Japhe Cecilio Tejeda (August 4, 1976 - May 31, 2005) was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer, best known for co-writing "Don't Wanna Be a Player" and "The Boy Is Mine", as well as other various work with Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and his brother Fred Jerkins III. Tejeda, alongside friends Jermaine Paul, Danny Martinez, and Charles Paul, were former members of the R&B vocal quartet 1 Accord, one of the first signees on Shaquille O'Neal's short-lived The World Is Mine (T.W.IsM.) imprint in collaboration with A&M Records.
Not much is known about Tejeda's private life, but as reported by industry friends, R&B bloggers, and other close associates, Tejeda died on May 31, 2005.
Career 1990s: 1 Accord and songwriting Tejeda and Charles Paul both attended University at Albany, SUNY in the early 1990s, and formed 1 Accord after recruiting Paul's younger brother Jermaine, performing at local Albany talent shows, coffeehouses, and live music venues in New York City. By the time Jermaine had graduated from high school in 1996, and Martinez was added to the group, their demo had landed the group a recording contract with Shaquille O’Neal’s label. After signing with O’Neal and building a relationship with producer Rodney Jerkins, the group was asked to contribute to the soundtrack of Jamie Foxx film Booty Call, as well as other film soundtracks, label compilations, unofficial radio DJ mixtapes, and the debut album of Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz. 1 Accord's 1996 debut album The New Era, executive-produced by Jerkins, was shelved in 1997 after numerous delays, leading Tejeda to move further into songwriting. The group disbanded, and Tejeda would subsequently join Jerkins' camp of songwriters, first appearing as a background vocalist on Jerkins' singles for Simone Hines and Jason Weaver, and then co-writing notable Jerkins productions including "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" from Aaliyah album One in a Million, more than fifty percent of the 1997 debut album for Michael Jackson-signed boyband No Authority, Top 30 Joe single "Don't Wanna Be a Player", and 13-week Brandy/Monica number-one single "The Boy Is Mine", earning Tejeda an ASCAP Pop Award and a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards in 1999. Tejeda subsequently appeared as a co-writer on multiple Jerkins-produced albums in 1998, including blockbuster album Never Say Never, as well as albums KW and 'Bout It. Both hit singles Tejada co-wrote have been sampled on multiple singles by other artists, charting internationally.
Songwriting and production credits
Title Year Artist Album"Everything's Gonna Be Alright" 1996 Aaliyah One in a Million"You Got Me Goin'" II D Extreme From I Extreme II Another"Don't Wanna Be a Player" 1997 Joe All That I Am"Don't Stop" No Authority Keep On"Up And Down""Girlfriend""Please Don't Break My Heart""If You Want Me""Never Let You Go""The Boy Is Mine" 1998 Brandy & Monica Never Say Never & The Boy Is Mine"Never Say Never" Brandy Never Say Never"Put That on Everything""Happy""Tomorrow""I Warned You" Keith Washington KW"Tell Me (Are You with It)""You Let Me Down""Still Not A Player" (Featuring Joe) Big Pun Capital Punishment"Are You Missin' My Love?" Jesse Powell 'Bout It"Up and Down""Oogie Boogie" MC Lyte Seven & Seven"It's Mine" 1999 Mobb Deep Murda Muzik"Why?"2001Ashley Ballard Get In The Booth"Don't Leave" 2005 N2U Issues"The Girl Is Mine" (Featuring Destiny's Child & Brandy) 2015 99 Souls "Right Back" (Featuring A Boogie wit da Hoodie) 2019 Khalid Free Spirit"Playa" (Featuring H.E.R.) 2022 A Boogie wit da Hoodie Me vs. Myself"Bionic Boy" Jamie Jones "Mine" Tink Pillow Talk"Need Me" 2023 Lil Tecca Tec"Mazacote" 2024 Farruko & Ñengo Flow CVRBON VRMOR
Guest & miscellaneous vocal appearances + List of guest appearances as a member of 1 Accord and/or with other performing artists, showing year released and album name Title Year Other performer(s) Album "Don't Wanna Be Alone"19961 Accord, Shaquille O'NealYou Can't Stop the Reign "Stay With Me (LP Version)"Jason Weaver & Horace BrownStay With Me (Shelved) "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!"1997Simone HinesSimone Hines "A Dream"Mary J. Blige, 1 Accord, Darkchild ChoirMoney Talks: The Album "Don't Stop, Don't Quit"1 AccordBooty Call: The Soundtrack "Shortie Girl"1 Accord, Lord Tariq and Peter GunzThe New Era (Shelved) "River (Interlude)"19981 Accord, Shaquille O'NealRespect "Startin' Somethin'"1 Accord, Chauncey Black, Lord Tariq and Peter GunzMake It Reign "A Night in the Bronx With Lord & Gunz"1 Accord, Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz "My Time to Go"1 Accord, Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz "Ooh Ooh Baby"20001 Accord, DJ CaponeThe Cartel Compilation Mixtape
Awards and nominations Year Ceremony Award ResultRef 1999 41st Annual Grammy Awards Grammy Award for Best R&B Song (The Boy Is Mine) ASCAP Pop Awards Most Performed Songs (The Boy Is Mine)
References