Studdah Man
Composer — Producer — Songwriter
Harlem, New York born and Bronx raised, Sean “Studdah Man” De Vore grew up in the birthplace of hip-hop, right across from where DJ Kool Herc would throw the first ever Hip-Hop Jam. Navigating through a storied journey, across 35+ years, Studdah climbed the ranks of musical acclaim from the ground up — placing him amongst Rock & Roll Hall of Fame musicians and producers.
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This year, Studdah eyes his first GRAMMY® nomination on a solo produced record, “Daddy’s Little Girl” by artist Fashxon, featuring vocalist Dot.Moore.
35+
years in
the industry
Photo Credit: Billboard Magazine; May 21, 1994. L to R: Studdah Man, producer Gary “G-Wiz”, and engineer Nick Sansano
RIAA Certified Gold
“Muse Sick-N-Hour Mess Age” (1994)
5+
Album Credits
#14
HIGHEST ENTRY
US Billboard 200TM
“Muse Sick-N-Hour Mess Age” (1994)
30+
Song/Single Credits
#33
HIGHEST ENTRY
US Billboard Hot 100TM
“Give It Up” (1994)
In his youth, Studdah attended school alongside Ed Lover, LL Cool J, Jam Master J and Run (from Run-DMC) – getting an early start to moving with the greats, even before they were such. Studdah’s career began as a driver during the Anthrax/Public Enemy tours for long-time friend Chuck D’s rap group Young Black Teenagers, which featured DJ Skribble and Kamron. From there, Studdah became the lighting director for rap group Son of Berserk, another collective on Chuck D’s MCA/Soul label. He then elevated to Road Manager for the hip-hop act Hyenas in the Desert.
In 1990, Studdah got his first chance to produce, mix, and write, when Professor Griff of Public Enemy asked him to collaborate on his “Disturb-N-Da-Peace” solo LP, released on Luke Records. It was during this time that the name Studdah Man came to be – after Professor Griff coined it because of Studdah’s stutter.
After living in Miami with Professor Griff and the 2 Live Crew to work on the album, Studdah returned to New York in 1991. There, he reunited with friend and producer Gary G-Wiz, the new force behind Public Enemy’s hits. Soon after, Studdah joined G-Wiz’s production unit to further hone his craft. Their first remix project, Eric B. and Rakim’s “Heat It Up” (featured in the soundtrack for the 1993 film Gunmen), garnered Studdah his first Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop entry.
Studdah’s first collaboration on a Public Enemy project came in 1994 on the “Muse Sick-N-Hour Mess Age” album; yielding Studdah his highest Billboard Hot 100TM entry with “Give It Up”- co-produced by Studdah and Gary G-Wiz. The next Public Enemy album Studdah would produce was “There’s A Poison Goin On” with Gary G-Wiz as co-producer.
Studdah spent the years that followed working alongside some of hip-hop’s biggest names and rising stars, as an independent producer and songwriter for Chuck D’s record label SLAMjamz, before being appointed the label’s President and Head of International A&R.
Nearly two decades on, Studdah has made the transition to producing works for film, television and commercials — launching De Vore Music Group in 2020. Studdah’s tracks have been featured in projects for HBO, Paramount Pictures, Dimension Films, 20th Century Studios, and more.
Looking back at the musical chapters of his career, Studdah is honored and humbled to be part of a group that has had one of their albums preserved for prosperity by the US Library of Congress, a section dedicated to their life’s work in the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and a song named #2 on the BBC’s list of greatest hip-hop songs ever made. Though he’s accomplished a lifetime’s worth of success alongside Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, Grammy Hall of Fame inductees and Grammy lifetime achievement recipients – Studdah looks forward to reaching even greater heights across the industry, and the charts, for years to come.