ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd, hiː hæd tʃˈɑːɹt səksˈɛs wɪð ɐ fˈʌŋksˈoʊl sˈɔŋ hiː ɹˈoʊt fɚðɪ ˈɑːɹɾɪst meɪlˈiːnə kˈɔːld "baɪ jʊɹ sˈaɪd", ɹᵻmˈɪkst ænd lˈaɪsənst baɪ tˈɑːmi bˈɔɪ lˈeɪbəl ˌɛnwˈaɪ, ɹˈiːtʃɪŋ hˈæʃ twˈɛlv ɔnðə bˈɪlboːɹd tʃˈɑːɹts.
In 2000, he had chart success with a funk-soul song he wrote for the artist Malina called "By Your Side", remixed and licensed by Tommy Boy label NY, reaching #12 on the Billboard charts.