Published on February 13th, 2023 | by Jameelah "Just Jay" Wilkerson

Who Is 88Keyz?

Dec 21,1969 Gregory 88Keyz Mance was born in Aiken South Carolina from a Washington DC native parent he was raised in the farmland south of Edgefield County SC and later in North Augusta SC where he attended high school. 88Keyz first time interest in music picking up his first instrument the trombone in the 7th grade and went on to learn more then two other classical instrument the tuba and snare drums until high school, when he heard the sound of bass music back in 1991 the streets were introduced to a sound that caused rumps to shake. In the mist of the New Jack era a new sound evolved from the Dirty South. With a signature smash working with super producer Tony Mercedes in the city of AUGUSTA GA “Daisy Dukes” rising the charts a new sound and super producer was taught and inspired . His name became 88 Keyz because of the way he taught himself how to mastered the keyboards and the vision of his music. Since then his name has been duplicated by producers and artist alike but his sound and vision is all his own. You are talking about 30 years of Hip Hop, R&B, neo-soul, gospel, pop and alternative music that has been anointing peoples ears with masterful perfection. In 1993 while living in the state of Maryland he became a intern in two major studio Horizon Studio and Night Flight Studio a place were Sean Puffy Combs got his stardom as well. As a intern he got the opportunity to help do music tracks on such as Tanya Blount, 2D Extreme, Raven Symone, Brownstone and a young up come artist Mia and many more.

Since 1995 Gregory 88keyz Mance aka called the “Original” 88 Keyz with a “Z” he has worked on projects for some of the biggest labels and hottest artists during their shine.In 2001 Gregory 88keyz Mance aka 88keyz relocated to Brooklyn NY and strated working under mangers Abdul Rahman Prescott, William yummy Toler that also was the managers of Mos Def under there mangement compancy he landed tracks on ESPN basketball AND 1, series hosted by Mos Def. Since then 88 or Keyz, as he is affectionately known in the inner annals of the industry, has put in work of music for such labels as Hollywood Records, Rap-A-Lot, Universal, Disney, Sony, Island Black Ent., Elektra records, Rawkus Records, MBK Ent., G-Unit, J Records, and sign to Teflon Def Jam in 2004 producing Russell Simmons protege and artist Jinxx Da Juvie. He also has directed such artist in the studio like Dru Hill, Raven Simone, Tank, Lil Mo, Musiq Soulchild, Mos Def, Kay Slay and Papoose,Raheem Devaughn, in since 2001 to present day 88keyz his been known to work with MBK ENTERTAINMENT management Jeff Robinson, Conrad Robinson,Clarissa Robinson,John Gordon,Victor Black, a family management company of Alicia Keys,and many of there artist that are sign to there company in 2007 88keyz work with Prodigy of G-UNIT and Shorty Lo in a studio in Manhattan NY which once belong to the artist Alicia Keys and producers the Flower Bothers, G Flower of MBK Ent., 88keyz is the force behind Sola Rey,Ander “the player” Jackson who both was burning up the European charts and a serious alternative rocker named Heather Daniels,Esha j ,also crossover rock star KJ Whitfile and in 2022 gospel artist Angela Wilson who is closing in on a big deal with SONY as we speak. Gregory 88keyz Mance aka The “Original” 88 Keyz with a “Z” just keeps the music coming for all music lover in has category to enjoy.

In 2008 and currently,since he move to Atlanta and learn the new transitional sounds of hiphop called the Dirty South Trap Music. Relocating to ATL Keyz team up with major producers influencers he leaned from producers like Tuke, Jazzy Pha,Jermaine Dupri, Bryan Michael Cox and many others in surrounding Atl studios. Keyz open up 2 music studio in atl, also working in many major stuidos like Tree Sounds, Patchwerk Studio, Hotbeats Studio,and had open a studio inside,The Artist Factory Studios owed by the president of a major record label Island Black Ent, Hiram Hicks, who signed the music group artists Dru Hill,which Keyz help produced.In 2012 88Keyz team up with a major producer a native of Mt Vernon NY, Kenny Smoove Kornegay who produce Case, and sign artists Changing Faces, from EDDIE F and the Untouchables, producer team. 88Keyz did collaboration tracks with Kenny Smoove Kornegay that landed with film companys doing sound tracks with Tyler Perry Films, Swirl Films,Netflix,and Tubi TV he also got the chance to act on a Swirl Films move called”Come Back Dad” he play a actor playing the piano partner of Charles S. Dutton and a reality show on Tubi TV, called “Made For This,on Tubi TV series.Currently Gregory 88Keyz Mance is producing records with label, A1 Records Sports & Entertainment, a company out of Atlanta Ga with the first gospel artist Angela Wilson they signed to Sony Music. Now working with Just Jay, CEO of Hype Magazine, producing a new rock mash on her artist Daja Marie signal hit hard to the ear and show that Keyz, can make hit in any genre of music. He relocated back to his hometown in Augusta Ga to start a new adventure into the Esports Gaming Arena for a high schools and college kids scholarship funds and placing music soundtracks scoring inside Esports gaming. 88 Keyz is the pulse that makes songs come alive. Keyz brings you the music that makes it happen. You may not always see 88Keyz but his influence on the music is so ever present. If you don’t know you need to ask somebody about the masterful sounds of Super Producer; Gregory 88Keyz Mance the “Original” 88 Keyz.

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