No I.D.

No I.D.
No I.D. in 2008
Background information
Birth name	Ernest Dion Wilson
Also known as	Dion Wilson Immenslope[1][2]
Born	(1971-06-23) June 23, 1971 (age 53) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop R&B
Occupations	Record producer DJ rapper arranger songwriter
Discography	No I.D. production discography
Years active	1987–present
Labels	Capitol Roc Nation Def Jam GOOD ARTium So So Def Relativity
Member of	Cocaine 80s

Ernest Dion Wilson (born June 23, 1971),^[3] known professionally as No I.D. (formerly Immenslope),^[4] is an American record producer, DJ and songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. He is known for his early work with Chicago-based rapper Common, as well as his career mentorship of rappers Kanye West, J. Cole and Logic.^[5] Wilson first gained success for his role as an in-house producer for Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings—leading to largely uncredited work on Dupri's productions "My Boo" by Usher, "Outta My System" and "Let Me Hold You" by Bow Wow—before reaching commercial success with his solo productions. He worked with Jay-Z to produce his singles "Run This Town" and "Holy Grail," West to produce "Heartless," and Drake to produce "Find Your Love" and "Nonstop"; each have peaked within the top five of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Nicknamed "the Godfather of Chicago hip hop," Wilson is also a former recording artist and signed with Relativity Records to release his only studio album, Accept Your Own and Be Yourself (The Black Album) (1997).^[6][7] He served as president of West's record label GOOD Music from 2008 to 2011, and thereafter formed his own label, ARTium Records as an imprint of Def Jam Recordings. The label has signed artists including Vince Staples, Jhené Aiko and Snoh Aalegra. Also in 2011, Wilson formed the supergroup Cocaine 80s with Common, Aiko, and James Fauntleroy, and was named Executive Vice President of A&R for Def Jam Recordings. In 2018, he was appointed as Executive Vice President of Capitol Music Group.^[8]

Musical career

In 1996, Wilson released an album under the pseudonym No I.D., titled Accept Your Own and Be Yourself (The Black Album).^[9] The moniker No I.D. is a play on the backwards spelling of his birth name, Dion. He also released a beat tape, titled Invisible Beats.^[10] In Wilson's early career he was working as a co-producer for Jermaine Dupri. No I.D. went on to work on hit singles such as "My Boo" by Usher and Alicia Keys and "Let Me Hold You" by Bow Wow featuring Omarion, as well as "Resurrection" and the ode to hip hop "I Used to Love H.E.R.", which garnered Chicago-based rapper Common his early fame. Wilson also introduced Chicago-based rapper Kanye West to hip hop production, inviting him to his sessions with Common, when West was only beginning. He also introduced West to a long-time friend named Kyambo "Hip Hop" Joshua, who was A&R for Roc-A-Fella Records, who eventually signed West to his imprint Hip Hop Since 1978, which launched West's career as an artist and into stardom. West cites Wilson as his mentor on "Last Call," the outro to his highly acclaimed debut album The College Dropout (2004).^[11] West also referenced Wilson's mentorship on songs such as "Big Brother" and "Made in America." Wilson's second official release was with Dug Infinite, a two-album package titled The Sampler, vol. 1 (2002).

No I.D. in a recording studio (left) with Kanye West (middle) and former G.O.O.D. Music A&R Greg "Olskool Ice-Gre" Lewis (right)

In 2007, he was the focus of perhaps the most attention of his career for producing two songs from Jay-Z's album American Gangster. At the time he worked with artists such as Jay-Z, Rhymefest, Plies, Big Sean, Killer Mike, Rick Ross, Drake (Thank Me Later) and Kanye West (808's & Heartbreak, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy), Young Jeezy, and Rihanna on their then-upcoming albums. Wilson produced "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)", the first single for Jay-Z's eleventh studio album The Blueprint 3 (2009), as well as the second single "Run This Town", which features Kanye West and Rihanna. He once again teamed up with Common for the first time since 1997, when he handled the production for his ninth album The Dreamer/The Believer (2011). In June 2011, Wilson formed Cocaine 80s, a musical ensemble composed of several musicians, including Common, James Fauntleroy II, Kevin Randolph, Makeba Riddick, Rob "The Mixer" Kinelski, Steve Wyreman, Free Bass, Keys of Coke and Sam Lewis, among several others.^[12][13][14]

