Organized Noize
Organized Noize is an influential American hip-hop and R&B production team based in Atlanta, Georgia, originally formed in the early 1990s by Rico Wade, Ray Murray, and Patrick "Sleepy" Brown, now consisting of the latter two following Wade's death.[1][2] The trio pioneered the "Dirty South" sound through their innovative use of live instrumentation and soulful elements, establishing a creative hub at Wade's basement studio known as "The Dungeon," which became the birthplace of the Dungeon Family collective.[1][3] They rose to prominence in the mid-1990s as the pre-eminent production crew for Atlanta's contemporary R&B and rap scenes, crafting multi-platinum hits that blended funk, soul, and hip-hop rhythms.[2][4] Key to their legacy are landmark productions such as OutKast's debut single "Player's Ball" from the 1994 album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, which helped define Southern hip-hop's gritty yet melodic aesthetic.[1] They also produced TLC's chart-topping "Waterfalls" (1995), a socially conscious track that earned Grammy nominations and showcased their versatility in mainstream pop-R&B.[5][2] Additional notable works include En Vogue's "Don't Let Go (Love)" (1996), a sultry R&B staple, and contributions to Goodie Mob's debut album Soul Food (1995), which solidified the Dungeon Family's introspective style.[5][1] The team extended their influence to artists like Ludacris with "Saturday (Oooh! Ooooh!)" (2001) and mentored emerging talents such as CeeLo Green and Killer Mike, shaping Atlanta's enduring dominance in hip-hop.[5][1] Organized Noize's behind-the-scenes impact was chronicled in the 2016 Netflix documentary The Art of Organized Noize, which highlights their role in elevating Southern music from regional curiosity to global phenomenon.[6] They received Grammy recognition, including a nomination for Album of the Year for OutKast's Stankonia (2000).[7] Tragically, Rico Wade, the visionary leader of the group, died on April 13, 2024, at age 52, leaving a profound void but an indelible mark on Black music and Atlanta's cultural landscape.[3] Despite the loss, Murray and Brown continue to honor the collective's innovative spirit through ongoing projects and youth programs in Atlanta.[8]Members
Rico Wade
Rico Wade was born on February 26, 1972, in Atlanta, Georgia, to parents Gus Griggs and Beatrice Wade.[9] He grew up in the East Point neighborhood and graduated from Tri-Cities High School in 1990.[10] From an early age, Wade showed a strong interest in music, particularly influenced by funk and soul genres that would later define his production style.[11] As a founding member of the production trio Organized Noize, Wade emerged as the primary organizer and visionary leader, frequently handling songwriting and musical arrangements.[12] He played a pivotal role in conceptualizing the Southern hip-hop sound, emphasizing live instrumentation to fuse organic funk and soul elements with rap, which distinguished the group's work from contemporary East Coast and West Coast styles.[13] Prior to Organized Noize's formation in 1992, Wade earned solo production credits by collaborating with emerging local Atlanta artists in his mother's basement studio, The Dungeon, where he honed his skills on early tracks for up-and-coming talents.[14] Wade passed away on April 13, 2024, at age 52 due to heart failure while hospitalized.[9] In the wake of his death, collaborators paid heartfelt tributes, with OutKast's Big Boi describing the loss as deeply painful and crediting Wade for early belief in their potential, while André 3000 emotionally recalled how Wade and the Dungeon Family "raised" him during a live performance.[15][16]Ray Murray
Ray Murray, born November 26, is a founding member of the Atlanta-based production team Organized Noize, renowned for his instrumental engineering and creative input that helped define the Southern hip-hop sound of the 1990s. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Murray grew up immersed in the city's culturally rich environment, which included influences from civil rights icons like Martin Luther King Jr. and a burgeoning local music scene that exposed him to diverse genres from an early age.