Sterling Simms

Hailing from Philadelphia, Sterling Simms was groomed for the music industry by his grandfather, a musician who introduced him to soul legends like Sam Cooke. Influenced by new jack swing artists, Simms relocated to Atlanta at 14 to pursue a singing career, eventually working with producers from his car wash job and securing a deal through Sony. After the imprint was dropped, Simms returned to Philadelphia but found renewed inspiration through collaborating with Kenny Gamble and later founded the songwriting company Knightwritahz in Atlanta.

Simms transitioned from writing for other R&B artists to reclaiming his own spotlight, signing with One Recordings and catching the attention of Island Def Jam's L.A. Reid. This led to a deal with Def Jam and a feature on Jay-Z's album Kingdom Come. Simms' single "Jump Off," featuring Sean Paul, gained traction on urban radio, marking his successful return to the forefront of the music scene.