Chad James Elliott, also known by his stage name Dr. Ceuss, is an American songwriter, record producer, and audio engineer. He is best known for co-writing and co-producing Destiny's Child's 2000 single "Jumpin', Jumpin'", as well as Salt-N-Pepa's "Gitty Up", Marc Nelson's "15 Minutes", and 702's "Steelo", among others.
Career
Early career
In 1988, while on a promotional tour for rapper
Jaz-O, Elliott met fellow record producer
Irv Gotti.
Elliott later introduced Gotti to
DMX and the founders of Ruff Ryders Entertainment, the Dean brothers. In 1989, Gotti and Elliott produced the beat
Born Loser for rapper DMX, which was one of DMX's earliest demos.
Elliott became a member of Swing Mob, a prolific collective of artists, songwriters, instrumentalists, and producers that converged in Teaneck, New Jersey and Rochester, New York during the mid-1990s, and was reportedly an early mentor of producer Jermaine Dupri.
Jumpin', Jumpin'
Elliott received a phone call from
Columbia Records A&R Teresa LaBarbera Whites, who wanted him to meet "this great group in Houston" prior to the release of their debut album. He flew to Houston and met for dinner with the group (Destiny's Child) and their manager
Mathew Knowles, but was unable to send any productions in time for their album. Elliott, alongside co-writer
Rufus Blaq and co-producer Jovonn Alexander, subsequently sent a disc of written tracks for potential inclusion on their second album. Elliott was compiling productions for his own rap project at the time, and accidentally sent one of his songs (with no lyrics attached) on the same disc. Beyoncé heard the song, began writing to it, and Mathew Knowles sent a rough draft to Elliott, who was impressed with the melodic, syncopated-rap delivery, and the "democratic" message addressed to both men and women. "Jumpin', Jumpin'", the completed product, would secure a placement on blockbuster album
The Writing's on the Wall alongside another co-written Elliott song ("If You Leave"), was selected as the fourth and final single of the campaign, and would ultimately become Elliott's highest-peaking and highest-selling song in multiple global markets.
Later career
Elliott became an A&R for
Sony Music /
Columbia Records, coordinating Jagged Edge's eponymous fifth album (2006),
Noel Gourdin's 2008 debut album
After My Time,
Lyfe Jennings' 2008 album
Lyfe Change, as well as "I'm Grown", the second single from
Star Search winner
Tiffany Evans' 2008 eponymous debut album.
In 2022, Elliott sold the production rights of his 2-song Destiny's Child catalog to royalty asset management company ICM for an undisclosed sum.
Selected songwriting and production credits
Credits are courtesy of
Discogs, Tidal,
Apple Music, and
AllMusic.
Executive-produced projects
Awards and nominations
|
| 2001 | SESAC | Most Performed R&B/Hip Songs ( Jumpin', Jumpin') | | |
| 2002 | SESAC | Most Performed Pop Songs ( Jumpin', Jumpin') | | |
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