[17] Murray's technical expertise lies in keyboard programming, crafting intricate basslines, and innovative sampling techniques, often drawing from 1970s funk records by artists like Parliament-Funkadelic to infuse tracks with groovy, layered textures. In interviews, he has described sourcing rare breakbeats from vinyl shops such as New York's House of Oldies, emphasizing originality by avoiding overused samples and focusing on fluid, original compositions to navigate clearance issues. His hands-on role is exemplified in Organized Noize's production of TLC's "Waterfalls" (1994), where the team's work featured a prominent funky bassline amid horns and keyboards that contributed to the track's massive success. At The Dungeon studio—Rico Wade's mother's basement turned creative hub—Murray served as a key engineer, handling sessions that shaped early Dungeon Family recordings and mentored emerging talents through meticulous beat refinement under tight deadlines.[17][18][19] Following the peak of Organized Noize's trio era, Murray pursued independent production in the 2010s, supporting Atlanta's evolving scene. Notable efforts include contributions to the 2017 Organized Noize EP, which featured emerging and established local talents such as 2 Chainz and Big Boi, blending classic Dungeon vibes with contemporary trap influences.[20] Murray has continued engineering and producing, maintaining his focus on instrumental innovation amid Atlanta's hip-hop resurgence.[21]Patrick "Sleepy Brown" Brown
Patrick Leroy "Sleepy" Brown, born January 24, 1970, in Savannah, Georgia, and raised in Atlanta, developed an early interest in music through exposure to funk and hip-hop scenes, including backstage encounters with artists like the Sugarhill Gang as a child.[17] As a key member of Organized Noize, Brown served as the group's lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, often handling keyboards and crafting infectious hooks that infused their productions with soulful energy; he notably provided the smooth chorus vocals on OutKast's hit "The Way You Move" from their 2003 album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.[22] His contributions extended to spontaneous ad-libbing of melodies during live recording sessions, helping shape the organic, collaborative sound of the Dungeon Family collective.[17] Beyond production, Brown pursued a solo career as a funk-infused R&B artist, releasing his debut album Sleepy's Theme: The Vinyl Room in 1998, followed by Mr. Brown in 2006, which featured singles like "I Can't Wait" and "Margarita" that highlighted his velvety voice and blend of soul, funk, and hip-hop.[22] These projects showcased his versatility as a singer-songwriter, earning him two Grammy nominations over the years. As of November 2025, Brown remains an active solo artist and producer, having performed with the Dungeon Family at One MusicFest in October 2025 and at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on November 8, 2025, while continuing R&B collaborations rooted in his Atlanta heritage.[23][24][25]Formation and Early Career
Origins in Atlanta
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Atlanta's hip-hop scene was burgeoning amid a landscape dominated by East and West Coast rap, drawing heavily from local bass music traditions influenced by Miami's electro-funk sounds and the emerging Dirty South aesthetic that emphasized gritty, regional narratives with heavy basslines and soulful undertones.[26][27] Artists like MC Shy D gained early national exposure through deals with Miami's Luke Records in 1986, while Jermaine Dupri's production on Kris Kross's 1992 hit "Jump" marked a breakthrough for Atlanta's youth-oriented, party-driven sound, setting the stage for a distinct Southern identity.[26] This period saw Atlanta transitioning from underground mixtapes and club circuits to broader recognition, fueled by post-Civil Rights economic shifts that created opportunities in music amid declining traditional jobs.[21] Rico Wade and his cousin Ray Murray, from Atlanta's southwest neighborhoods, connected with Patrick "Sleepy" Brown through shared high school networks and local music circles around 1991–1992, bonding over their passion for blending funk, soul, and hip-hop production.[18][12] Wade and Brown had previously gained local notice through the dance crew Guess, which helped solidify their creative ties before inviting Murray to join their efforts.[21] The trio formalized Organized Noize in 1992, inspired by the "organized noise" of their energetic, improvisational recording sessions that captured Atlanta's raw, communal vibe.[18][12] From the outset, the group faced significant hurdles, including scarce resources that confined their work to makeshift setups in Wade's mother's basement and stiff competition from the established New York and Los Angeles scenes, which overshadowed Southern acts in mainstream media and label priorities.[18][27] Despite these obstacles, their persistence in crafting beats that fused live instrumentation with hard-hitting drums reflected the DIY ethos of Atlanta's emerging scene.[12] In 1992, Organized Noize's early demo recordings, including an unsolicited remix of TLC's "What About Your Friends," demonstrated their innovative approach and drew the interest of LaFace Records executives during a visit to producer Pebbles' office, marking a pivotal entry into professional opportunities.[18] These basement demos highlighted their ability to layer soulful samples over bass-heavy rhythms, aligning with LaFace's vision for fresh Southern talent.[12]The Dungeon and Dungeon Family
