Amaire Johnson

Amaire Johnson
Born
Chester, Pennsylvania, United States
Alma materMusicians Institute
Musical career
Genres
Occupations
  • Songwriter
  • producer
  • keyboardist
  • music director
  • instrumentalist
Labels

Amaire Johnson is an American producer, songwriter, music director, and multi-instrumentalist who primarily collaborates with rapper Big Sean, and is best known for co-writing and producing Big Sean singles "Moves", "Single Again", "Bounce Back", and "One Man Can Change the World".[1][2] Johnson has contributed to the following Big Sean projects in various capacities: Dark Sky Paradise (2015), Twenty88 (2016), I Decided (2017), Detroit (2019), Detroit II (2020), and Better Me Than You (2024).[3][4] Johnson has also contributed to projects from Schoolboy Q, Isaiah Rashad, Nipsey Hussle, and Jhené Aiko, among others.[3][5] In December 2024, XXL recognized his contribution to Ab-soul's studio album Soul Burger (album cut "Peace") as the "best produced track" on the project.[6]

Influenced by "Motown, early hip-hop, and neo-soul", Johnson is signed to Don Life, Big Sean's production company.[7][8] Johnson also acted as music director and/or performed keyboards alongside Ab-soul and Big Sean during their respective NPR Tiny Desk performances.[9][10]

Early career

Johnson started playing keyboards in church at 15 years old, and moved to Los Angeles in 2012 to attend the Musicians Institute. Upon graduation, he became a musician on the Maroon 5 and Kelly Clarkson-helmed 12th Annual Honda Civic Tour. He next joined Big Sean's touring band as a keyboardist.[11]

Selected songwriting and production credits

Title Year Artist Album
"One Man Can Change the World" (featuring Kanye West & John Legend) 2015 Big Sean Dark Sky Paradise
"On the Way" 2016 Twenty88 Twenty88
"Memories Faded"
"Won’t Be the Same" (featuring Ayo the Producer) Westside Boogie Thirst 48, Pt. II
"Sunroof" (featuring Dana Williams)
"Moments" (featuring Big Sean) 2017 Jhené Aiko Trip
"OLLA (Only Lovers Left Alive)" (featuring Twenty88)
"You Are Here"
"Never Call Me" (featuring Kurupt)
"Overstimulated"
"Bad Trip (Interlude)"
"Oblivion (Creation)" (featuring Dr. Chill)
"Psilocybin (Love in Full Effect)" (featuring Dr. Chill)
"Intro" Big Sean I Decided
"Light" (featuring Jeremih)
"Bounce Back"
"Moves"
"Same Time Pt. 1" (featuring Twenty88)
"Owe Me"
"Halfway Off the Balcony"
"Voices in My Head / Stick to the Plan"
"Sunday Morning Jetpack" (featuring The-Dream)
"Inspire Me"
"Bigger Than Me" (featuring Flint Chozen Choir & Starrah)
"Victory Lap" (featuring Stacy Barthe) 2018 Nipsey Hussle Victory Lap
"Million While You Young" (featuring The-Dream)
"The Recipe" 2019 SiR Chasing Summer
"More Thoughts (2019)" Big Sean Detroit (Streaming Edition)
"Harder than My Demons" 2020 Detroit 2
"Everything That's Missing" (featuring Dwele)
"Don Life" (featuring Lil Wayne)
"Single Again"
"Wat U Sed" (featuring Doechii and Kal Banx) 2021 Isaiah Rashad The House Is Burning
"Bomb" (featuring Kari Faux) 2022 Black Party Hummingbird
"On Up" 2024 Big Sean Better Me Than You
"Boundaries"
"Pop" (featuring Rico Nasty) Schoolboy Q Blue Lips
"Pig Feet" (featuring Childish Major)
"Love Birds" (featuring Devin Malik & Lance Skiiiwalker)
"Peace" (featuring Lupe Fiasco & Punch) Ab-Soul Soul Burger

Awards and nominations

Year Ceremony Award Result Ref
2018 ASCAP Pop Music Awards Most Performed Pop Songs (Bounce Back) Won [12]

References

  1. ^ "Debate Us: 34 Hip-Hop and R&B Hits We Loved In 2017". December 26, 2017. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  2. ^ Jr, Keith Nelson. "Studio Sessions 124; Smash David talks Tory Lanez's freestyles & creative ways producers make more money". REVOLT. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Big Sean Shares New Song "Halfway Off the Balcony"". Complex. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  4. ^ "Missing in Action: Our Favorite Artists Who Went Silent i..." Complex. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  5. ^ Magazine, Visionary Artistry (September 14, 2020). "Amaire Johnson: Keyboards Open Doors". Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  6. ^ Coleman II, C. Vernon (December 27, 2024). "Kodak Black, NLE Choppa, Redman and More - New Hip-Hop Projects". XXL Mag. Archived from the original on December 27, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  7. ^ Cowie, Del (March 10, 2017). "My Mom Is The First Person I Rapped For". CBC. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  8. ^ "That's 5 | Amaire Johnson - StockX Exclusive Profile". December 5, 2018. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  9. ^ Carter, Bobby. "Ab-Soul: Tiny Desk Concert". NPR. Archived from the original on August 11, 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  10. ^ Carter, Bobby. "Big Sean: Tiny Desk Concert". NPR. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  11. ^ "Keyboard Magazine presents: Amaire Johnson (Big Sean)". YouTube. February 9, 2015.
  12. ^ "2018 ASCAP Pop Awards". Archived from the original on June 25, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2024.