Philly-based Black Key Beats (a.k.a. Mickey Davis) is a multi-platinum selling music producer, composer and mix engineer. With seven number 1 albums to his credit, he has worked with hip-hop and R&B royalty, including Eminem, 50 Cent, Ludacris, Beyonce, Jay-Z, DMX, Jadakiss, Birdman, Beanie Sigel and Redman. Additional acts comprise that likes of Ghostface, Carl Thomas, Freeway, E40, Memphis Bleek and Styles P. In all, he has contributed to projects that have sold more than 10 million copies.
Black Key is the founder of his own Black Key Productions, Inc., and of publishing imprint Fifty Four Vill Music, LLC. His music has also been featured in movies, TV shows and video games.
His song for DMX, “Who We Be,” was Grammy nominated in 2001 for Best Rap Solo Performance. That song, among many other Black Key Beats’ productions, reached the top 10
on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
Black Key grew up in Philadelphia’s Bartram Village housing projects. He found his life’s inspiration to create music after watching a dance group at an elementary school assembly
that was performing to original beats created on a Roland Drum Machine.