The Dungeon, the foundational recording space for Organized Noize, was an unfinished basement studio located in the home of Rico Wade's mother at 1907 Lakewood Terrace in East Point, Georgia, a suburb of metro Atlanta.[28][29] Established around 1992–1993, it featured a makeshift setup with red clay dirt floors, creaky stairs, basic speakers, beat machines, and limited equipment often borrowed or pieced together to accommodate the group's early experiments.[28][30] This cramped, musty environment, often filled with the scent of weed and accommodating 15–20 people at a time, served not just as a studio but as a communal hub for hanging out, eating, and creating music.[29] The Dungeon gave rise to the Dungeon Family, an extended musical collective that became synonymous with the space and included core members of Organized Noize—Rico Wade, Ray Murray, and Patrick "Sleepy" Brown—alongside artists such as OutKast (André 3000 and Big Boi), Goodie Mob (CeeLo Green, Big Gipp, Khujo, and T-Mo), Big Rube, and Killer Mike, among others who regularly frequented the basement.[28][30] This loose-knit group specialized in Southern hip-hop infused with funk and soul influences, drawing from Atlanta's local scene to form a tight creative network.[31] The creative process in the Dungeon revolved around extended jam sessions that blended live instrumentation—such as bass, keyboards, and drums—with hip-hop elements like rhyming and beat-making, prioritizing organic Southern grooves characterized by soulful melodies, 808 bass lines, and boom-bap rhythms over the heavily sampled East Coast styles dominant at the time.[28][30] These sessions emphasized communal songwriting, where artists would trade verses and ideas in a collaborative, improvisational atmosphere. Key events included the first Dungeon Family cyphers in 1993, which solidified the group's dynamic and fostered a sense of shared innovation, leading to early productions like OutKast's debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik.[29][28] The Dungeon served primarily as the creative hub through the mid-1990s, after which Organized Noize and the Dungeon Family transitioned to professional recording studios amid their rising success. The original house was purchased by OutKast's Big Boi in 2019 to preserve its historical significance.[32]Major Productions
Collaborations with OutKast
Organized Noize's partnership with OutKast began in 1992 when the production trio discovered the duo—André 3000 and Big Boi—through their connections in Atlanta's burgeoning hip-hop scene, initially mentoring them during sessions in Rico Wade's basement studio known as the Dungeon.[12] This collaboration lasted through 2000, evolving from hands-on production on OutKast's early albums to more advisory influences as the duo developed their self-production skills.[18][12] The trio provided full production for OutKast's debut album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (1994), crafting its core sound with funky basslines, horn sections, and live instrumentation that captured Atlanta's street culture and slang-heavy lyricism.[33] Key tracks included the lead single "Player's Ball," which featured a bouncy groove with Sleepy Brown's falsetto hook and peaked at number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the title track "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik," blending soul samples with gritty drums to evoke Southern swagger.[33][19] Organized Noize's approach emphasized organic elements like upright bass and brass, distinguishing OutKast from West Coast G-funk and East Coast boom-bap influences.[18] On OutKast's sophomore effort, ATLiens (1996), Organized Noize contributed to several standout tracks, maintaining their signature blend of live horns and bass while allowing the duo more creative input.[34] Notable productions included "Jazzy Belle" and "Decatur Psalm," which showcased the trio's ability to layer soulful elements over hip-hop beats, helping the album debut at number two on the Billboard 200.