Chapter XXV · 2001 - 2026
Twenty-fiveyears ofplatinum.
25
Years
100+
Plaques
∞
Sessions
Records, artists, and late-night magic - scrolled into one cinematic timeline. Drop the needle anywhere.
Era · 01 / 15
The Founding
2001
Doors open on Restaurant Row.
Cousins Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis and Wyclef Jean - fresh off The Fugees' 'The Score' - open Platinum Sound in Midtown Manhattan. The mission: a private, world-class room where artists feel at home and hits are inevitable.
From the Booga Basement to 46th Street.
Inside the rooms
The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book
Wyclef Jean
Platinum-certified · features Mary J. Blige, The Rock, Kenny Rogers
Era · 02 / 15
Building the Sound
2002
Wyclef's 'Masquerade' & the Carlos Santana sessions.
Platinum becomes the late-night clubhouse for Wyclef's genre-blurring guests - Tom Jones, Mary J. Blige, Earth Wind & Fire - and Wonda's bass becomes the studio's signature.
Inside the rooms
Masquerade
Wyclef Jean
Shaman (sessions)
Carlos Santana
Latin-rock crossover energy
Era · 03 / 15
The Preacher's Son
2003
Wyclef's third album · Akon's first looks.
A young Akon walks in to write hooks and walks out with a deal. Wonda's production touches are now in heavy rotation across hip-hop and R&B.
Inside the rooms
The Preacher's Son
Wyclef Jean
feat. Missy Elliott, Patti LaBelle, Buju Banton
Era · 04 / 15
Hips Don't Lie
2006
A global #1 born in the room.
Shakira and Wyclef rework an unfinished Wonda groove called 'Dance Like This.' One late-night sample flip later, the trumpets hit - and the world dances. The single becomes the studio's calling card.
One groove. Fifty-five #1s. One studio.
Inside the rooms
Hips Don't Lie
Shakira ft. Wyclef Jean
#1 in 55 countries · best-selling single of the 2000s
Era · 05 / 15
Carnival Vol. II
2007
Akon, Norah Jones, Paul Simon - under one roof.
Platinum's open-door policy pays off - folk, reggae, soca, and hip-hop pass through the same console in a single weekend.
Inside the rooms
Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant
Wyclef Jean
Konvicted (sessions)
Akon
Era · 06 / 15
I Look to You
2009
Whitney Houston's comeback.
After a seven-year silence, Whitney records inside Studio A. Engineers describe the vocal takes as 'the room going still.' The album debuts #1 - her first since 1987.
The room went still.
Inside the rooms
I Look to You
Whitney Houston
Wonda co-produces · debuts at #1 on the Billboard 200
Era · 07 / 15
Freedom Era
2010
Akon's 'Freedom' · U2 stops by.
Bono and The Edge cut Broadway demos in Studio A while Akon tracks vocals down the hall. The studio's reputation as a private, paparazzi-proof room becomes legend.
Inside the rooms
Freedom
Akon
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark (sessions)
U2 / Bono & The Edge
Era · 08 / 15
Hit after Hit
2012
Estelle, Buju Banton, T.I. - back to back.
NPR runs a feature: 'The Making of a Hit Song: Jerry Wonda's Platinum Sound.' Bookings stay full for the next 18 months.
Inside the rooms
All of Me
Estelle
Trouble Man (sessions)
T.I.
Era · 09 / 15
Pinkprint Nights
2014
Nicki Minaj writes The Pinkprint.
Nicki spends weeks in Studio A - vocals, ad-libs, 4am rewrites. The album cements Platinum as a top-tier rap vocal room.
Inside the rooms
The Pinkprint (sessions)
Nicki Minaj
vocal sessions · 3× Grammy-nominated
Era · 10 / 15
Bodak to Unforgettable
2017
Cardi B, French Montana, Trey Songz.
A new generation arrives. The studio's hallway is a who's-who at any given hour - and the records ship platinum within the year.
Diamond plaques. Platinum walls.
Inside the rooms
Bodak Yellow (sessions)
Cardi B
Unforgettable
French Montana ft. Swae Lee
diamond-certified
Tremaine the Album
Trey Songz
Era · 11 / 15
Reggae Royalty
2018
Buju Banton returns to the booth.
After a long absence, Buju records new material at Platinum. Wonda's Caribbean roots make the room feel like home.
Inside the rooms
Upside Down 2020 (early sessions)
Buju Banton
Migos / Rich The Kid sessions
Various
Era · 12 / 15
XX · Twenty Years
2020
A studio reimagined for a new decade.
At 20, Platinum upgrades - a fully immersive Dolby Atmos room, remote tracking rigs, and a new generation of in-house engineers led by Serge 'Sergical' Tsai.
Inside the rooms
Dolby Atmos Suite opens
Platinum Sound
Virtual sessions launch
Worldwide
Era · 13 / 15
Newark to the World
2022
Miguel, Busta, and a hometown thread.
Wonda's Newark roots pull civic and cultural projects into the room. The studio doubles as a classroom, an embassy, and a hit factory.
Inside the rooms
Miguel sessions
Miguel
Mayor Ras Baraka cultural sessions
City of Newark
community-rooted recordings
Era · 14 / 15
Blockbusta
2024
Busta Rhymes' renaissance.
Late nights, vocal stacks, and Wonda's bass - Busta Rhymes' 11th album lands with critical acclaim, much of it tracked at Platinum.
Inside the rooms
Blockbusta
Busta Rhymes
produced contributions · feat. Coi Leray, Dolla $ign
Era · 15 / 15
XXV
2026
Twenty-five years. The next session is yours.
A quarter century in. Three rooms. One standard. The doors are still open 24/7 - and the next platinum plaque is one booking away.
Where hits are made. Still.
Inside the rooms
The Masterclass with Serge Tsai
Platinum Sound
Summer Intensive · Class of 2026
Next Generation
Side B · 2026 →
The next chapter is yours.
Twenty-five years built on private rooms, world-class engineers, and the belief that one session can change everything. Come make the record people will scroll about in 2050.