Bishop, 34, helped produce and compose the track Nthn2tlkbout, featured on the second release.<\/p>\n
Though he never spoke directly to Brown, he found out early this year that he would feature on the album.<\/p>\n
He said his mentor, Troy Taylor, was United States-based and had worked with \u201ca lot of legends in the industry\u201d, including Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston.<\/p>\n
He had advised Bishop to send \u201cbeats\u201d to him every week. <\/p>\n
Bishop was sending Taylor about 10 at a time, and Brown \u201cjumped on\u201d one after a studio session at which Taylor had played his work.<\/p>\n
Bishop said Brown had held on to the track since 2024 while he continued to record \u201cthousands\u201d of songs. <\/p>\n
Bishop didn\u2019t want to get his hopes up and spent the next two years unsure if the beat would make the final album.<\/p>\n
American singer Chris Brown released a new album in June.<\/p>\n
In that time, Bishop moved back to Rotorua from Auckland.<\/p>\n
He had left Rotorua Boys\u2019 High School at about 16 to make the \u201cscary\u201d leap to chase a music career.<\/p>\n
He said he \u201cblossomed\u201d, working his way up the ladder and building connections with people who became like family.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a lot going for me up in Auckland.\u201d<\/p>\n
But after his father died and his mother, Susan, became unwell, he made the \u201cdifficult\u201d decision to leave.<\/p>\n
His mother needed kidney dialysis and \u201cwasn\u2019t really as independent as she used to be\u201d.<\/p>\n
He returned to Rotorua to look after her as a full-time caregiver.<\/p>\n
Between cleaning, cooking and taking her to appointments, Bishop kept making music, often finding time when his mother was receiving treatment.<\/p>\n
He got confirmation that he would feature on Brown\u2019s album the same day that his mother was admitted to hospital for the final time, around March.<\/p>\n
She remained in hospital until the album\u2019s release, not returning home until June 18.<\/p>\n
She died the next day, a few hours before Bishop\u2019s song was released.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s crazy timing,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cMy number one supporter and she just passed away right before it came out.\u201d<\/p>\n
His mother was the reason he fell in love with music, after she bought him a keyboard for Christmas when he was 14.<\/p>\n
Bishop taught himself chords and how to build them into beats.<\/p>\n
DJ Jay (left) and Sonny Bishop in 2024. Photo \/ Andrew Warner<\/p>\n
Now about 20 years into his career, he owns and operates NextWaveSquad, producing mainly R&B and hip-hop.<\/p>\n
He said his mother would be \u201csuper proud\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was there for the whole journey\u201d, and had been trying to \u201cfight all the way\u201d to the release.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was the sweetest lady in the universe.\u201d<\/p>\n
The album milestone helped to honour her memory.<\/p>\n
Bishop said that, despite \u201call the odds stacked up against me … I managed to achieve the biggest artist\u201d. <\/p>\n
Working with Brown had been a goal since Bishop entered the industry.<\/p>\n
He planned to return to Auckland, then head to the US later this year.<\/p>\n
At the top of his wishlist is a collaboration with Drake.<\/p>\n
Chris Brown\u2019s highs and lows<\/p>\n
Brown shot to fame aged 15 when his debut single Run It! topped charts in 2005. <\/p>\n
But a string of legal troubles often overshadowed his musical success. He admitted assaulting his then-girlfriend, Rihanna, in 2009<\/a> and served a term of probation.<\/p>\n He planned to bring his One Hell of a Nite tour to New Zealand in 2015, but the proposed visit sparked nationwide debate<\/a> and drew strong opposition from domestic violence advocacy groups.<\/p>\n While Brown was reported to have publicly apologised<\/a> on multiple occasions, speaking out against domestic violence and working with related charities, authorities ultimately prevented him from performing in New Zealand. <\/p>\n