Ezekiel Lewis is an American record executive who has served since 2023 as President of Epic Records. Prior, he served as Senior VP of A&R at Motown from 2011 to 2017, and held a similar title at Epic from the latter year to 2023.[1][2][3] He is also the founder of the music publishing company Bar Music Group, as well as the production collective the Clutch.[1]

Ezekiel Lewis
Born
EducationMorehouse College
Occupation(s)Record executive, songwriter

Early life and education

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Lewis grew up in Montgomery, Alabama.[4] Lewis graduated from Morehouse College.[1]

Career

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Lewis signed with David Foster’s 143 Records as a musician after graduating from college.[1][2] He served as a composer for Luther Vandross’s Grammy-winning album Dance with My Father, which was released in 2003.[1][5]

In 2004, Lewis co-founded songwriting and production collective The Clutch, crafting songs for artists such as Mary J. Blige, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Omarion, Fantasia, Jennifer Lopez, Ciara, and Timbaland.[3][6] Notable credits from this period include Mary J. Blige’s Grammy-winning 2005 classic The Breakthrough,.[1][5]  "Freakshow" and “Radar” from Britney Spears' 2007 opus Blackout,[7] and Justin Bieber's 2009 triple-platinum hit “One Less Lonely Girl.”[8]

He worked closely with R&B singer Trey Songz, contributing to his first album I Gotta Make It in 2005.[3][5][9]

Lewis founded the music publishing company Bar Music Group in 2010.[1]

The company represents a number of artists, songwriters and producers including John “SK” McGee (Future, Trey Songz, Pusha T, Kevin Gates) and Najja McDowell (Trey Songz’ “2 Reasons” featuring T.I., “Simply Amazing” and “Dive In”). He started to climb the label ranks in 2011, when he was named Senior Vice President of A&R at Motown Records in 2011.[1][10] While at Motown Records, he worked on music by artists such as Ne-Yo, Lil Yachty, and T.I.[1][5]

With a knack for sniffing out hits and lifting great artists to new heights, in 2017, Lewis was appointed Executive Vice President of A&R at Epic Records.[11][12] In this capacity, he worked on music with artists such as 21 Savage, the Black Eyed Peas, Future, and Meghan Trainor.[1][11] He also contributed to Mariah Carey’s 2018 album Caution.[5][13] He did production work on Kevin Hart’s Grammy-nominated 2018 comedy album What Now?[2][14]

Lewis also spearheaded major comebacks for the Black Eyed Peas and Meghan Trainor. The exec helped guide Black Eyed Peas on their 2020 album Translation, which included the smash hits “Ritmo (Bad Boys for Life)” and “Mamacita.” which were included in Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart.[15]

Additionally, he shaped Meghan Trainor’s 2022 album Takin’ It Back, which produced the viral smash "Made You Look."[16] During this period, he also A&R'd Giveon’s 2022 album Give or Take.[16]

In 2023, Lewis was appointed President of Epic Records, shepherding the likes of rising pop stars Madison Beer and Zara Larsson to massive success.[1][3][17] He was also named to Billboard’s Power 100 List[11] and was honored at the Creative Community for Peace’s fifth annual Ambassadors for Peace event.[18] The accolades continued in 2024, Lewis being named Billboard Executive of the Week for his work on Tyla’s song “Water.”[19]

