for Aaliyah were "Are You That Somebody?", which was featured in the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack, Come Back In One Piece which was featured in the Romeo Must Die soundtrack along with the #1 single Try Again."More than a Woman,” “We Need a Resolution,” "Rock the Boat”, "Loose Rap","Extra Smooth", "I Refuse", "What If", "Those Were The Days","Never No More" were all featured in her third and final studio album Aaliyah.He wrote her first and only #1 Billboard Hot 100 single Try Again. He earned Aaliyah 4 top 25 Billboard Hot 100 singles during his time working with late R&B star. Static was frequently a collaborator with R&B group Pretty Ricky, working with them on several songs, including "Juicy", from their 2005 album Bluestars. His most recent work producing music was Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop” from the album Tha Carter III. Suppertime is the solo album that Static Major was reportedly set to release on OG Music/Blackground in 2008. "I stay in the streets, that’s where I draw my inspiration," Static Major said describing where he gets his inspiration. "If it can’t be played in the hood, then it just doesn’t work for me. And nobody can hold me on harmony. My whole aura is not your typical R&B aura."

Discography

Singles

Year Song Chart positions[ Artist Chart History]. Billboard. Accessed September 24, 2007. Album
U.S. Hot 100 U.S. R&B U.S. Rap
2006 Suppertime
"Bus Stop Breezy"
2007 "Your Valentine"
"I Got My" (featuring Lil Wayne) 98

As featured performer

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US USR&BPeak chart positions for guest appearances on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in the United States:

  • "Crank It Up":
  • "Lollipop":
USRap AUS CAN GER IRE NZ SWI UK
"Crank It Up"(David Banner featuring Static Major) 2004 87 MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water
"Lollipop"(Lil Wayne featuring Static Major) 2008 1 1 1 32 10 22 28 3 39 26
  • RIAA: 5× Platinum
  • RIANZ: Platinum
Tha Carter III
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.