One of the national leaders of the Hip Hop and R&B music scene is none other than Oklahoma City’s Chris Cutta. Born Chris Baldwin, he started producing music when he was a student at Putnam City Central Middle School. There, he developed the beat that earned him national acclaim and gigs producing music for artists all over the country. But, in the beginning, he sold homemade mix tapes right here in our city.
Perhaps unsurprising for someone who began his musical career so early, Cutta’s mother was an Oklahoma music personality. She was a part of the band Gospel Truth, whose spinoff group was the Truthettes. As a young boy, Cutta joined his mother on the Gospel Truth’s tours, which inspired him to pursue music.
Two weeks after graduating from Putnam City High School, Cutta went on a 15-city tour. He moved to Dallas and rotated between Los Angeles and Philadelphia over the next five years. While in Pennsylvania, he worked alongside a group of music creators and producers, including the major songwriter Sha Sha Jones when she was just getting started.
Before Cutta turned 21, he had seven songs playing on the radio. Now 41, he has gone on to work with the likes of Kanye West and Hamza Lee. Cutta has also worked with the Oklahoma-based R&B trio Meant2B, who later had success with a high-charting, certified gold album.
Currently, Cutta is working with Oklahoma artists CAJ and Triple M Zay. And, thanks to Cutta, the rapper Gorilla Zoe will record his new album here in Oklahoma.
Cutta does much of his production work at Castle Row Studios in Del City. His efforts have greatly enhanced the viability of the Hip Hop, Rap, and R&B genres in Oklahoma, combating stereotypes that there aren’t enough local artists to foster a vibrant scene. In fact, Cutta has shown just the opposite.
Cutta also orchestrates artist profile shows. You may be thinking that such a show might feature 12 or even 50 musical acts. But, his extensive promotions and networking have attracted 500 artists to his latest showcases. These events are revolutionizing the whole Oklahoma music landscape, as Cutta’s reach has extended into nearly every major genre.
Harnessing all this attention has led Cutta to begin producing a documentary on urban music in Oklahoma. Additionally, he is collaborating with movie producer Melvin Childs to place Oklahoma-made music in motion picture soundtracks.
While engaged in these music and business ventures, Cutta has remained mainly anchored in his home state, taking time off the road to raise his children with his wife of 20 years.
Through all of his success, Cutta remains humble and appreciative to those who have helped and mentored him along the way. He still gives credit to the Burton family of Oklahoma City, who trusted him as a young boy to use their recording studio for free. He maintains that, to this day, that was the biggest boost his career has ever received.
A full interview with Chris Cutta can be viewed on the SHINE on Oklahoma Music YouTube channel.
Brian Maughan serves as Oklahoma County Commissioner, Dist 2 and conducts a series of interviews with Oklahoma music stars for the Oklahoma History Center, called SHINE on Oklahoma Music.
This article appears in Spring Break Splash.