Dem Jointz

American record producer and songwriter (born 1976)

Dem Jointz

Dem Jointz in 2023

Background information
Birth name| Dwayne Allen Abernathy Jr.
Born|  (1976-07-17) July 17, 1976 (age 48)
Origin| Compton, California, U.S.
Genres|

* Hip hop
* R&B
* pop
* K-pop

Occupations|

* Record producer
* songwriter
* singer

Labels|

* Aftermath
* U Made Us What We Are

Member of|

* Read the PDF
* The ICU

Musical artist

Dwayne Allen Abernathy Jr. (born July 17, 1976), known professionally as Dem Jointz, is an American record producer, songwriter and singer. He has been credited with production work for artists including Kanye West, Rihanna,[1] Anderson .Paak, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, EXO, NCT, Aespa, and Itzy, among others. He served as in-house talent for Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment in 2015, during which he produced four tracks on Dre's third album, Compton (2015).[2] That same year, he produced several tracks on Janet Jackson's Billboard 200-number one album, Unbreakable (2015).

Since 2020, Abernathy has contributed production or backing vocals to West's albums Donda (2021) and Donda 2 (2022), as well as on his 2020 single "Nah Nah Nah".[3]

His record label, U Made Us What We Are, was founded in 2015 and has signed artists including Maryland-based rapper K.A.A.N., gospel singer Keedron Bryant, and his spouse, singer Stalone. He formed the supergroup Read the PDF with fellow Aftermath producers, Mr. Porter and Focus… in 2022.[4]

He has won a Grammy Award from two nominations.[5]

## Early Life

[edit]

Dem Jointz was Born on July 17, 1976, in Compton, California. He was inclined to music at an early age, playing drums in his local church.[3][6]

## Career

[edit]

Prior to fully committing to music, Dem Jointz worked at a telecommunications company. In 2005, he was unexpectedly fired, which motivated him to pursue music seriously.[3]

In 2015 he was recruited as an in-house producer for Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment. That same year, he contributed to four tracks on Dre’s d album Compton (2015), which featured an all-star lineup including Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, and Eminem.[6]

In 2015, he also co-produced several tracks on Janet Jackson’s Unbreakable album, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Over the years, he went on to work with Kanye West, Rihanna, Christina Aguilera, Anderson , Paak, Eminem, and Brandy, among many others. His contributions to Kanye West’s Donda (2021) and Anderson, Paak’s Ventura (2019) earned him multiple Grammy nominations and two Grammy Awards.[7][8]

Dem Jointz founded his own record label, U Made Us What We Are, in 2015. The label was created to support and develop emerging talent.[6]

Around the same time, Dem Jointz began making waves in the K-pop industry. His first major K-pop placement came with Red Velvet’s "Don’t U Wait No More" from their debut studio album, The Red (2015). The success of the track resulted in collaborations with SM Entertainment, leading to a long-term partnership with the powerhouse label. He produced major hits for EXO, NCT 127, Aespa, BTS, TXT, and IVE. EXO’s "Obsession" was named K-Pop Song of the Year by Billboard, while Aespa’s "Supernova" dominated the charts for 11 weeks at No. 1 and won Song of the Year at the Korean MAMA Awards. [9][10][11]

## Producer tag

[edit]

Abernathy's productions can be identified by his "Incoming!" producer tag, which can be heard in the beginning of his productions—namely Kanye West's "Nah Nah Nah".[12] He also uses the tag "Now, the breakdown" before the bridge of many songs, including Taeyeon's "Something New" and Lee Chaeyeon's "Hush Rush".[citation needed]

## Personal life

[edit]

On November 6, 2021, Dem Jointz announced on Instagram that he's engaged to his partner, Stalone, a Grammy-winning vocalist.[13]

## Discography

[edit]

