Rsonist (Heatmakerz)

Gregory Green, known professionally as Rsonist, was born in Mandeville, Jamaica, and moved to the Bronx, New York, at the age of four. His early musical exposure was primarily reggae, foundational to his later unique sound. He briefly attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he also worked as a DJ and formed a friendship with Young Guru. After being expelled from Howard, Rsonist returned to the Bronx, facing new responsibilities with a newborn. This period marked a turning point, leading him to beat-making as a viable career path.

Rsonist’s career began to take shape with the formation of The Heatmakerz, initially a team with Sean Thomas (Thrilla). Thrilla lent Rsonist an MPC, leading to the creation of two beats that caught the attention of Brooklyn-based producer Todd Terry in 2000. Terry purchased these initial tracks and provided Rsonist with $20,000 worth of equipment, allowing him to establish his production foundation. This enabled Rsonist to transition from hobbyist to a professional producer, recording sessions with artists like Big Pun and Fat Joe. The Heatmakerz’ first major label placement was on Canibus’s “2000 B.C.” album in 2000, followed by work with Ghostface Killah and Cam’ron.

The Heatmakerz gained significant recognition in 2003 by producing eleven songs on The Diplomats’ debut album, “Diplomatic Immunity,” which included hit singles like “Dipset Anthem” and “I’m Ready.” This work solidified their status, defining the “Harlem sound” and earning them the moniker “Sound of New York.” The duo’s sound was characterized as aggressive soul music, blending hip-hop with rock influences. Following Thrilla’s departure in 2007, Rsonist continued under The Heatmakerz brand as a solo endeavor, producing for a diverse range of artists including Lil Wayne, Beyoncé, Kanye West, Ludacris, Fat Joe, Ghostface Killah, Jeezy, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, J. Cole, and Joey Badass. His Diamond District Studios in Midtown Manhattan hosted recordings for Desiigner’s “Panda” (2015) and Fat Joe and Remy Ma’s “All the Way Up” (2016). Rsonist also served as executive producer and sole producer for Jim Jones’s “El Capo” (2019), which achieved independent success with over 200 million on-demand audio streams. He continues to collaborate with prominent artists and contribute to new projects.