In 2013, as a college student, Grammy-nominated producer Khris Riddick-Tynes was mixing tracks for Ariana Grande’s debut album Yours Truly in the back of his political science class at Loyola Marymount University. An experience that he says, “Was creating something, with knowing that we knew it was tight, but then it getting out into the world and blowing up.”

Now, over 10 years later, the millennial has worked on music from a plethora of genres, including hip-hop, pop and everything in between for other top artists like Drake and rising rap star Lola Brooke. All of this has led him to multiple Grammy nominations over the years, including for SZA’s “Snooze” at the 2024 ceremony.

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“The most intriguing thing about making music, especially from a young age, was how we basically make something appear out of thin air,” he tells The Hollywood Reporter. “It doesn’t exist, there’s no idea, there’s no bed. It’s literally just like building a new house every day.”

The music-making process starts with a conversation, the music exec says. “I’ve had artists call me 5 o’clock in the morning, ‘Can you read this text message? We got to write a song about this. I got to get this off my chest,’” he recalls. “The best songs are the ones that have phrases in sayings that are used in everyday language.”

The creative likens everyday language to “those sayings that your aunties, or your mamas, or the internet would be saying [that become] the caption-worthy song title.”

SZA’s double platinum R&B/pop song “Snooze,” where Riddick-Tynes says the concept focuses on someone being underestimated, is one song with terminology that is used daily and is relatable.

“This means something to the culture and it means something to so many people,” he says. “[The song has] impacted people in a real way.”

As a teenager, teaching himself how to make beats and working with local artists birthed a lot of relationships that led him to being recognized by his now mentor and frequent collaborator, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds.

The singer-songwriter-producer, known for his classic hits including the Waiting to Exhale movie soundtrack, has taught Riddick-Tynes to be empathetic and patient with his artists.

“He gives great advice, whether if it’s on an executive side, he’s been through it all, he’s seen it all,” Riddick-Tynes says. “That’s something that I try to offer to a lot of young guys that I work with as well. The door’s always open … because mentorship is super important.”

While Riddick-Tynes believes the music industry is changing with streaming and social media, which is “opening up the doors for a lot of kids who may not have been exposed to certain things,” the Arista Records A&R executive has plans of formally preparing the next generation of creatives.

After graduating from LMU’s law school, the producer is returning to collaborate with his former professor to curate a course that will expose students to other Grammy winners and nominees. The mentors will show the students the pathway to success in the music industry.

“It’s all about tangibility to me,” he says. “I want the kids to be able to have and touch people who are dope at what they do, and they can see those successes because I think it’s important.”

Until then, fans can expect Riddick-Tynes to stay on the side of artist development “to help artists get their voice out.”