Organized Noize

During the mid- to late ’90s, Organized Noize was the preeminent production crew for Atlanta-area contemporary R&B and rap, crafting chart-topping hits like TLC’s “Waterfalls” and En Vogue’s “Can’t Let Go (Love)” as well as critically acclaimed albums for OutKast, Big Boi, and Goodie Mob. Though the trio, comprising Rico Wade, Ray Murray, and Sleepy Brown, made a few attempts to strike out on their own in the mid-’90s as Society of Soul and Sleepy's Theme, they primarily worked behind the scenes, elevating other artists to success with impressive frequency, especially those in their Dungeon Family collective, which included OutKast, Goodie Mob, Joi, Killer Mike, Future, and many others. At the turn of the millennium, their mainstream output slowed somewhat. However, in addition to continued involvement with active Dungeon Family artists, the trio was involved with a number of notable albums by acts like Gnarls Barkley, Janelle Monáe, and Run the Jewels. A 2016 documentary, The Art of Organized Noize, returned the team to the spotlight, and the response to the film prompted a resurgence in their creative output. The Organized Noize EP arrived in 2017 and featured familiar faces like Joi, Big Boi, Cee Lo, and 2 Chainz. ~ Jason Birchmeier & Neil Z. Yeung