Who Is Makeba?: Who Is Makeba?

Baltimore native Makeba Riddick has proven the city has much more to offer than the hit HBO series “The Wire”. Makeba refined her musical abilities which include singing, songwriting and being a classically trained pianist at the Baltimore School of Performing Arts and later the prestigious Berklee School of Music before bringing her hit making skills to the bright lights of New York City.

The 25 year old song-writing guru and CEO of Adorable Music is well on her way to becoming one of the most successful female songwriters of all time. Makeba boasts a portfolio of writing credits for a “Who’s Who” in the entertainment industry includes Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Tony Braxton and Janet Jackson. Whether its Beyonce’s female anthem, “Upgrade You” or Jennifer Lopez’s musical career defining number one single “All I have”, Makeba has quietly churned out hits at a blistering pace. Often, it only takes the musical prodigy only 15 to 30 minutes to create one of her songs which consistently reach the Billboard Top 10 charts. Her intense work ethic and efficiency has made her a favorite to work with amongst top rated producers such as Swizz Beatz, Rodney Jerkins and Scott Storch.

“I want to break down the stereotype that women can’t be a dominate force on the business side of entertainment,” says Makeba. “Women offer so much more than dancing in a video or playing the background for our male counterparts.”

Despite her strong sense of female pride, Makeba gives an equal share of credit as her musical influences and role models. Clive Davis, Diane Warren, Timbaland, Missy Elliot John Mayer and Quincy Jones are all at the top of the list. But Makeba gives Bad Boy Entertainment’s Francesca Spero and Sean “P Diddy” Combs credit for believing in her talent and offering her first big break which led to writing for at the moment teen sensations B2K and 3LW in 2003.

For 2007, record labels are entrusting Makeba to provide the foundation for success with artists such as Michelle Williams, Solange Knowles, and Wynter Gordon amongst others. Makeba plans to firmly establishing herself as a multi-faceted brand as she branches off into script writing and ultimately creating her own publishing company. Despite being young and very comfortably financial, Makeba has not forgotten her roots as she is heavily entrenched in community service in both Baltimore and New York through her Adorable Foundation, a subsidiary of her company Adorable Music.

“A lot of my success comes from the fact I write what other people can relate to,” says Makeba. I try to create music which invokes passion and feeling”.

It’s safe to say that judging from her track record for success; she has and will continue to evoke plenty of feeling and passion.

Deja Vu Performed By Beyonce Written By Makeba