Partial list of writer & producer credits  Year  | Title  | Album  | Artist(s)

|
|
|

2011  | "Cockiness (Love It)"  | Talk That Talk[1] | Rihanna, Candice Pillay, Shondrae "Mr. Bangladesh" Crawford, Fenty
2012  | "Hottest Girl in the World"  | Evolution[14] | JLS
"Dessert"  | JLS
"All The Way"  | JLS
"Gotta Try It"  | JLS
"Put It Down"  | Two Eleven[15] | Brandy, Chris Brown
"Let Me Go"  | Brandy
"What You Need"  | Brandy
"Lotus Intro"  | Lotus[16] | Christina Aguilera, Candice Pillay, Alexander Grant
"Make the World Move"  | Christina Aguilera, CeeLo Green
"Circles"  | Christina Aguilera
"Shut Up"  | Christina Aguilera
2013  | "Call Me Crazy"  | Call Me Crazy, But... | Sevyn Streeter, written by Amber Streeter, Taylor Parks
"Feel Like Party'n"  | Chase Dreams | Kalin & Myles
2014  | "Phuq Da World"  |  Vuck You | Vina Vuna
"Friends & Lovers"  | Friends & Lovers | Marsha Ambrosius
"Neva Been Scared"  | Sing Pray Love, Vol. 1: Sing | Kelly Price
2015  | "Unbreakable"  | Unbreakable | Janet Jackson
"Burnitup!"
"Dammn Baby"
"Shoulda Known Better"
"2 B Loved"
"Don't U Wait No More"  | The Red | Red Velvet
"Genocide"  | Compton[17] | Dr. Dre & Kendrick Lamar
"Medicine Man"  | Dr. Dre, Eminem, Candice Pillay and Anderson .Paak
"Deep Water"  | Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar and Justus
"Satisfiction"  | Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Marsha Ambrosius and King Mez
"Yellow Canary"  | dumblonde | Dumblonde
"Party 4 da Low"  | The High EP | Candice Pillay
"Consistent"  | Shoulda Been There Pt. 1 | Sevyn Streeter
"Right Here Right Now"  | Right Here, Right Now[18] | Jordin Sparks, Dwayne Abernathy, and James Fauntleroy
"1000"  | Jordin Sparks, James "J-Doe" Smith
"All In A Days Work"  | DK3 | Danity Kane
2016  | "Silicon Valley"  | Malibu | Anderson .Paak
"Groovy Tony / Eddie Kane"  | Blank Face LP | ScHoolboy Q
"Cloud 9"  | Ex'Act | Exo
2017  | "Facts"  | All Things Work Together | Lecrae
"Cherry Bomb"  | Cherry Bomb | NCT 127
2018  | "Something New"  | Something New | Taeyeon
"Who R U?"  | Oxnard | Anderson .Paak
"Brother's Keeper"  | Anderson .Paak, Pusha T
"Taste"  | RBB | Red Velvet
2019  | "Obsession"  | Obsession | Exo
"Ya Ya Ya"
2020  | "Nah Nah Nah"  | Non-album singles  | Kanye West, DaBaby, 2 Chainz
"Wash Us in the Blood"  | Kanye West, Travis Scott
"2YA2YAO!"  | Timeless | Super Junior
"Kick It"  | Neo Zone | NCT 127
"Punch"
"Never Love Again"  | Music to Be Murdered By | Eminem
"Outro: Dream Routine"  | NCT 2020 Resonance | NCT
2021  | "Don't Call Me"  | Don't Call Me | Shinee
"Right Now"  | Loveholic | NCT 127
"Life of the Party"  | Donda | Kanye West, André 3000
"Jail"  | Kanye West, Jay-Z
"Believe What I Say"  | Kanye West
"Keep My Spirit Alive"  | Kanye West, Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine
"New Again"  | Kanye West
"Jail pt 2"  | Kanye West, DaBaby, Marilyn Manson
"Keep My Spirit Alive pt 2"  | Kanye West, Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine, KayCyy
"Sticker"  | Sticker | NCT 127
"Universe (Let's Play Ball)"  | Universe | NCT U
"Fallin Up"  | Grand Theft Auto Online: The Contract | Dr. Dre, Cocoa Sarai, Thurz
"Diamond Mind"  | Dr. Dre, Ty Dolla Sign, Nipsey Hussle
2022  | "Step Back" | Non-album singles  | Got the Beat
"City of Gods"  | Donda 2 | Fivio Foreign, Kanye West, Alicia Keys
"Too Easy"  | Kanye West
"Tank"  | Ad Mare | Nmixx
"Arcade"  | Glitch Mode | NCT Dream
"Run BTS"  | Proof | BTS
"What If…"  | Jack in the Box | J-Hope
"Use This Gospel (Remix)"  | God Did | DJ Khaled, Kanye West, Eminem
"Eyes On You"  | Eyes On You | Kangta
"Time Lapse"  | 2 Baddies | NCT 127
"Designer"
"In My Bag"  | One Bad Night | Jamie
"Nvrlnd"  | Non-album singles  | Yng Wmxn, Anisa
"6 Feet"  | EastSide K-Boy, Problem, Dave East
"Hush Rush"  | Hush Rush | Lee Chaeyeon
"Wanna Fall in Love"  | Non-album singles  | Stalone
"Selfish"  | Selfish | YooA
"Have a Nice Day"  | Snoop, Cube, 40, $hort | Mount Westmore
2023  | "Stamp on It"  | Stamp on It | Got the Beat
"Ay-Yo"  | Ay-Yo | NCT 127
"Skyscraper"
"Juice"  | Hard | Shinee
"Regret It"  | Exist | Exo
"Dirty Dancing (Dem Jointz Remix)"  | The Block Revisited | New Kids on the Block & Seventeen
"Parade"  | Fact Check | NCT 127
2024  | "Heya (헤야)"  | Ive Switch | Ive
"Supernova"  | Armageddon | aespa
"Essa Hoisa"  | AG! Calling | Atarashii Gakko!
"Trouble"  | The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) | Eminem
"Road Rage"  | Eminem, Dem Jointz, Sly Pyper
"Guilty Conscience 2"  | Eminem
"Sickuhh"  | Fe3O4: Stick Out | Nmixx, Kid Milli
"Sexy in the Air"  | Eternal | Taemin
"Because I Love You"  | Non-album singles  | Halle Bailey
"Gold"  | Gold | Itzy
"Forty One Winks"  | The Star Chapter: Sanctuary | Tomorrow X Together
"Zip Zip Zip"  | Youth Never DIE | Dxmon
2025  | "With the IE (Way Up)"  | Ruby | Jennie
"ExtraL"  | Jennie, Doechii
"Filter"  | Jennie
"Golden Recipe"  | Fe3O4: Forward | Nmixx
"BTG"  | Uncut Gem | KiiiKiii
"GBAD"  | GBAD | Jackson Wang