[34] By Aquemini (1998), Organized Noize's role had shifted to nominal credits amid OutKast's growing independence, though their influence persisted in tracks like "Return of the 'G'," a bass-heavy cut produced by the trio that nodded to their earlier Southern funk style.[35] Similarly, on Stankonia (2000), they received credits for "So Fresh, So Clean," a smooth, horn-driven single that hit number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and exemplified their advisory input on the album's eclectic sound.[36] Tracks like "Ms. Jackson," while primarily produced by OutKast's Earthtone III collective, reflected Organized Noize's foundational impact through shared studio sessions and stylistic echoes of live bass and melodic hooks.[36][12] Throughout their tenure, Organized Noize shaped OutKast's early sound by prioritizing live instrumentation—such as bass guitars and horns—over sampled loops, infusing tracks with Atlanta's regional dialect and cultural references to create a "Dirty South" aesthetic that broadened hip-hop's sonic palette.[19] This evolution from primary producers to mentors allowed OutKast to mature while crediting the trio's innovations for their breakthrough success.[18][12]Work with Goodie Mob
Organized Noize served as the primary production team for Goodie Mob's debut album Soul Food, released on November 7, 1995, by LaFace Records, handling the full production across its tracks to craft a sound rooted in Southern soul and funk.[37][38] The album's standout singles, including "Cell Therapy," "Dirty South" (featuring Big Boi and Cool Breeze), and the title track "Soul Food," were all produced by the trio, blending gritty beats with introspective lyrics that explored everyday Southern life.[39] These productions emphasized Organized Noize's signature approach, using soul samples like The Emotions' "Blind Alley" in "Cell Therapy" to underscore themes of paranoia and urban survival.[39] To align with Goodie Mob's focus on social issues such as poverty, racial identity, and community struggles, Organized Noize incorporated live instrumentation, including bass from Preston Crump and guitar from Marqes Houston, creating warm, organic backdrops that amplified the quartet's narrative depth without overpowering their raw delivery.[40][41] Patrick "Sleepy Brown" contributed backing vocals and hooks on several tracks, such as the chorus in "Soul Food," adding a melodic, soulful layer that bridged the group's hip-hop verses with R&B accessibility.[41] Meanwhile, Ray Murray's expertise in sourcing and flipping soul samples, drawn from artists like Earth, Wind & Fire and The Isley Brothers, infused the beats with nostalgic warmth, enhancing the album's evocation of Atlanta's cultural heritage.[39] This integration helped Soul Food peak at number 45 on the Billboard 200 and establish Goodie Mob as pioneers of conscious Southern rap.[37] The partnership continued into Goodie Mob's sophomore effort, Still Standing, released on April 7, 1998, where Organized Noize produced key tracks including "The Experience," "Fly Away," "The Damm," and "They Don't Dance No Mo'" (co-produced with Mr. DJ), contributing to the album's exploration of resilience amid personal and societal hardships.[42][43] Their work on these songs deepened the thematic layers, using layered percussion and guitar riffs to mirror the group's evolving commentary on identity and perseverance, while maintaining the soul-infused production style from Soul Food.[44] Spanning from 1994, when initial sessions began in the Dungeon studio, through 1998, this collaboration not only shaped Goodie Mob's discography but also helped define the Dungeon Family's cohesive sound, characterized by innovative blends of live elements and sampled grooves that influenced broader Southern hip-hop aesthetics.[12][21]Other Key Tracks and Artists
