Producer Stephen "Static Major" Garrett

Producer Stephen "Static Major" Garrett, creator of many of the hottest R&B songs of the last decade, has died. The 32-year-old producer/artist from Louisville, Kentucky, best known for his work with Timbaland as well as his own career with the group Playa, has apparently died of a brain aneurysm, reports say.

The prolific producer, songwriter and artist got his star with Jodeci's Devante Swing in the Swing Mob production group. That group would include future superstars Ginuwine, Missy and Timbaland, who Static went on to collaborate with most notably on Ginuwine and Aaliyah's projects.

Garrett was also a member of the group Playa, a R&B group who hit with "Cheers to You" in 1988. At the time of his death, Garrett was working on another album to be entitled Suppertime. The first single "I Got My" features Lil' Wayne.
Among the major hits Static wrote lyrics for are Aaliyah's "Are You That Somebody" and "Try Again" Ginuwine's "So Anxious" and "Pony" Nas and Ginuwine's "You Owe Me" Pretty Ricky's "On the Hotline" and Truth Hurts' "Addictive."

Garrett was particularly close to Pretty Ricky's Pleasure P. The two were working on Pleasure's solo CD. Rex Zamor, Pleasure P.'s manager, says they called each other "brothers from another mother."

In his bio, Garrett said "I actually come from the streets and I hang in the streets. That's where I draw my inspiration. If it can't be played in the hood, then it just doesn't work for me. And nobody can hold me on harmony. My whole aura is not your typical R&B aura."