Name: Chris Classic
Profession: Recording Artist
Age: 36
One Word That Describes You: Genuine
Ever wondered who was responsible for those original songs you hear while watching your favorite Hollywood movies? If you visit IMDB you’ll find that Chris Classic is the man and the mind behind the music. The super-talented artist and actor has written, recorded, and licensed his own work to Hollywood for the past decade. From writing and producing the “Alvin and the Chipmunks” soundtrack and score, to performing the track “Speedin'” for Dreamworks’ “Turbo” movie, Classic has given cinephiles award-winning music without drawing too much attention to himself.
This 36-year-old phenom received his start from Jam Master Jay and the legendary Run-DMC in 1999. BE Modern Man asked Chris Classic what inspired him to join the competitive profession of Hollywood soundtrack making. He answered: “It was an eighth-grade English assignment,” he told us exclusively. “We had to make a song to sell a product. It was to teach us how language moves people. I received the highest grade with my song, and I kept the fire burning from there.” Through his work with Jay, Run-DMC, and film music mogul Ali Dee Theodore, Chris Classic
developed his reputation by writing songs for other artists, for movies and for television. In 2008 he, alongside the DeeTown team, won an American Music Award for Best Soundtrack for his work on “Alvin and the Chipmunks”.Unfortunately, Classic’s success isn’t always the norm when it comes to Black in mainstream Hollywood. Knowing this, Chris Classic explains the lessons he’s learned while navigating the treacherous streets of Tinsel Town. “I learned that being behind the scenes had honor,” he said. “It also made me look at the spotlight as something I needed to reconsider. I think now, I want it for a different reason, to leave a legacy and inspire, not to be quote-unquote famous.”
For an insider’s look at how Chris Classic gets down, this dutiful father either fields requests from music supervisors and producers, or just creates original content and submits it. “They [music supervis
ors] want the best music to fit a scene, without spending a ridiculous amount of money,” he mentions. By covering topics, both generic and specific, Classic makes “feel-good, radio-friendly” music which appeals to a general and young audience. Songs made by individuals for publishing in a movie, or television show, or any form of programming are registered through a publishing company which allows the creator to track the usage of said work and appropriate residual royalties. “In my opinion, it is best to have a lawyer help you set up proper structure for negotiating the licensing of your music if you choose to enter into this game,” he tells BE Modern Man exclusively.Men like Stephen Foster and Paul Williams made their living creating original content for Hollywood, yet none of them have as audacious of a name as Chris Classic. Having his name bestowed upon him by the late, great, sorely missed Jam Master Jay, Chris spoke about the impact of having him as a mentor and what having one can do for any black man looking to achieve a goal. “Jay always reminded me to be aware of new things. He taught me to embrace the old and make it new,” he said. “To me, mentoring is crucial in this day and age. We read reviews of restaurants and products before we buy, so why wouldn’t you want to hear advice, reviews, and guidance from someone who embarked on your journey?”
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In New York, as is true of Los Angeles, millions flock to the city because they feel it is the epicenter for celebrity and fame. Though partially true, it is insane how far people will go to become “the next big thing” in entertainment. Chris Classic shies away from such distinction, preferring to be a mysterious connector and innovator of grooves that still makes cool things happen. For those on the outside looking to get in, unsure of how to hop the velvet rope, Chris Classic has some advice for you. “Not everyone has good intentions for you,” he tells us. “Those with good intentions also have a reality of their own that may sometimes make it difficult to live up to those intentions. It is very rare when someone wants to see you doing better than they are.”As a man with strong character and a suave demeanor, Chris Classic knows that he’s made an impact within the African American community — even if he’s not topping the Billboard charts. “I see myself as someone who has remained an individual while balancing hands-on fatherhood and a career,” Classic said. “I think that handling that balance is
the heartbeat of a new generation. It is a fact that you won’t see on CNN or your mainstream news feed, as African Americans, we are constantly limited to stereotypes within a box. The man known as Chris Classic has never been to jail, has held the same job for 17 years, donates his time and money to the impoverished young and homeless in New York City, and that alone urges the box to break open.”Chris Classic believes that being a BE Modern Man means being humble and “understanding, fully, our ability to shift the cool-culture to other possibilities.” A man who prides himself on standing tall and holding his own amongst giants, Classic earned his reputation through rigorous exercise and disciplined dedication. From writing hit songs for Hollywood, to being a hands-on father to his own son — Mr. Classic represents the melodious spirit that proves our normal is extraordinary.
We here at Black Enterprise salute you, Chris Classic, for contributing positive images of African American culture to the masses.
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