Dante Santiago

Danté Santiago is an American music executive, Artists and Repertoire, consultant and singer. Best known as the "Stamp", playing a significant role to the start and success of the Black Eyed Peas, also bringing Fergie (singer) to the group.
He served as Executive producer and A&R executive of will.i.am Music Group. He is the founder and CEO of indie record label Ghettro Inc and co founder of the fashion line Ghettro by CatG with his business partner CatG.
As an artist, he joined the bands Atban Klann in (1993), the Black Eyed Peas in (1995, 2002) and Broshigeez in (1999) as lead vocalist. He recorded iconic vocals on Black Eyed Peas, including "Let's Get It Started", "Hey Mama (The Black Eyed Peas song)" and "Imma Be".
He was featured on the Black Eyed Peas "Monkey Business (The Black Eyed Peas album)" and will.i.am's "willpower (will.i.am album)" and "Songs About Girls". He released the songs "Jake's Booty Call" and Must B 21. He also appeared on The Voice UK (series 1) as coach advisor with will.i.am on #teamwill from Seasons 1-5.
 
==Career==
===1992-2003: Beginnings===
In 1992, Dante's first vocal credit was on the Balistyx album for the song "Music Hears No Color". He then joined Atban Klann signed to Eazy-E's Ruthless Records in 1993. He appeared on their 1994 album Atban Klann on multiple songs. After Eazy's untimely death and leaving Ruthless in 1995 Danté, will.i.am and apl.de.ap formed a new group called Black Eyed Peas. Recording demos, including the song "Off The Wall", bep then added rapper Taboo (rapper) to their ensemble. The four members started shopping their songs for a new deal but in late 1995, Danté left the Black Eyed Peas. He was eventually replaced by Kim Hill (soul musician)|Kim Hill. In 1998 now on Interscope Records, bep invited Danté to appear on the song "Behind the Front|Clap Your Hands" from the album Behind the Front. He joined the group Broshigeez in 1999 with Huck Finn, Rawcel and NIU recording their selftitled Ep BRO.S.H.I.G.E.E.Z. They released the singles, "Put It On Ya" feat apl and Taboo of Black Eyed Peas, "Mad Cool" and "Achin" in early 2002, executive produced by apl.de.ap and The Keane Brothers. Also in 2002 Danté rejoined Black Eyed Peas with their original line up, 
singing lead on multiple tracks. Although some liked the woman vocalist, will.i.am still kept many of his vocals for their breakthrough album Elephunk.
==Solo Career==
As a solo artist in 2003 Danté released two singles "Jake's Booty Call" feat Donnie No Good and "Must B 21|It's OK" with 777 Kamikaze. Both songs were produced by will.i.am and appeared on National Lampoon (magazine) Jake's Booty Call Soundtrack. He then released his first solo Extended Play|EP Inside Te's World. He executive produced the project with apl.de.ap. With little promotion the album failed to chart. Also in 2003 Danté featured on will.i.am's Must B 21 album which included "It's OK" and the songs "Must B 21|Go!" and "Must B 21|Sumthin' Special". On 2005's Monkey Business (The Black Eyed Peas album)|Monkey Business Danté featured on the song "Monkey Business (The Black Eyed Peas album)|Dum Diddly" and at the same time he recorded his next LP record|LP Danté through will.i.am Music Group. He was the opening act for Monkey Business Tour|Black Eyed Peas Monkey Business Tour in 2005–06. He put his album on hold to focus more on his duties as an executive. Continuing to record, guest appearing on will.i.am's next 2 albums. 2007's Songs About Girls on the song "Songs About Girls|Impatient" and 2013's Willpower (will.i.am album)|#willpower on the song "willpower (will.i.am album)|The World Is Crazy". 
===2003–2011: Creative A&R Executive===
After disappointments and frustrations with the industry to become a recording star, by 2003 Danté made a more notable impact as a Music Executive. For the Elephunk album, he served as A&R and Music Coordinator. His first big accomplishment, he convinced his friend Fergie (singer) to join the Black Eyed Peas. While working on "Where Is the Love?" many vocalists tried out to sing the chorus. Danté asked will.i.am: "What do you think about Justin Timberlake singing the hook?" With the track being incomplete, Will agreed and the decision led to the single becoming a worldwide hit. He was Creative A&R Executive for 2005's Monkey Business and Fergie's first solo album The Dutchess in 2006, while also playing a significant role in the peas success with suggestions, ideas, going with his gut feeling and having a great ear, "The Stamp" was born. 