Select Discography

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Year Artist Work Credits
2003 Luther Vandross Dance With My Father Composer
2005 Trey Songz I Gotta Make It Composer
2005 Mary J. Blige Take Me As I Am Composer
2006 Jagged Edge Jagged Edge Composer
2006 The Isley Brothers / Ronald Isley Baby Makin' Music Producer, Vocal (Background), Voice Arrangement, Vocal Producer, Composer
2006 Omarion 21 Composer
2007 Kevin Michael Kevin Michael Composer
2007 Mario Go Composer
2007 Omarion Ice Box Composer
2007 Britney Spears Freakshow Co-writer
2007 Britney Spears Radar Co-writer
2007 Keke Palmer So Uncool Composer
2008 Amerie Because I love You Composer
2008 Danity Kane Anonymous Hit Pack Composer
2008 Danity Kane Welcome to the Dollhouse Composer
2008 Donnie Klang Just A Rolling Stone Composer
2008 The Pussy Cat Dolls Doll Domination Composer
2008 Tiffany Evans Tiffany Evans Composer
2008 Britney Spears Circus Composer
2008 Jesse McCartney Departure Drum Programming, Vocals (Background), Songwriter, Composer
2009 Ginuwine A Man'sThoughts Vocal Producer
2009 Keril Hilson In a Perfect World Composer
2009 Justin Bieber My World Composer, Producer
2009 Chris Cornell Part of Me Composer
2009 Various Artists Punk Goes Pop, Vol. 2 Composer
2009 Chris Cornell Scream Vocals (Background), Composer
2009 Noel Gourdin After My Time Composer
2009 Britney Spears Circus Composer
2009 Justin Bieber One Less Lonely Girl Composer
2010 Justin Bieber My Worlds Acoustic Composer
2010 Justin Bieber My Worlds Composer
2010 Trey Songz Passion, Pain & Pleasure Composer
2010 Piano Tribute Players Piano Tribute to Justin Bieber Composer
2010 Jaheim Another Round Composer
2010 Ronald Isley Mr. I Composer
2011 Britney Spears B in the Mix: The Remixes, Vol. 2 Composer
2011 Justin Bieber Chartbuster Karaoke Gold : Justin Bieber Composer
2011 Various Artists Clubbers Guide 2011 Vocal Producer
2011 Various Artists Ibiza Annual 2011 Vocal Producer
2012 Trey Songz Chapter V Composer
2012 The OMG Girlz Where the boys At Composer
2012 Britney Spears Femme Fatale/Circus Composer
2013 Britney Spears In the Zone/Circus Composer
2013 Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas Album The Florida Files A & R composer, Producer
2013 B. Smith The Florida Files Composer
2014 Trey Songz Trigga Composer
2015 Kevin Ross Dream Composer
2016 Kevin Ross Push It On Me Composer
2017 Kevin Ross Look Up Composer
2018 Chris Cornell Chris Cornell Composer, Backing Vocals
2020 Black Eyed Peas Translations Composer

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Mitchell, Gail (2023-06-01). "Ezekiel Lewis Promoted to President of Epic Records". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  2. ^ a b c "Ezekiel 'Zeke' Lewis named EVP of A&R at Epic Records in Los Angeles". Music Business Worldwide. 2018-01-23. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  3. ^ a b c d Aswad, Jem (2023-06-01). "Ezekiel Lewis Named President of Epic Records". Variety. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  4. ^ Lewis, Simon Glickman and Miles Marshall. "A TASTE OF RAINMAKERS: EZEKIEL LEWIS". HITS Daily Double. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Ezekiel Lewis Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  6. ^ "The Clutch Talks Songwriting at Emory University". BMI.com. 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  7. ^ Jackson, Mitchell (2023-06-18). "The history of a Britney Spears masterpiece". The Spectator World. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  8. ^ Benitez-Eves, Tina (2024-02-11). "3 Songs You Didn't Know Usher Wrote For, and With, Justin Bieber". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  9. ^ Lewis, Simon Glickman and Miles Marshall. "A TASTE OF RAINMAKERS: EZEKIEL LEWIS". HITS Daily Double. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  10. ^ "Ezekiel Lewis Named President of Epic Records". 2023-06-01. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  11. ^ a b c bigced (2023-06-02). "Ezekiel Lewis Promoted to President of Epic Records". The Industry Cosign. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  12. ^ Variety Staff (2018-01-23). "Epic Records Names Ezekiel Lewis EVP of A&R". Variety. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  13. ^ Leight, Elias (2018-11-21). "Mariah Carey Made Her Best Album of the Decade by Taking Back Control". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  14. ^ "IT'S OFFICIAL: ZEKE IS NEW EPIC EVP, A&R". HITS Daily Double. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  15. ^ Flores, Griselda (2020-12-17). "Why Latin Music Couldn't Get Enough of Sampling In 2020". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  16. ^ a b "Ezekiel Lewis Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  17. ^ Legrand, Emmanuel (2023-06-02). "Ezekiel Lewis promoted to President of Epic Records with a focus on A&R". Creative Industries News. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  18. ^ "PEACE MAKERS". HITS Daily Double. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  19. ^ Rys, Dan (2024-01-19). "How Tyla's 'Water' Flooded the Airwaves & Catapulted Its Star to the Global Stage". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-03-31.