After resigning as President of Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music record company, in August 2011, it was announced No I.D. was appointed Executive Vice President of A&R for Def Jam Recordings. In addition, Def Jam has signed an exclusive joint venture label deal for No I.D.'s Artium Recordings. The announcements were made by Barry Weiss, Chairman and CEO of Universal Republic and Island Def Jam Motown and Karen Kwak, EVP / Head of A&R, Island Def Jam Music Group.^[15][16] In 2012, Wilson was an executive producer on New York City-based rapper Nas' critically acclaimed eleventh album Life Is Good, producing five songs, including the twice Grammy Award-nominated single "Daughters", as well as "Loco-Motive" and "Accident Murderers".In April 2013, it was revealed Wilson signed up-and-coming rapper Logic, to Def Jam.^[17][18] In 2013, Wilson served as the primary producer of G.O.O.D. Music recording artist Big Sean's second album Hall of Fame. In an August 2013 interview with Complex, Wilson said he was currently working on Jhene Aiko and Logic's upcoming respective debut albums.^[19] Since the inception of Artium, Wilson has signed Common, Los Angeles-based singer Jhené Aiko and singer Elijah Blake. On June 30, 2017, Wilson was credited as the primary producer on 4:44 - a new album released via Tidal by Jay-Z. The album has been met with widespread acclaim from music reviews and is notable for the personal account of Jay-Z's alleged infidelity on the title track. 4:44 was the latest installment in an extensive professional relationship between the two, as No I.D. has produced more tracks for Jay-Z than anyone else other than Just Blaze and Timbaland.^[20]

ARTium Recordings

ARTium Recordings
Parent company	Universal Music Group
Founded	2011; 13 years ago (2011)
Founder	No I.D.
Distributor(s)	Roc Nation AWAL Def Jam Interscope Universal
Genre	Hip hop R&B
Country of origin	United States
Location	Chicago, Illinois

ARTium Recordings is an American record label imprint, founded by No I.D. In August 2011, it was announced No I.D. was appointed Executive Vice President of A&R for Def Jam Recordings. In addition, Def Jam has signed an exclusive joint venture label deal for No I.D.'s ARTium Recordings. The announcements were made by Barry Weiss, Chairman and CEO of Universal Republic and Island Def Jam Motown and Karen Kwak, EVP / Head of A&R, Island Def Jam Music Group. No I.D. would report directly to Mr. Weiss and Ms. Kwak.^[15] In 2012, No I.D. signed American neo-soul singer Jhené Aiko. By September 2013, No I.D. had signed up-and-coming American R&B singers Elijah Blake and Snoh Aalegra^[21] On June 4, 2014, it was announced No I.D.'s longtime collaborator and Chicago-bred rapper Common, signed a recording contract with Def Jam Recordings and ARTium Recordings.^[22][23]

Artists (past and present)

• Cocaine 80s
• Common
• Jhené Aiko
• Jordan Ward
• Snoh Aalegra
• Vince Staples
• DJ Dahi
• Mark Battles
• Ogi

Discography

Artist	Album	Details
Jhené Aiko	Sail Out (EP)	Released: November 12, 2013 Chart position: #8 U.S.[24] RIAA certification: Gold[25]
Common	Nobody's Smiling	Released: July 22, 2014 Chart position: #6 U.S.[26]
Jhené Aiko	Souled Out	Released: September 9, 2014 Chart position: #3 U.S.[24]
Elijah Blake	Drift (EP)	Released: September 30, 2014 Chart position: —
Vince Staples	Hell Can Wait (EP)	Released: October 7, 2014 Chart position: #90 U.S.[27]
Elijah Blake	Shadows & Diamonds	Released: June 23, 2015 Chart position: —
Vince Staples	Summertime '06	Released: June 30, 2015 Chart position: #39 U.S.[27]
TWENTY88	TWENTY88 (EP) (released with GOOD)	Released: April 1, 2016 Chart position: #5 U.S.[28]
Snoh Aalegra	Don't Explain (EP)	Released: April 8, 2016 Chart position: —
Vince Staples	Prima Donna (EP)	Released: August 26, 2016 Chart position: #50 U.S.[27]
Common	Black America Again	Released: November 4, 2016 Chart position: #25 U.S.[26]
Vince Staples	Big Fish Theory^[citation needed]	Released: June 23, 2017 Chart position: #16 U.S.[27]
Jhené Aiko	Trip	Released: September 22, 2017 Chart position: #5 U.S.[24]
Snoh Aalegra	Feels	Released: October 20, 2017[29] Chart position: —
Snoh Aalegra	- Ugh, those feels again	Released: August 16, 2019[30] Chart position: #73 U.S.
Jhené Aiko	Chilombo	Released: March 6, 2020 Chart position: #5 U.S.[24]
Snoh Aalegra	TEMPORARY HIGH IN THE VIOLET SKIES	Released: July 9, 2021[31] Chart position: #24 U.S.