## Awards and recognition

[edit]

### Grammy Awards

[edit]

#### 62nd Annual Grammy Awards (2020)

[edit]

* Winner – Best R&B Album – Ventura (Anderson. Paak) – [Dem Jointz contributed to "Reachin’ 2 Much"]

#### 64th Annual Grammy Awards (2022)

[edit]

Sources:[19][20]

* Winner – Best Rap Song – "Jail" (Kanye West ft. Jay-Z)

* Nominee – Album of the Year – Donda (Kanye West)

### Emmy Awards

[edit]

* Awarded to the Aftermath production crew: Dr. Dre, Fredwreck, Dem Jointz, Focus…, Blu2th, and Trevor Lawrence, Jr.[21]

### Billboard Honors

[edit]

* 2019: K-Pop Song of the Year – "Obsession" (EXO)[22]

### Korean Music Awards

[edit]

* 2024: Song of the Year – "Supernova" (AESPA, 11 weeks at #1 on Korean charts)[23]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Vena, Jocelyn (November 28, 2011). "Rihanna's Cockiness Is Perfect for Her, Producer Says". MTV.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2016. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
2. ^ Pollard, Alexandra (August 3, 2015). "Dr. Dre Confirms Third + Final Album is Out This Friday". GigWise. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
3. ^ a b c "Despite being in the industry for 10 years, Grammy-winning producer dem Jointz says he's just getting started". February 22, 2022.
4. ^ "Read the PDF on How Project Came to Life and Who Inspired Them | Eminem.Pro - the biggest and most trusted source of Eminem". July 7, 2023.
5. ^ https://www.grammy.com/artists/Dem-Jointz/37868
6. ^ a b c "Dem Jointz Vinyl Records & Discography". vinylmeplease.com. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
7. ^ "Focus…, Dem Jointz & Denaun Porter a/k/a Read The PDF Prep New Raed Al Murish-Directed "The Time" Music Video". chadkiser.com. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
8. ^ "Anderson .Paak Drops Instrumental 'Ventura' Album". Hypebeast. February 17, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
9. ^ "DEM JOINTZ". Blooming Music Pub. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
10. ^ "Notes on K-pop interview: Dem Jointz". Notes on K-pop. February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
11. ^ Herrera, Kathleen (July 15, 2022). "[OffStage] Dem Jointz - TheKMeal". Retrieved February 27, 2025.
12. ^ ""Nah Nah Nah" – Kanye West". YouTube. October 16, 2020.
13. ^ ""Stalone said she'd think about it... She said Yes"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021.
14. ^ "Aston Merrygold Collaborates with Dem Jointz for debut album". Hamada Mania Music. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
15. ^ Widran, Jonathan. "Pop/Urban Star Brandy Talks About Her New Album, Two Eleven, on RCA / Chameleon Records". Singer Universe. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
16. ^ Lambert, Molly (November 13, 2012). "Lotus and the Glorious Return of Christina Aguilera". Grantland. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
17. ^ "Dr. Dre's FINAL Album: "Compton – The Soundtrack" Track List Changes". Boom 92 Houston. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
18. ^ Stutz, Colin (July 9, 2015). "Jordin Sparks Dances in The Desert for 'Right Here Right Now'". Billboard. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
19. ^ "Dwayne Abernathy Jr. | Artist | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
20. ^ "Dem jointz won a Grammy for best rap song". allkpop forums. April 4, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
21. ^ "Bud'da, Fredwreck & Dem Jointz Celebrate Emmy Award Wins After Receiving Statuettes » West Coast Styles". December 13, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
22. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (September 13, 2024). "Here's Your First Look at SEVENTEEN's Vernon in Anderson .Paak's 'K-Pops' Movie". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
23. ^ "Critics name aespa's 'Supernova' as 'Song of the Year'". The Korea Times. December 31, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* Dem Jointz credits on AllMusic

