Who is RedOne? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Nadir Khayat

Age: 52 Years, 52 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Laila Khayat

Record Producers Swedish Men

Ancestry: Moroccan Swedish

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1

Where is RedOne from?

RedOne is from Tetouan, Morocco.
2

Which famous artists has RedOne collaborated with?

RedOne has collaborated with artists such as Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, and Enrique Iglesias.
3

What genre of music is RedOne known for producing?

RedOne is known for producing pop and dance-pop music.
4

What was RedOne's breakthrough song as a producer?

RedOne's breakthrough song as a producer was Lady Gaga's hit single "Just Dance."
5

How did RedOne first get involved in the music industry?

RedOne started his music career as a guitarist in a band before transitioning to producing and songwriting.

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Childhood & Early Life

He was born Nadir Khayat on April 9, 1972 in Tétouan, Morocco as the youngest of nine children. Growing up in Morocco, he was exposed to music that originated from his native Africa, as well as Europe and the United States.

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Career

His brother purchased a cassette of Europe's song, ‘Final Countdown’ for him. This inspired him to learn how to play guitar and start a band. At age 19, he and his best friend Redouan (The name ‘RedOne’ is a tribute) moved to Sweden to pursue a music career.

Though he stayed with a friend of his brother in Stockholm for a while, RedOne was eventually homeless. He sold vegetables outdoors and washed dishes, all for the equivalent of $40 a week.

Eventually, after a record deal had gone bad, he accepted that he failed as a rock singer, and decided to pursue a computer studies degree to pay the bills.

In 1995, after experimenting with computer technology, he decided that he wanted to learn the business of creating music with a computer.

In 1996, he showed Rami Yacoub, another former rock musician, a demo that he had produced. Yacoub had been a producer for years and he was impressed with the demo; inviting RedOne to work with him.

He became a big name in Sweden by 2001. Starting in the same year, he co-produced the ‘A*Teens’, a former ABBA tribute band.

He received official recognition in 2005 when he wrote ‘Break Free’ and ‘My Love Won't Let You Down’ for Daniel Lindstrom's self-titled album.

He co-wrote his first number one hit, Darin Zanyar's‘Step Up’, with Zanyar and Bilal Hajji, which won them both a Swedish ‘Grammy’ and an award for ‘Scandinavian Song of the Year’.

In 2006, he produced the single ‘Bamboo’ which became the official melody of the ‘2006 FIFA World Cup’.

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He decided to move to the United States in 2007 to try his luck there. He and his wife moved to Jersey City, New Jersey for its proximity to New York. They were penniless for awhile and unable to afford the rent.

He finally struck gold in America after a meeting with ‘Epic Records’. He was in the midst of playing the track ‘Whine Up’ in front of label president Charlie Walk, when Walk interrupted him and stated that he was a genius. He was named the producer of Kat DeLuna's album '9 Lives'.

Laurent Besencon, who managed both Lady Gaga and RedOne, introduced them to each other. They wrote a song called ‘Boys, Boys, Boys’ and their magical partnership was born.

By 2008, he produced a significant portion of Gaga's debut album, 'The Fame'. Together, they produced ‘Just Dance’ and ‘Poker Face’, both chart-topping hits. He continued writing and producing with Gaga and through her was introduced to other American artists, including Nicki Minaj.

In 2010, in conjunction with ‘Universal Music Group’, he founded his label ‘2101 Records’ (now ‘RedOne Records’), and the publishing company ‘2101 Songs’.

Major Works

RedOne produced Lady Gaga's debut album 'The Fame' which was a commercial success and topped the charts in several countries. It peaked at number two on the 'Billboard 200' in the United States, where it sold 4.572 million copies. It is the seventh best-selling digital album in history.

Awards & Achievements

He won a ‘Grammy’ in 2010 for ‘Poker Face’,featuring in Lady Gaga's album 'The Fame'. The following year, he garnered another ‘Grammy for Best Pop Album’ for his production featuring Lady Gaga, 'The Fame Monster.'

In 2011, he received the ‘Moroccan Royal Award for Intellectual Excellence’; decorated officially by King Mohamed VI of Morocco.

He was named BMI’s ‘Songwriter of the Year’ and Billboard’s ‘Producer of Year’ and ‘No. 1 Songwriter’ in 2012.

Personal Life & Legacy

He lives with his 2 year old son, Daniel and his wife, Laila Khayat, in Los Angeles, CA. In 2011, he created ‘The 2101 Foundation’, a non-profit organization dedicated to reaching out to the disadvantaged youth and providing them with inspiration to pursue music, education and the arts.

Facts About RedOne

RedOne, whose real name is Nadir Khayat, was born in Morocco and later moved to Sweden where he pursued his passion for music.

He is known for his unique production style that blends various genres, including pop, dance, and world music, creating hit songs for artists like Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, and Nicki Minaj.

RedOne has won multiple Grammy Awards for his work as a producer and songwriter, showcasing his talent and creativity in the music industry.

In addition to his successful music career, RedOne is also involved in philanthropic efforts, supporting various charitable organizations and causes around the world.

2011	Best Pop Vocal Album	Winner
2010	Best Dance Recording	Winner

RedOne Biography

You wanted to know

Where is RedOne from?

Which famous artists has RedOne collaborated with?

What genre of music is RedOne known for producing?

What was RedOne's breakthrough song as a producer?

How did RedOne first get involved in the music industry?