Discography

See also: Cocaine 80s discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions and sales figures

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		US R&B/HH
Accept Your Own and Be Yourself (The Black Album)	Release: September 23, 1997 (US) Label: Relativity Formats: CD, digital download	94
The Sampler, vol. 1 (with Dug Infinite)	Released: 2002 (US) Label: All Natural Inc. Formats: CD, digital download	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

List of singles as featured performer, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name

Title	Year	Peak chart positions			Album
		US	US R&B	US Rap
"Sky's The Limit"[32]	1997	—	—	—	Accept Your Own and Be Yourself (The Black Album)
"—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory.

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name

Title	Year	Other artist(s)	Album
"Two Scoops of Raisins"	1992	Common	Can I Borrow a Dollar?
"In My Own World (Check the Method)"	1994		Resurrection
"When You Hot You Hot"	1998	DJ Honda, Dug Infinite	h II
"America"	2017	Logic, Chuck D, Black Thought, Big Lenbo	Everybody

Production discography

Main article: No I.D. production discography

Singles produced

List of singles as either producer or co-producer, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released, performing artists and album name

Title	Year	Peak chart positions										Certifications	Album
		US	US R&B	US Rap	CAN	GER	NLD	NZ	SWE	SWI	UK
"Take It EZ" (Common Sense)	1992	—	—	5	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Can I Borrow a Dollar?
"Breaker 1/9" (Common Sense)		—	107	10	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Soul by the Pound" (Common Sense)	1993	—	108	7	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"I Used to Love H.E.R." (Common Sense)	1994	—	91	31	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Resurrection
"Resurrection" (Common Sense)		102	88	22	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Retrospect for Life" (Common featuring Lauryn Hill)	1997	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		One Day It'll All Make Sense
"Smile" (G-Unit)	2004	—	72	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Beg for Mercy
"Let Me Hold You" (Bow Wow featuring Omarion)	2005	4	2	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	27	RIAA: Platinum	Wanted
"Ooh Wee"[33] (Majic Massey)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		—
"Outta My System" (Bow Wow featuring T-Pain and Johntá Austin)	2006	22	12	2	—	—	—	2	—	—	—	RIAA: Platinum	The Price of Fame
"Put It on Ya" (Plies featuring Chris J)	2008	31	8	6	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Da REAList
"Heartless" (Kanye West)		2	4	1	8	37	31	6	17	46	10	ARIA: 4× Platinum IFPI: Platinum[34] BVMI: Gold[35] FIMI: Gold[36] RMNZ: Gold[37] BPI: Platinum[38] RIAA: 7× Platinum[39] RIAA: Platinum (Mastertone)[40]	808s & Heartbreak
"D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" (Jay-Z)	2009	24	43	15	—	—	—	—	—	—	79		The Blueprint 3
"Run This Town" (Jay-Z featuring Kanye West and Rihanna)		2	3	1	6	18	30	9	8	9	1	RIAA: 2× Platinum[41] BPI: Platinum RMNZ: Gold[42] BVMI: Gold[43] ARIA: Platinum
"Find Your Love" (Drake)	2010	5	3	—	10	—	85	—	—	—	24	BPI: Silver RIAA: 3× Platinum[44]	Thank Me Later
"Mr. Rager" (Kid Cudi)		77	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	BPI: Silver	Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
"Ready Set Go"[45] (Killer Mike featuring T.I.)		—	110	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		PL3DGE
"My Last" (featuring Chris Brown)	2011	30	4	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	RIAA: Platinum[41]	Finally Famous
"Ghetto Dreams" (Common featuring Nas)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		The Dreamer/The Believer
"Blue Sky" (Common)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Sweet" (Common)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Celebrate" (Common)		—	95	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"This Time" (Melanie Fiona featuring J. Cole)	2012	—	89	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		The MF Life
"Daughters" (Nas)		—	78	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Life Is Good
"Accident Murderers" (Nas featuring Rick Ross)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Pain" (Pusha T featuring Future)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		My Name Is My Name