Organized Noize's production on TLC's "Waterfalls" from the 1994 album CrazySexyCool marked a pivotal mainstream breakthrough, blending their signature funky, soulful Atlanta sound with orchestral strings and live horns for a layered, emotive texture. The track shifted TLC toward socially conscious themes, addressing dangers like unprotected sex, drug addiction, and gun violence through cautionary lyrics co-written by Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Marqueze Etheridge, and the production team, contrasting the group's earlier playful R&B style. Backing vocals by CeeLo Green added depth, helping the song top the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks and earning a Grammy nomination for Record of the Year.[45][46] In 1996, Organized Noize delivered another R&B powerhouse with En Vogue's "Don't Let Go (Love)," the lead single from the Set It Off soundtrack, co-produced with Ivan Matias and featuring dramatic soul elements that showcased the group's harmonious vocals in a sultry, mid-tempo groove. The track, originally pitched to Mick Jagger before En Vogue recorded it, became their biggest hit, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and solidifying Organized Noize's versatility beyond hip-hop.[46][47][48] The team reunited with Atlanta rapper Ludacris for "Saturday (Oooh! Ooooh!)" on his 2001 album Word of Mouf, a buoyant, party-ready track featuring Sleepy Brown's smooth chorus and Organized Noize's upbeat, synth-driven beat that captured early-2000s Southern rap energy. Reaching No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, it highlighted their ability to craft infectious hooks for rising stars outside their core circle.[46] Organized Noize contributed to Killer Mike's early career through features on non-Dungeon Family projects, notably appearing on Bubba Sparxxx's 2003 album Deliverance, where they handled four tracks including the introspective "My Baby's Gone" and the gritty "Back in the Mud," fusing hip-hop with country influences via soulful samples and live instrumentation. The album, co-produced with Timbaland, peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard 200, with Killer Mike's verse on the bonus track "Claremont Lounge" (reissued in 2005) exemplifying their collaborative edge in blending raw lyricism with eerie, atmospheric production.[49][50][46] By the mid-2000s, Organized Noize adapted to Atlanta's crunk wave while maintaining their organic sound, producing tracks that incorporated high-energy beats and regional flair for emerging acts, though specifics remain tied to broader Southern hip-hop evolution rather than exclusive one-offs.[46]Discography
Production Credits
Organized Noize, the production team consisting of Ray Murray, Rico Wade, and Patrick "Sleepy" Brown, has an extensive catalog of credits spanning hip-hop, R&B, and related genres, primarily from their base in Atlanta's Dungeon Family collective. Their work emphasizes soulful, Southern-infused beats that helped define the sound of 1990s Southern rap. Over their career from 1992 to 2024, they have contributed to more than 50 tracks for over 20 artists, often handling co-production duties alongside in-house collaborators. Key album productions include OutKast's debut Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (1994), where they produced the entire album, establishing the group's signature laid-back, jazz-inflected style. They produced the majority of tracks on Goodie Mob's Soul Food (1995), a cornerstone of conscious Southern hip-hop.) Partial credits appear on TLC's CrazySexyCool (1994), notably for the hit single "Waterfalls," which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. OutKast's ATLiens (1996) featured their production on several cuts, including "Elevators (Me & You)." Later, they contributed to OutKast's Stankonia (2000) on select songs like "So Fresh, So Clean," which peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. Other notable albums include Bubba Sparxxx's Deliverance (2003), with productions like "Back in the Mud," and various 2010s projects. Estimated 20+ additional tracks.| Year | Album/Single | Artist | Key Credits/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | "Player's Ball" | OutKast | Lead single production; peaked at #37 on Billboard Hot 100. Co-produced with OutKast. |
| 1994 | Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik | OutKast | Full production on all tracks like "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik" and "Crumblin' Erb." |
| 1995 | "Waterfalls" | TLC | Co-production; #1 Billboard Hot 100, Grammy-nominated. |
| 1995 | Soul Food | Goodie Mob | Majority production, including "Cell Therapy" and title track. |
| 1994 | CrazySexyCool (partial) | TLC | Production for "Waterfalls." |
| 1996 | ATLiens | OutKast | Productions on "Elevators (Me & You)." Co-productions common. |
| 2000 | Stankonia (partial) | OutKast | Tracks like "So Fresh, So Clean" (#9 Billboard Hot 100). |
| 2001 | "So Fresh, So Clean" | OutKast | Single production; Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. |
| 2003 | Deliverance | Bubba Sparxxx | Productions including "Back in the Mud" and "My Baby's Gone." |
| 2010s–2020s | Various | Multiple | Direct credits on approximately 20+ additional tracks. |