Scott Storch always knew that Chris Brown would be a superstar.
In a recent interview with HipHopDX, the “Lean Back” producer recalled a time when he told Brown that he would make him a star before a record was even developed. “At that moment in my life, I was literally — and I still consider myself to be on fire — but I was on fire at that moment in my life,” he said.
“And he came in, he was just about to turn 16, and I didn’t know how to do anything except make you a hit record,” Storch continued.
“Like that’s the only thing I could do. I was in there every day, every minute, every hour in the studio,” he said. “And it was me, Sean Garrett, and we literally, immediately, made something so effortlessly. And I had told him right before we started making it, I was like, ‘I’m about to make you a number one song and you’ll be a superstar.’”
“Run It!” arguably became Brown’s biggest single of his career. The track, which just hit its 15-year-anniversary, peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent a total of five weeks at the top spot. It is responsible for launching Breezy’s career as one of the biggest names in music.
That same year, Storch, Garrett and Breezy also teamed up for the Lil Wayne-assisted track “Gimme That,” which became another lead single off Brown’s self-titled debut album.
The “Still D.R.E.” producer said that the two are still good friends today. “I was serious,” he said. “I was serious. We made it. He cut it. He became a number one smash. You know what I mean? I was with Chris the other night, it’s amazing. We’re still really good friends.”
Check out the full interview below.