"Switch Up" (Big Sean featuring Common)	2013	—	50	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Hall of Fame
"Black Skinhead" (Kanye West)		69	21	15	66	—	—	—	—	—	34		Yeezus
"Holy Grail" (Jay-Z featuring Justin Timberlake)		4	2	1	13	24	83	24	15	24	7	MC: Platinum IFPI: Platinum BVMI: Gold RMNZ: Gold[46] GLF: 2× Platinum BPI: Gold RIAA: 4× Platinum	Magna Carta Holy Grail
"Control" (Big Sean featuring Kendrick Lamar and Jay Electronica)		111	43	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		—
"Bound 2"		12	3	3	74	—	—	—	—	—	55	ARIA: 3× Platinum IFPI: Gold AFP: Gold BPI: Platinum RIAA: 4× Platinum[47]	Yeezus
"Satellites"[48] (Tassho Pearce featuring Kid Cudi)	2014	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		G.O.O.D. Company[49]
"Kingdom" (Common featuring Vince Staples)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Nobody's Smiling
"To Love & Die" (Jhené Aiko featuring Cocaine 80s)		—	46	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	72		Souled Out
"Speak My Piece" (Common)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Nobody's Smiling
"Diamonds" (Common featuring Big Sean)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"The Story of O.J." (Jay-Z)	2017	23	10	7	53	—	—	—	—	—	28	RIAA: Gold	4:44
"4:44" (Jay-Z)		35	15	11	69	—	—	—	—	—	73
"Bam" (Jay-Z featuring Damian Marley)		47	21	16	—	—	—	—	—	—	93
"New Light" (John Mayer)	2018	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Sob Rock
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2010	"Run This Town"	Best Rap Song	Won
	"D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)"		Nominated
2013	"Daughters"		Nominated
2014	"Holy Grail"		Nominated
2015	"Bound 2"		Nominated
2018	"The Story of O.J."		Nominated
		Record of the Year	Nominated
	"4:44"	Song of the Year	Nominated
	"4:44"	Album of the Year	Nominated
	Himself	Producer of the Year, Non-Classical	Nominated

See also

• Honorific nicknames in popular music

References

1. Johnson, Fatim (August 7, 2012). "Respect Your Elders: Common — "Two Scoops of Raisins" : RESPECT". Respect-mag.com. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
2. "Immenslope | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
3. "No I.D.| About". grammy.com. Recording Academy. November 28, 2017. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
4. "No I.D. profile". hotnewhiphop.com. Hot New Hip Hop. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
5. "Logic Says No I.D. Is Like Yoda". XXLmag.com. January 17, 2014.
6. "No I.D." BET.com. July 25, 2012. Archived from the original on November 22, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
7. Ahmed, Insanul. "Interview: No I.D. Talks Def Jam, Kanye West, & How He Affected "Watch The Throne"". Complex. Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
8. Barker, Andrew (January 24, 2018). "Capitol Records' Dion 'No I.D.' Wilson on Producing Jay-Z's '4:44' and Finding Diamonds in the Rough". Variety. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
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23. "Common Signs To Def Jam, Announces "Nobody's Smiling" Release Date". Slumz.boxden.com. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
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25. "American certifications – Jhené Aiko". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
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27. "Vince Staples – Chart history: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
28. "Twenty88 – Chart history: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
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30. "- Ugh, those feels again by Snoh Aalegra". Apple iTunes. August 16, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
31. Aroesti, Rachel (July 9, 2021). "Snoh Aalegra: Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies review – inventive R&B with retro charm". The Guardian. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
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34. "Kanye West "Heartless" | IFPI". ifpi.dk. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
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42. "Latest Gold / Platinum Singles". RadioScope. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
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External links

• No I.D. at AllMusic
• No I.D. discography at Discogs
• No I.D. discography at MusicBrainz