Being will.i.am's partner in crime, they managed to work with some of music's greatest artists. James Brown, Mariah Carey and Timberlake to name a few. On October 15, 2006 in Ireland, they worked with the Honorific nicknames in popular music|King of Pop Michael Jackson. In the studio with Jackson they recorded new material and songs which were apart of the Thriller 25 anniversary album. In 2007-08 Danté worked on the album Songs About Girls and helped cosign the label's new group LMFAO. By establishing himself as a top executive, he pushed his singing career further away but continued to perform with the peas on tour. In 2009, he was A&R executive on 2 new Black Eyed Peas albums. First on The E.N.D. which went to number #1 on the US charts and the combined singles of "Boom Boom Pow" and "I Gotta Feeling" went on a record breaking 26 consecutive weeks at number #1 on the Billboard Hot 100|Billboard Hot 100 and for The Beginning (The Black Eyed Peas album)|The Beginning with the hit single "The Time (Dirty Bit)". 
;Ghettro Inc
File:DJ Homicide. Dante and Goonrock.png|thumb|left|Ghettro's Danté Santiago, with DJ Homicide, and GoonRock in video for "F.U.M.C." In 2010 while on tour in Montreal, Danté met a designer named CatG. He expressed his need for a new style, so they collaborated on an outfit with the assistance from Rudsak Inc. Next time he was on stage, the peas noticed. Danté then started his first business venture, a fashion line, called Ghettro by CatG. Producing clothes for stage, red carpets, videos and photo shoots for other entertainers. Danté left tour to work with LMFAO on their next album Sorry for Party Rocking. This is when he suggested to Redfoo the first single should be "Party Rock Anthem" January 2011. The song went to number #1 worldwide. Also, Ghettro Music in 2011 released "F.U.M.C." by DJ Homicide feat Sky Blu (rapper)|SkyBlu of LMFAO and GoonRock. The video was directed by Anthony Chirco with cameos by Nas, Redfoo, Taboo, Fatlip and Chuckie (DJ)|Chuckie with the video receiving buzz on YouTube. On October 24, 2011 Danté started Ghettro Inc. Adding to the fashion line a Record Label and a Production Company.
===2012 to Present: The Voice UK and Executive Producer=== 
Danté joined will.i.am as Coach Advisor on The Voice UK (series 2)|The Voice UK (2012) and also The Voice (Australian season 3)|The Voice Australia (2014). #Team Will won in season 3 with both Jermain Jackman The Voice UK and Anja Nissen The Voice Australia. Also in 2012 Danny O'Donoghue of The Script and co-judge on the The Voice UK asked for Dante's help to recruit will.i.am for a song he just recorded. After a taping of the show, the 3 headed to the studio to record Will's part. On August 20, 2012 the smash "Hall of Fame (song)|Hall of Fame" was released. Danté continued working with will.i.am on his fourth solo album willpower (will.i.am album)|#willpower in 2012 as Executive Producer and Head of A&R under his production company Ghettro Music. Even the hit singles "This Is Love (will.i.am song)|This Is Love", "Scream and Shout" featuring Britney Spears and "thatPower|#thatPower" featuring Justin Bieber selling over 4 million copies, the album sales were a disappointing 489,000 worldwide. In 2013 Danté also served as Executive Producer on Britney Spears "Britney Spears discography |The Essential Britney Spears" album and in 2016, he was Associate Producer for the peas video Where Is the Love?|#WHERESTHELOVE? (pt. 2) 
Under Dante's tenure as A&R Executive and Executive Producer, Black Eyed Peas, Fergie and will.i.am combined, sold an estimated 254 million albums and singles worldwide, making them one of the world's List of best-selling music artists|best-selling music groups of all time.
==Other media==
Currently Danté is working with his recording artist and actress Damoni. Her debut single "I'm Free (Watch Me Go)" was released in 2020 with an anticipated album in the future along with her TV Series "YA" a spin off from The Bay (web series)|The Bay. 
A compilation album called, Dante Santiago presents Welcome To Ghettro is in the works. 
Also David Faustino announced he is developing a Balistyx documentary to be coming later this year in 2022. Danté will be one of the guests.
==Personal life==
Santiago was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Celesteen Santiago Dean and Antone Santiago. He is Puerto Ricans|Puerto Rican and African American. Dante's siblings, Charron Santiago, Michon Neal and Millicent Santiago. Attended Mount San Antonio College. 
Danté Santiago married fashion designer and stylist Catherine Girard on May 22, 2015.
