Ron Browz

Rondell Edwin Turner (born December 6, 1982), better known by his stage name Ron Browz (), is an American recording artist and record producer from Harlem, New York. He initially gained major recognition after producing the Jay-Z diss track, "Ether" by Nas. Due to the notoriety of the song, Browz adopted the nickname Ether Boy. In 2008, he began recording music as a rapper, utilizing the Auto-Tune effect and subsequently released the popular single, "Pop Champagne". He also founded his own record label imprint, Ether Boy Records.

Career

1998–2007: Producing for hip hop artists

Ron Browz began producing records for Harlem-based rapper Big L. He later gained an album placement with Nas' critically acclaimed song "Ether", which was used at that time to diss fellow rapper Jay-Z. He began to refer to himself as "Ether Boy", after the song.

2008–2010: Venture as a recording artist

In late 2008 Ron Browz started working on his solo album Etherboy after receiving a deal from Universal Motown. Browz retrospectively recounted that around this time, he was "running low on money" and unsure of his future in music. After by chance hearing the song "I'm a Rider" by 50 Cent, which featured the Auto-Tune effect, Ron Browz was inspired to use the technology in his own music, which led to him recording the similarly Auto-Tune-heavy "Pop Champagne". "Pop Champagne", a collaboration with fellow Harlem rapper Jim Jones featuring Juelz Santana, was released to commercial success later in 2008 as the first single for the prospective Etherboy album. "Pop Champagne" was included on Jones's 2009 album Pray IV Reign.

Subsequently, Browz released the single "Jumping (Out the Window)", which featured a similarly heavy use of Auto-Tune. The song became a regional hit, receiving airplay on New York radio stations. Browz was also featured on Busta Rhymes' single "Arab Money", which was produced by Browz and featured more of his characteristic Auto-Tune. The themes and lyrics of the song ignited controversy, particularly from Muslim communities; Music commentator Eric Ducker noted that Browz sings "non-sensical Arabic" in the chorus, likening it to "doing a song involving China and having the hook be: Ching chang ching chong chong." Browz also sang the hook on and produced Capone-N-Noreaga's song "Rotate" off their album Channel 10.

Browz's song "20 Dollars" became an internet meme among fans of the Slenderman mythos. This originated from a video uploaded by YouTube user brett824 that claimed to have "discovered" missing audio of a Marble Hornets episode, but in reality was a humorous bait-and-switch that instead played 20 Dollars whenever Slenderman appeared on-screen. The song became associated with Slenderman, who fans facetiously claimed only stalked its victims because it "simply wants 20 dollars".

However, his planned Etherboy album was never released, and Browz eventually parted ways with Universal in 2009 due to business disagreements. On December 22, 2009, Browz independently released an extended play entitled Timeless. On July 20, 2010, Browz released his debut album Etherlibrium independently on his founded record label Ether Boy Records.

2011–present: Independent and mixtape circuit

In 2011 Browz had been giving fans free downloads of songs from his upcoming double album Random/Awkward. But in late 2011 it was announced by Browz that his next album would not be the double-disc set Random/Awkward. On October 17, 2011, Browz released his mixtape entitled The Christening. On February 14, 2012, Browz released an extended play entitled Fly Away. on August 29, 2012, Browz released another mixtape entitled Stranded On Lenox. On November 23, 2012, Browz released an instrumental mixtape entitled Ron Browz Instrumentals Vol. 1.

Browz continued touring the world performing songs from his most recent release Blvck Circus which was released on May 21, 2013. On January 29, 2014, Browz released a sequel to The Christening entitled The Christening 2. On September 2, 2014, Browz released a single entitled "She Don't Like Me".

Discography

• Etherlibrium (2010)

Awards

Urban Music Awards

• 2009, Best Collaboration ft. Jim Jones & Juelz Santana 'Pop Champagne' (Won)