* v
* t
* e

Grammy Award for Best Rap Song

2000s|

* "Lose Yourself" – Jeff Bass, Eminem & Luis Resto (songwriters) (2004)
* "Jesus Walks" – Miri Ben-Ari, Che Smith & Kanye West (songwriters) (2005)
* "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" – Devon Harris & Kanye West (songwriters) (2006)
* "Money Maker" – Ludacris and Pharrell Williams (songwriters) (2007)
* "Good Life – Aldrin Davis, Faheem Najm & Kanye West (songwriters) (2008)
* "Lollipop" – Dwayne Carter, Stephen Garrett, Darius Harrison, Jim Jonsin & Rex Zamor (songwriters) (2009)

2010s|

* "Run This Town" – Shawn Carter, Robyn Fenty, Makeba Riddick, Kanye West & Ernest Wilson (songwriters) (2010)
* "Empire State of Mind" – Shawn Carter, Angela Hunte, Alicia Keys, Jane't "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic & Alexander Shuckburgh (songwriters) (2011)
* "All of the Lights" – Jeff Bhasker, Stacy Ferguson, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West (songwriters) (2012)
* "Niggas in Paris" – Shawn Carter, Mike Dean, Chauncey Hollis & Kanye West (songwriters) (2013)
* "Thrift Shop" – Ben Haggerty & Ryan Lewis (songwriters) (2014)
* "I" – Kendrick Duckworth, Columbus Smith & Ronald Isley (songwriters) (2015)
* "Alright" – Kendrick Duckworth, Kawan Prather, Mark Spears & Pharrell Williams (songwriters) (2016)
* "Hotline Bling" – Aubrey Graham & Paul Jefferies (songwriters) (2017)
* "Humble" – Kendrick Duckworth, Asheton Hogan & Michael Williams II (songwriters) (2018)
* "God's Plan" – Aubrey Graham, Ronald LaTour, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Matthew Samuels & Noah Shebib (songwriters) (2019)

2020s|

* "A Lot" – Jermaine Cole, Dacoury Natche, 21 Savage & Anthony White (songwriters) (2020)
* "Savage" – Beyoncé, Shawn Carter, Brittany Hazzard, Derrick Milano, Terius Nash, Megan Pete, Bobby Sessions Jr., Jordan Kyle Lanier Thorpe & Anthony White (songwriters) (2021)
* "Jail" – Dwayne Abernathy, Jr., Shawn Carter, Raul Cubina, Michael Dean, Charles M. Njapa, Sean Solymar, Kanye West & Mark Williams (songwriters) (2022)
* "The Heart Part 5" – Jake Kosich, Johnny Kosich, Kendrick Duckworth & Matt Schaeffer (songwriters) (2023)
* "Scientists & Engineers" – Andre Benjamin, Paul Beauregard, James Blake, Michael Render, Tim Moore & Dion Wilson (songwriters) (2024)
* "Not Like Us" – Kendrick Duckworth (songwriter) (2025)

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template