Birth name Torrance Esmond Name Street Symphony Record label Track Or Die | Years active 2006−present Organizations founded Track Or Die | |
Similar Lecrae, Ashthon Jones, DJ Khalil, Zach Crowell, Big KRIT  | ||
Torrance Esmond, better known by his stage name Street Symphony, is an American record producer and music executive from Memphis, Tennessee.
Contents
Biography
From multi-platinum superstars in search of epic backdrops to mainstream-aimed independent artists in search of commercial accessibility, producer/music executive Torrance “Street Symphony” Esmond is a top source for sounds. The Grammy award-winning Tennessee native and Track Or Die CEO has produced for the likes of 2 Chainz, Yo Gotti, Rick Ross, Lecrae and more.
Dividing his youth between Memphis and Nashville, Street Symphony was compelled to pursue a career in music after watching an Outkast concert. With roommates owning equipment, the Sean Combs-influenced entrepreneur began making beats by fiddling with the turntables and drum machines through the night in his Middle Tennessee State University dorm. At school, Street juggled prospects of a bountiful career in Electrical Engineering with his visions of music stardom. In the end, he switched majors, formed a notable area Hip-Hop group Player Way with best friends Mike Sean and Lonnel Matthews and went all in. Through performing at college parties, Street Symphony & Player Way garnered respect and fans on campus, as well as surrounding areas. People took notice, ranging from Street’s early mentor Carlos “6 July” Broady, to NBA champion superstar Gary Payton, who signed the producer to his Rock Solid imprint in 2005. It was there that Street Symphony acquainted himself with big recording studios, honing his original sounding repertoire of beats with the likes of Yo Gotti and Starlito, who were flirting with a Cash Money Records deal. Overnight sessions, traveling, and a tireless hustle gave Street Symphony a director’s chair in the action, as he refined his multi-genre, unique style of music.
Solidifying his presence in Tennessee, Street Symphony took interest in the Houston hustle. As artists like Paul Wall, Chamillionaire, and Mike Jones were reaching gold and platinum, Street remembered thinking, “Let me catch this wave.” As he slept on his H-Town friend’s floor, worked a day-job, and devoted off hours to his craft, he networked to shop his tracks to any artists he could reach. “In the evenings, I’d get out and hustle. I’d go to Guitar Center, in the DJ room, and play my beats so everyone could hear.” Local artists took interest, as well as stars like Lil' Keke of the Screwed Up Click.
After finding success in Houston, Street Symphony followed Rap’s next wave to Atlanta. It was there that he connected with Ludacris’s label Disturbing tha Peace working with I-20, Dolla Boy of Playaz Circle & Luda himself. In 2009 he reconnected with friend and former college classmate, Lecrae. With a label, Reach Records behind him, Lecrae hoped to expand his audience and accessibility, attaching the touted-Christian Rap star with music that legitimized his careful message. First contributing to Lecrae’s Rehab album, Street Symphony’s knowledge and sound attracted his longtime friend and the Reach Records’ brass to want him on board. As their flagship artist was kicking down mainstream doors, Street had a musical style and a Rolodex that functioned as a key to the industry’s doors. In the subsequent two years, Street Symphony would handle artist and repertoire and executive production of Lecrae’s music, especially surrounding his acclaimed Church Clothes mixtape series. In their time together, Lecrae garnered a Top 3 debut, as Street Symphony earned his first GMA Dove Award and Grammy Award, for 2012’s Gravity. Continuing his success with Lecrae, Esmond returned to the 2015 GRAMMY Awards, winning as co-writer & producer for Best Christian Contemporary Music Performance/Song, "Messengers".
Following his achievements in the Christian Hip Hop subgenre with Lecrae, Street Symphony returned to the mainstream focusing on his Track Or Die production company. After affiliation from working together in The Playaz Circle days, 2 Chainz welcomed Street Symphony to the studio to assist in crafting the EP, Freebase—including video single “Trap Back.” Additional frequent collaborators include: Yo Gotti, Starlito, Don Trip, Snootie Wild, and Tracy T.
Once shopping his sound from Tennessee to Texas to Georgia, top artists are now the ones traveling to Street Symphony to maestro their music.
Track Or Die
After two years of working on staff as Vice President of A&R, Street Symphony departed from Reach Records. In February 2014, he started his own production company called Track Or Die. There are currently four producers signed to Track Or Die: 8X8 and Tyshane (who often collaborate under the moniker 808&Elite), D.O. Speaks, and Real Chance Beats. In 2015, Street Symphony signed Reconcile and Pop/Soul singer Genra to his label.
Production credits
The following is a list of songs produced or co-produced by Street Symphony.
2006
Yo Gotti - I Told U So (with DJ Drama)
2007
Starlito - Starlito's Way: I Am Not Your Friend
Darquan - Non Album Single
2008
I-20 - Non Album Single
2009
Lil Scrappy - Non Album Single
Clyde Carson - Bass Rock
B.G. - Built To Last 1.5
Starlito - I Love You, Too Much: The Necessary Evils
Starlito - The Tenn-A-Keyan 3
Darquan - Non Album Single
2010
I-20 - Non Album Single
Arab - The Package
Dolla Boy of Playaz Circle - It's Official
Lecrae - Rehab
Starlito - Starlito's Way 3: Life Insurance
2011
Lecrae - Rehab: The Overdose
Trina - Diamonds Are Forever
Thi'sl - Beautiful Monster
2012
Json - Growing Pains
Swoope - Wake Up
Lecrae - Church Clothes
KB - Weight & Glory
Canon - Non Album Single
Alex Faith - Honest 2 God
Lecrae - Gravity
2013
Scotty - F.A.I.T.H. (Forever Atlanta In The Heart)
Derek Minor - Minorville
Starlito & Don Trip - Step Brothers 2
Lecrae - Church Clothes 2
2014
Don Trip - Randy Savage
2 Chainz - Freebase
Tracy T - The Wolf of All Streets
Lecrae - Anomaly
Wave Chapelle - Only The Beginning
Snootie Wild - Go Mode
Scotty - Spaghetti Junction
Starlito - Black Sheep Don't Grin
2015
Yo Gotti - Concealed (with DJ Drama)
Neek Bucks - Here For A Reason 2
Plane Jaymes - Vape Music Vol 1
Starlito - Introversion
Rikki Blu - Non Album Single
Don Trip - GodSpeed
2 Chainz - Trap-A-Velli Tre
Tracy T - 50 Shades of Green
Reconcile - Catchin' Bodies
Blac Youngsta - I Swear To God
Yo Gotti - CM8