# Blackout (musician)

Winston Thomas, better known by his stage name BlackOut or DJ BlackOut, founder & CEO of BlackOut Movement, is an American record producer, engineer and composer. Blackout is signed to Nicki Minaj's recording company Pink Friday Records. Blackout is also co-founder of the music tech startup company, RecordGram.

## Life and career

BlackOut was born "Winston Thomas" in Freeport, NY. His father is from Kingston, Jamaica, while his mother is from Mandeville, Jamaica. He got his start working high school parties and local clubs in the New York area. It was in the club that he got his first break and met Wyclef Jean. Blackout joined the Refugee Camp as a deejay for the artist, Reptile, and got his first taste of touring in the music industry. During his time with the Refugee Camp, Blackout began dabbling in production and made it his hobby. It wasn't long before he became a staple in the deejay industry and began playing gigs nationwide. He eventually became linked with Jada Kiss and toured with him for three years. While playing a gig in a South Beach club, D.J. Blackout slipped a CD of beats to hip hop artist, Ja Rule. This chance meeting would mark the beginning of Blackout's career as a music producer. One of BlackOut's beats was selected to be on Ja Rule's Blood In My Eye Album. Soon after, BlackOut started his own production company Blackout Movement. Full steam ahead, BlackOut and his new company catapulted to the top of the game 1 year later when the company produced the debut album from hip-hop artist Mims, including the widely popular single “This Is Why I'm Hot”. Blackout Movement has since worked with some of the leading artists in the industry. In 2012, Blackout signed to Nicki Minaj's, Pink Friday record label. BlackOut is also co-founder of RecordGram, a music tech startup. RecordGram is 1 of 7 music tech companies to be accepted into Project Music, the music tech accelerator program in Nashville.

## Production style

BlackOut produces various genres of music. Hip Hop, Pop, R&B, Reggae, and Dance Music. BlackOut states "being a DJ, I am exposed to a lot of music, all the time. That keeps me up to date" BlackOut chiefly produces with Akai MPC4000 and Pro Tools, and just recently been using Native Instruments' MASCHINE and LOGIC to create as he travels.

## Production discography
### Singles

| Year | Single | U.S. Hot 100 | U.S. R&B | U.S. Rap | U.S. Pop | Album |
| 2007 | "This Is Why I'm Hot" | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | Music Is My Savior |
| 2007 | "Like This" (featuring Rasheeda) | 32 | 54 | 11 | 24 | Music Is My Savior |
| Year | Title | Artist | Album |
| 2004 | Niggas & Bitches | Ja Rule | Blood In My Eye |
| 2005 | No Daddy | Teairra Mari | Teairra Mari |
| 2005 | Crunk Muzik | Jim Jones ft Camron & Juelz Santana | On My Way To Church |
| 2005 | Spanish Fly | Jim Jones feat Chico De Barge | On My Way To Church |
| 2005 | Life As A Ridah | Jim Jones | On My Way To Church |
| 2005 | Bend n Stretch | Jim Jones | On My Way To Church |
| 2006 | Leave You Alone | Camron | Killa Season |
| 2006 | This Is Why Im Hot | MIMS | M.I.M.S. (#1 Single) |
| 2007 | Superman | MIMS | M.I.M.S. (ALBUM) |
| 2007 | Without You | MIMS feat LaToya Luckett | M.I.M.S. (ALBUM) |
| 2007 | Like This | MIMS | M.I.M.S. (ALBUM) |
| 2007 | They Don't Wanna Play | MIMS feat Bun B | M.I.M.S. (ALBUM) |
| 2007 | Don't Cry | MIMS | M.I.M.S. (ALBUM) |
| 2007 | Cop It | MIMS | M.I.M.S. (ALBUM) |
| 2007 | I Did You Wrong | MIMS | M.I.M.S. (ALBUM) |
| 2007 | Its Alright | MIMS | M.I.M.S. (ALBUM) |
| 2007 | This Is Why Im Hot (Reggae Version) | MIMS ft Junior Reid & Cham | M.I.M.S. (ALBUM) |
| 2007 | This Is Why Im Hot (Rock Version) | MIMS feat Purple Popcorn | Microsoft Zune Commercial |
| 2008 | Cocaine | UGK | Underground Kingz |
| 2008 | She Can Get It | DJ Laz feat Mims & Elijah | Category 6 |
| 2008 | Ghetto Soldier | Kymani Marley | RADIO |
| 2008 | Like This | MIMS | NOW Compilation #25 |
| 2009 | Naked | Serani | No Games |
| 2009 | Be With You | Serani | No Games |
| 2009 | Dance With Me | Aaron Carter feat Flo Rida | Dance With Me |
| 2009 | There He Go | Fabolous feat Red Cafe | Loso's Way |
| 2009 | One Day | MIMS feat Kymani Marley | Guilt |
| 2009 | Life Of A Star | MIMS | Guilt |
| 2009 | One Last Kiss | MIMS feat Soler Mesh | Guilt |
| 2009 | Heal Me | MIMS | Guilt |
| 2010 | If It Was Up To Me | Bun B feat Junior Reid | Trill |
| 2010 | Perfect | Jaicko | Jaicko |
| 2010 | Its My Birthday | Ultimate feat Calibe | Ultimate Domination |
| 2010 | Encore | Jason Derulo | Jason Derulo |
| 2010 | White Girl | Trina feat Flo Rida & Git Fresh | Amazin |
| 2010 | Boom Shaka Laka | Brianna feat Flo Rida | Girl Talk |
| 2011 | Dance With Me | Justice Crew feat Flo Rida | Justice Crew (Single) |
| 2011 | Blow Ya Mind | Nicki Minaj | Pink Friday |
| 2012 | Roman Holiday | Nicki Minaj | Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded |
| 2012 | FML (Fuck My Life) | Don Omar feat MIMS | Don Omar (Single) |
| 2014 | Angel | Prostyle feat Nicki Minaj, Jeremih | Prostyle (Single) |
| 2015 | Build | Sean Paul | Single |
| 2015 | All In | Sean Paul ft MIMS, Amara La Negra | Single |
| 2016 | Put It On | Shaggy | Single |
| 2016 | Take You Home | DJ Shadow ft Sean Paul, Badshah | Single |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Organization | Award | Work | Result |
| 2008 | ASCAP AWARDS | Ringtone Of The Year | Producer (MIMS - This Is Why Im Hot) | Won |
| 2008 | ASCAP AWARDS | POP Music Award | Producer (MIMS - This Is Why Im Hot) | Won |
| 2008 | ASCAP AWARDS | #1 Performed Song of 2007 | Producer (MIMS - This Is Why Im Hot) | Won |
| 2012 | 54th Grammy Awards | Best Rap Album | Nicki Minaj (Production) | Nominated |
| 2012 | Latin Grammy Awards | Best Urban Album | Don Omar presents MTO2 | Won |