==Music Executive==
The following is a list of albums and songs Danté Santiago has credit as Vocalist, A&R, Associate and Executive Producer:
*Elephunk (2003) – Creative A&R and Music Coordinator
*Inside Te's World (2003) – Lead Vocalist and Executive Producer
*Monkey Business (The Black Eyed Peas album)|Monkey Business (2005) – Creative A&R Executive
*Dante (2005) – Lead Vocalist and Executive Producer
*The Dutchess (2006) – Creative A&R Executive
*Songs About Girls (2007) – Creative A&R Executive
*Thriller 25 (2008) - Creative A&R Executive
*The E.N.D. (2009) – A&R Executive and Logo Design
*The Beginning (The Black Eyed Peas album)|The Beginning (2010) – A&R Executive
*Sorry for Party Rocking (2011) – A&R Executive
*F.U.M.C. (2011) – Executive Producer
*willpower (will.i.am album)|#willpower (2013) – Executive Producer and Head of A&R
*Britney Spears discography |The Essential Britney Spears (2013) – Executive Producer
*Where Is the Love?|#WHERESTHELOVE? (2016) Associate Producer
*I'm Free (Watch Me Go) (2020) – Executive Producer
*Get to Know U (Part 1) (2020) – Executive Producer
*Jake's Booty Call|Nasty Like Us (2021) – Lead Vocalist and Executive Producer
*Welcome To Ghettro (TBA) – Lead Vocalist and Executive Producer
==Discography== 
==Filmography==
===Television===
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes
2012-2016	The Voice UK	Himself	Coach Advisor
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
2014	The Voice Australia	Himself	Coach Advisor
===Music videos===
Songs 	Role 	Artist 	Year
"I Told Ya" 	David Faustino 	Appeared	1992
"Puddles of H20" 	Atban Klann 	Appeared	1994
Weekends" 	Black Eyed Peas	Appeared	2000
Shut Up" 	Black Eyed Peas	Appeared	2003
Hey Mama" 	Black Eyed Peas	Appeared	2003
Boogie That Be" 	Black Eyed Peas	Appeared	2003
"Let's Get It Started" (at Glastonbury Festival)	Black Eyed Peas	Featured	2004
"Don't Phunk with My Heart" 	Black Eyed Peas	Appeared	2005
Nasty Like Us" 	Danté Santiago 	Lead 	2005
Dum Diddly" (Live from Sydney to Vegas) 	Black Eyed Peas	Featured	2005
"Last Night" 	Danté Santiago 	Lead 	2005
"Let's Get It Started" (at Live Earth) 	Black Eyed Peas	Featured	2007
"I Got It from My Mama" 	will.i.am 	Appeared	2007
"I Gotta Feeling" (Live at Staples Center) 	Black Eyed Peas	Featured	2010
Don't Stop the Party" 	Black Eyed Peas	Appeared	2011
SkyBlu of LMFAO and GoonRock) 	DJ Homicide 	Appeared	2011
==Tours==
Danté performed in 323 Shows Worldwide.
* 1992: Balistyx Album Release Party at (Whisky A Go Go) 
* 1993: New Music Seminar (Los Angeles, CA) (featured for Aaliyah)
* 1994: Atban Klann in (Las Vegas, NV)
* 1995: Black Eyed Peas at (Luna Park in West Hollywood, Ca)
* 1996: Dante's 1st Solo Show at (Vinyl in Hollywood, Ca)
* 2001: Broshiggeez and Burning Star (featured for Black Eyed Peas)
* 2003: Coachella Festival (featured for Black Eyed Peas)
* 2004: Elephunk|Elephunk Tour (featured for bep)
* 2004: Glastonbury Festival (featured for Black Eyed Peas)
* 2005: Danté Solo Show in (Sydney, AU) (opening act for John Legend)
* 2005–06: Monkey Business Tour (opening act for Black Eyed Peas)
* 2006: Honda Civic Tour (featured for bep)
* 2007: Live Earth|Live Earth Festival (featured for Black Eyed Peas)
* 2008: Rock The Bells Festival (featured for Black Eyed Peas)
* 2009–10: The E.N.D. World Tour (featured for Black Eyed Peas)
* 2011: Conga Room at LA Live (featured for Warren G and substituting for Nate Dogg)
* 2011: The Beginning (concerts)|The Beginning World Tour (featured for Black Eyed Peas|bep)
* 2013-14 Willpower (will.i.am album)|#willpower Tour (featured for will.i.am)
Category:American music industry executives
Category:American musicians
Category:People from Los Angeles