Phillip "Oji" Primes Pierce (May 13, 1960 – August 21, 2006) was an American record producer, composer, keyboardist, and engineer who had collaborated with a number of music artists in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Early life Pierce, the only son of Henry Primes Pierce and Rosella Harris Vaughn, was born in Statesville, North Carolina. He had two sisters, Dyrel and Ledra. Pierce received his primary and secondary education in the District of Columbia school system.
Career Musically shaped by the church, Pierce's career as a songwriter, producer and arranger took off when he produced singer Montell Jordan's debut album This Is How We Do It (1995), along with its number-one title track. While the song earned Jordan a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards, it won him and Pierce Best R&B 12-inch at the International Dance Music Awards in Miami. Following the success with Jordan, Pierce became a sought-after producer in the R&B and hip hop scene, working with artists such as Kenny Lattimore, Norman Brown, CeCe Peniston, and Coolio, for whose album My Soul (1997) he contributed the single "Ooh La La." In the late 1990s, he became instrumental in securing R&B duo Ruff Endz a recording deal with Epic Records.
Death Pierce died on August 21, 2006, at the age of 46, in Gallup, New Mexico after a battle with sarcoidosis.
Selected production discography + Name of song, featured performers, originating album, year released and specified role. Year Title Artist Album Songwriter Producer 1995 "Somethin' 4 da Honeyz" Montell Jordan This Is How We Do It 1995 "This Is How We Do It" 1996 "Always Remember" Kenny Lattimore Kenny Lattimore 1997 "Ooh La La" Coolio My Soul 1999 "You Make Me Feel Brand New" Norman Brown Celebration 2000 "One More Chance" Anastacia Not That Kind 2000 "Undercover" Paul Taylor Undercover 2000 "Love Crimes" Ruff Endz Love Crimes
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