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Imsomie Leeper (born October 27, 1975) better known by his stage name Mahogany Music, is an African American record producer. Mahogany won his first Grammy Award with his first production on Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life album by Jay-Z. He continued to work with Roc-a-fella Records under the Team Roc umbrella and quickly began working with successful labels such as Loud Records, Ruff Ryders, and Aftermath. Mahogany produced on 5 movie soundtracks, Streets Is Watching (soundtrack), The Wash (soundtrack), 8 Mile (soundtrack), Aktapuss and HBO Series Oz. Mahogany has credited to his name over 30 million records sold, 7 multi platinum and 1 gold record award.

Musical career

Leeper was born in Boston Massachusetts and raised in The South Bronx section of New York City. He began producing late October 1997 and sold his first beat to Jay-Z at the age of 22. landing him the lead single for "The Streets Is Watching" movie soundtrack, which was the first feature film for Jay-Z and Dame Dash. The song was titled "Celebration" and featured Memphis Bleek, Da Ranjahz and Sauce Money. Shortly after he recorded another song with Jay-Z entitled "It's Alright", which became the second single on the album and then placed as a bonus cut on the grammy award winning "Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life" album which sold over 5 million copies. Mahogany began to work with other record companies such as Loud Records, where he produced a song for Big Pun entitled "New York Giants" featuring M.O.P. he continued to work with Loud Records and placed the lead track "Warriorz" on the M.O.P debute album "Warriorz".

Most notably an in-house producer for Ruff Ryders, Mahogany secured a production deal with Ruff Ryders C.E.O Dee & Waah Dean in 1999 which lead to production on Jadakiss first LP entitled "Kiss tha Game Goodbye" which went Platinum. Mahogany produced the songs "Show Discipline" featuring Nas and "Keep ya head up". Mahogany also contributed to the success of the "Ryde or Die Vol. 2" compilation by producing the song entitled "The Great" for Veteran label mate "DMX" and a song for up and coming artist "Cassidy" entitled "Ryde Or Die Boys". Styles P, Lotto, EVE, Infa-red & Cross are among the artist at Ruff Ryders who he's worked with.

An unusual moment took place on November 2001 when Mahogany met Dr.Dre at Record One Studios in L.A., catching Dr.Dre at the tail end of finishing his album for his first feature film "The Wash (soundtrack)" co-starring Snoop Dogg. Mahogany produced the lead single for the movie entitled "Bad Intentions" featuring Knocturnal. This marked the first time Dr.Dre ever allowed anyone to produce him being that Dr.Dre is a self produced artist, and widely known for his own remarkable production. Dr.Dre Stapled the record by announcing at the end of the song "Mahogany Droppin the instrumental" acknowledging Mahogany as the lead producer on the track. EMI Music Publishing West Coast President of Urban Creative Big Jon Platt signed Mahogany to a co-publishing deal shortly after in 2002 impressed with Mahogany's catalog works with Dr.Dre, Ruff Ryders and Jay-Z. Mahogany secured a song deal with Aftermath Records and began working with Shaunta, Daks and Knocturnal. Mahogany Moved to Maryland for 3 years to tap into a more mellow mode for R&B production, so in 2004 Mahogany met Mariah Carey at Right Track Recording studio in New York City, as she began working on the "Emancipation of Mimi". Mahogany produced a song called "Sprung" which became a bonus cut on the UK & Japan Special Edition LP, a second song entitled "I Feel It" was a song that was later taken off the album due to sample clearance. The album went on to sell over 10 Million records and relaunched the Career of Mariah Carey in 2005.

Moving back to New York in 2009 gave Mahogany his gritty hip hop vibe back, landing a track with 50 Cent, on a song called "Heartless Monster" which made it's way to the internet promoting 50 Cents new album. Midway through the year a collaboration with Def Jam Recordings artist Ghostface Killa also added to the repertiore. The song was entitled "Do Over" featuring Raheem DeVaughn. the album "Ghostdini" was scheduled to be the last recording on the label for Ghostface.

Looking to become internationally known Mahogany worked with UK platinum recording artist Jamelia on a song called "I Run In My heels". Mahogany continues to produce in New York City and is looking to work on more movie and film projects and recording artist from different genres.

Discography