December 21 2016

” secured a recording contract with Capitol Records.” STIX “Gettin to Da / Sorry Peta”

Brandon “Stix” Salaam-Bailey (born July 13, 1983) is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter, and entrepreneur who was born and raised in Watts, Ca. Having started off as a full-time dancer in 2002, Salaam-Bailey created one of the most popular dance movements in the world called “KRUMP.” The new dance craze eventually went mainstream after it hit the big screens from world renown director David La’Chapelle’s “Rize”. After ending his dance career in 2004, he began helping aspiring rapper, Krystal Johnson, who would be later called Ak’Sent. Her first single “This One,” which Stix wrote, made it to the Coach Carter soundtrack and movie. Eventually, Ak’Sent secured a recording contract with Capitol Records.

Thereafter, In 2005, Stix released his critically acclaimed mixtape with Atlanta crooner Bobby V. titled The Next of Both Worlds. This mixtape has received over 1 million streams to date and songs “My World” received heavy airplay on Los Angeles radio stations Power 106,
and 100.3.

During mid-2006, Stix and partner, Nicholas Gouche, developed a worldwide rap battle league called “The Pit” where the battle rap careers of Dizaster and Daylyt were born. The Pit in just a short time, immediately became LA’s most popular and top hip-hop event. The PIT amassed support from some of the west coast’s most notable artist like Kendrick Lamar, Problem, YG, Glasses Malone, Roscoe, Mistah Fab, J-Doe, Gizzle (Bad Boy), and BadLucc (Diamond Lane) to name a few. The Pit also received support from artist outside of the western region like Nas, Redman, and Young Jeezy.

In 2009, Stix released his second independent album titled “Late For Soundcheck”. The album had features from Tyrese, singer/songwriter James Fauntleroy, Luke James, and Chicago native BJ The Chicago Kid. The album also received production from Grammy nominated producers Steve “Swiff D” Thornton, Maejor Ali, Marcus “Seige” White, Chordz 3D, and 1500 or Nothin.

In 2012, his determination and will to succeed would later lead him to work with and executive produce pop rapper Iggy Azalea on her first mixtape Ignorant Art. Stix became instrumental in the early stages of the Iggy Azalea brand. Along with hyping up crowds on stage with I-G-G-Y, Stix would go forward and executive produce Iggy’s “Glory” album with rap legend TI, and “Trap Gold” with FKI’s 1st down and EDM
producer Diplo.

In 2013, Stix, his lawyer, and writing partner created a pop group called Fly Panda. The group received social media support from the likes of Tyrese, Iggy Azalea, Jared Leto, Josh Groban, Perez Hilton, and Far East Movement. The group would later secure a recording contract with Cherry Party/Sony Music which later fell apart due to legal circumstances. Billboard’s cover story music executive Sarah Stennett, hired Stix to join her Turn First / First Access roster of A&R’s in late 2014. Stix would develop, executive produce, and oversee projects from artist Bishop Nehru, Zernell Fontaine, and Laurel.

Stix would also lend his services as a songwriter/record producer to exclusively produce and write for artist like Rita Ora, Zayn Malik, Ellie Goulding and other Turn First / First Access artist. During the end of Summer 2015, pop star Iggy Azalea tweeted that she was back in the studio with her good friends Stix, and the collective D.R.U.G.S to work on her 2017 release “Digital Distortion”. The first leak “Azillion” received over 1 million views on Soundcloud in 2 days and the first official single “Team” debuted #42 on the Billboard Hot 100, IGGY’s highest debut of her career. Team has also received over 150+ Million views online and streamed over 30+ million times. Stix would also lend his songwriter/record producer services and work with artist like Rita Ora, Cody Simpson, Lil Debbie, Nicole Scherzinger, and Greyson Chance.