(PRESS RELEASE) The E.N.D. is just the beginning for producer and Chicago native Keith Harris as he scores a Number One single with Black Eyed Peas "Imma Be," a track he produced and co-wrote, topping Billboard's Hot 100 and No. 1 on iTunes. "Imma Be" claims the top spot, knocking Ke$ha's "TiK ToK" from its reign at Number One. Harris recently won a Grammy for his work on the Peas smash CD The E.N.D., and performed 'Imma Be" with the group at this year's Grammy Awards. Called "the hottest drummer in hip-hop" (Drum Magazine), Harris is also the drummer in the Peas, and is currently on tour with the supergroup on their 100-date The E.N.D. World Tour 2010, and will be performing in his hometown when the group plays Chicago's United Center on March 13. During BEPs sold-out show at New York's Madison Square Garden February 24, will.i.am
Harris produced three tracks on the Peas smash CD The E.N.D., including the Top Ten hit "Meet Me Halfway," which went Number One on the UK Singles Chart, and "Ring-A-Ling." "Imma Be" is the third single from the Peas record-breaking The E.N.D. to hit Number One. Billboard calls the stylish track, which contains a sample of "Ride or Die" by The Budos Band, "a funk-house glide...a pounding, assertive club thumper." An epic ten-minute video for "Imma Be" premiered in February.
Harris has been on a roll since he first started working with the Peas in 2003. He's written and produced for artists including John Legend, Estelle, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Ginuwine and Michael Jackson. He worked on Fergie's 2006 solo smash The Dutchess, and Fergie calls him "one brilliant musician and producer" with "an amazing ear." Harris won a Juno Award in 2007 for his work on Jully Black's Revival, named R&B Soul Recording of the Year, and produced Chrisette Michele's "Be Ok", the 2009 Grammy Award winner for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. Harris was born and raised in Chicago's South Side and got his start in music playing with the city's New Friendship Baptist Church gospel choir.
