“Murda on the Beatz, so it’s not nice.” This iconic music producer tag is in some of the most influential music in the rap industry. And while it’s everywhere, it’s easy to forget that Murda Beatz is, in fact, a man who just wants his flowers. In a recent TikTok post, shared via DJ Akademiks’ Insta feed, Murda’s in his car with a hangdog sad face. The caption above his head reads: “I’ve never heard of you.” In the background, he throws out a dozen songs with his infamous tag, all of them absolute earworms that we all remember.
Murda Beatz kicks the musical collage off with “Butterfly Effect” by Travis Scott. Then it’s “Nice for What” by Drake. Next is “MotorSport” by Migos, Nicki Minaj, and Cardi B. Quavo and Takeoff’s “Hotel Lobby” and Drake’s “Portland” are mashed up right after. And this is just a taste of the songs Murda has had a hand in for over a decade. The Canadian record producer has worked with French Montana, Gucci Mane, and 2 Chainz as well.
Murda has had a prolific career already, and he’s only 29 years old. So when people are out there saying, “I’ve never heard of him,” it’s simple ignorance. He is in the background of plenty of rap tracks. Born Shane Lindstrom, he has 122 official production credits since 2014, with plenty of those songs charting. “Nice for What,” the 2018 summer song from Drake’s album Scorpion, is Murda’s most successful production, hitting number one in the U.S. charts and becoming an internet sensation for a few months.
While he’s still pumping out some dope tracks, Murda Beatz has been taking it a little slow recently. Back in 2021, Forbes honored him with a “30 Under 30” recognition for their music category. His only production credit this year is “Solteiras Shake” by Ludmilla with DJ Gabriel do Borel. After posting this TikTok, the safe bet is Murda is going to head back to the studio to keep showing people who he is…even if they don’t recognize him.
Regarding the music scene in Canada, one may automatically envision Drake, Justin Bieber, and The Weeknd. This trio possibly takes up three of the four spots on Canada’s Mount Rushmore of music. These significant artists have contributed immensely to the scene throughout the years, including today. Do you know who else deserves some recognition? Murda Beatz. In case you didn’t know, the megaproducer hails from Toronto. His songs have been crucial to this generation of Hip Hop.
The 29-year-old is behind some of your favorite songs. Murda Beatz has strayed away from what his peers are doing lately, such as creating joint albums with artists. Additionally, Murda Beatz has worked with the biggest artists, such as Migos, Gucci Mane, French Montana, and Nicki Minaj. He has either solely produced or co-produced on plenty of hit records. Let’s take a look at some of Murda Beatz’s hottest songs.
7. “No Shopping” – French Montana ft. Drake
Of course, everyone remembers “No Shopping” for Drake’s verse. This was during his beef with Joe Budden, so he reportedly had a few lines for him. Besides that, Murda Beatz made a sound that was just as fun as the video. Like in the visual, French Montana and Drake rap without a care, crafting another hit. This was Murda Beatz’s first time colliding with French, but he made a sound that the rapper could work with.
Murda Beatz mixed a few sounds together for “4 AM.” Having two Southern artists on the song, with 2 Chainz and Travis Scott, the producer came up with a HoustAtlanta sound. “4 AM” has the ATL vibe with the trap drums, but also has a Houston feel as the song is slower. It’s interesting what Murda Beatz does with the beat. It may remind you of the Houston rapper’s song “Butterfly Effect,” to which Murda produced as well. He adds sounds that loop throughout the track. This is what makes a Murda Beatz song.
5. “Pipe it Up” – Migos
As stated earlier, Murda Beatz has worked with the Migos since early on in their career. He produced one of their lead singles, “Pipe It Up,” from their debut album, Yung Rich Nation. Murda has a knack for adding interesting sounds to his productions. In “Pipe It Up,” it sounds like he uses a combination of a xylophone and a piano. Murda produces a sound fit for the Migos’ signature flow.
4. “It’s A Vibe”- 2 Chainz ft. Ty Dolla $ign, Jhene Aiko and Trey Songz
Murda Beatz created a sound you can vibe to on “It’s A Vibe.” 2 Chainz, Ty Dolla $ign, Trey Songz, and Jhene Aiko all float over this production. This song is surely something to relax to. It appears on 2 Chainz’s album, Pretty Girls Like Trap Music. This Hip Hop-R&B-Trap blend is fit to be on this album based on its title.
