R. City: The Hitmaking Duo from Saint Thomas

R. City is a songwriting and production duo from the U.S. Virgin Islands who achieved mainstream success as performers with their global smash "Locked Away." Hailing from Saint Thomas, the brothers Theron and Timothy Thomas leveraged their prolific behind-the-scenes career into a chart-topping single that reached the Top 10 in over 15 countries and earned multi-platinum certifications worldwide.

Early career

Formed in the early 2000s, Theron and Timothy Thomas began their musical journey in Saint Thomas before relocating to the United States to pursue music professionally. Their big break came when they were discovered by Akon, who signed them to his Konvict Muzik label as songwriters and producers in 2005.

This partnership launched a prolific period where R. City penned major hits for other artists, including "The Monster" for Eminem featuring Rihanna and "Live Your Life" for T.I. featuring Rihanna. Their songwriting prowess established them as reliable hitmakers in pop and hip-hop, setting the stage for their own artist project.

Breakthrough

R. City's transition from songwriters to chart-topping artists culminated in 2015 with the release of "Locked Away" featuring Adam Levine. The single served as the lead track for their debut studio album, "What Dreams Are Made Of," released on the Kemosabe and RCA Records labels.

"Locked Away" became a global phenomenon, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and achieving platinum status eight times in the United States. The success of the song finally brought the brothers into the spotlight as performers, after a decade of crafting hits for others.

Key tracks

Locked Away — This global smash featuring Maroon 5's Adam Levine broke the duo as artists, achieving multi-platinum status and defining their crossover pop-reggae sound.

Make Up — Featuring Chloe and Halle, this track showcased their versatility and continued their momentum following their major breakthrough.

Crazy Love — An earlier single that highlighted their Caribbean roots and melodic sensibilities, foreshadowing their future pop success.

Take You Down — This track from their debut album further demonstrated their skill in crafting infectious, radio-ready pop hooks.

Following their breakthrough, R. City continued to balance their artist career with songwriting, contributing to tracks like "This Is What You Came For" for Calvin Harris and Rihanna. Their debut album "What Dreams Are Made Of" solidified their place in the pop landscape, blending their Caribbean influences with contemporary production.

The duo's unique position, straddling the worlds of urban pop, reggae, and mainstream songwriting, has made them enduring figures in the industry. Their work ethic and melodic talent ensure a steady output of music, both for themselves and for the roster of major artists they continue to collaborate with.

Fans of R. City's blend of tropical pop and hip-hop may also enjoy the sounds of Major Lazer. This electronic dancehall project shares a similar fusion of Caribbean rhythms with modern pop production. The smooth reggae-infused pop of Magic! offers another point of comparison with their chart-friendly approach. Listeners might also appreciate the island-inspired anthems of Sean Paul, a pioneer in bringing dancehall to a worldwide audience. For the songwriting craftsmanship, the versatile pop of The Dream reflects a similar behind-the-scenes mastery that translates to on-mic success.

R. City's catalog receives regular airplay across a variety of radio formats featured on this website. Their hits are staples on top 40 and contemporary hit radio stations, while their Caribbean-tinged tracks find a home on rhythmic crossover and modern reggae radio streams.

You can hear the music of R. City on radio stations featured on our website. Listeners can discover their hit songs and deeper cuts through the various online radio stations available on onairium.com.