DJ BlackOut, born Winston Thomas in Freeport, New York, is an acclaimed American record producer, songwriter, and DJ. His career took off with the production of Mims' 2007 hit "This Is Why I'm Hot," which topped the Billboard Hot 100. Over the years, BlackOut has collaborated with a diverse array of artists, including Nicki Minaj, Flo Rida, and Jason Derulo. His production style blends afrohouse, hip hop, R&B, dancehall, and dance music, reflecting his Jamaican heritage. In 2017, he co-founded RecordGram, a music technology startup that won TechCrunch Disrupt San Francisco. BlackOut's contributions have earned him multiple accolades, including ASCAP Awards and a Latin Grammy. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackout_%28musician%29?utm_source=openai))