Although the topic of discussion on “MotorSport” was Cardi B and Nicki Minaj, Murda Beatz made a Top 10 record. The Canadian producer proves he can do some of everything by adding another trap hit to his catalog. This is up the Migos’ alley and became, arguably, one of their best songs. Murda Beatz has been known to work with the trio and Young Money artists such as Nicki Minaj, Drake, and Lil Wayne. This was the first time he had worked with Cardi B. They later collaborated on Invasion of Privacy with “I Do” featuring SZA.
2. “Butterfly Effect” – Travis Scott
Murda Beatz cooked up a sound that only Travis Scott can use in “Butterfly Effect.” The tempo of the song matches the Houston rapper’s flow. Travis Scott isn’t the typical Houston rapper. However, at times he does remain true to his roots. ”Butterfly Effect” has a bit of a hometown feel as the gloomy yet upbeat sound might be perfect for “swangin,” a popular Houston activity.
1. “Nice For What” – Drake
Drake’s “Nice For What” gave Murda Beatz his first and only No. 1 record. It’s arguably Drake’s best song which he can thank the young producer for. “Nice For What” was nominated for Best Rap Performance at the 2019 Grammy Awards. Murda shows his abilities on this track as he samples a bit of Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor.” He also gets creative and uses a clip of New Orleans artist Big Freedia. It’s not hard to produce a record for Drake, as he makes anything sound good.
Let us know which Murda Beatz songs are your favorite in the comments.
Conway The Machine has created well over a thousand songs throughout his career. An American rapper based out of Buffalo, New York, he’s a member of the famous Griselda crew. The group has spearheaded the revival of the East Coast underground scene alongside the likes of Westside Gunn and Benny the Butcher. Spending time in jail at the age of 23, Conway used the experience as motivation to spur his rap career. He has utilized collaborations throughout his career, working with rappers that capitalize a sound rooted in the streets of New York.
There’s no doubt that New York no longer runs the American hip-hop scene. With the bling era coming to a close, much of the allure of the Big Apple’s sound died with it. However, there are still pockets of rappers who provide a modern take on the ’90s era of New York hip-hop. One of these pockets was founded in 2014, when Westside Gunn created Griselda Records. Thirty-two-years-old at the time, Conway was the first rapper that Westside Gunn would bring on.
Griselda Records’ lyrical heavyweight released God Don’t Make Mistakes, in March of 2022. Conway was as vulnerable as ever on the record, picturing his trying childhood. He references the deaths of his son and cousin, personal bouts with alcoholism, and being abused at 10 months old. In fact, Conway The Machine has long been one of the more lyrically compelling rappers out. In an interview with Billboard, he stated, “I’m usually more bottled up and keep my personal stuff and shortcomings in life to myself personally, but this was the album for me to (not) do that.” With fans soon anticipating a new record, we’re going to take a look at some of Conway The Machine’s best collaborations on songs to date.
“Chanel Pearls” ft. Jill Scott (2022)
Predominately known for collaborating with other rappers, “Chanel Pearls” saw Conway push his boundaries by working with an iconic female vocalist. Scott made her name in the late ’90s to early ’00s, curating groovy soul cuts such as “Golden” and “A Long Walk.” She was best-known for creating slow and sensual music in the R&B space, releasing multiple multi-platinum projects.
However, the track sees Scott detour from her usual style. Rather than utilizing her booming vocals, she meets Conway’s energy with an energetic rap verse. The two rap about their shared hardships growing up. Conway states, “My life a series of drama just like them HBO shows / When I die, I’m goin’ out like the pharoah, drape me in gold.”
The most commercially successful track off of God Don’t Make Mistakes, the Griselda heavy hitters came together for yet another iconic song. “John Woo Flick” pays direct homage to the legendary Hong Kong action movie director. Featuring a looping sample and an incumbered drum pattern, the lyricism of the trio takes the forefront. The three flex about their wealth on the song, reflecting on how far they’ve each come. Conway states, “Now I’m in the Mayback sippin’ a Spade mimosa.” Standing on top of New York, it’s an iconic rags to riches anthem.
With Conway branching out with Drumwork Music Group, he had recently left Griselda Records. “John Woo Flick” shut down reports that his relationship with Westside Gunn was strained. While the two are no longer under the same label, they’ve made it clear that they’re still brothers for life.
Conway The Machine’s most commercially successful song to date, J.I.D and Ludacris each contribute fantastic verses on the backend. The day before the track released, the world witness Ludacris flying a car into space in the exhilarating Fast & Furious 9 trailer. A day later, he’s flexing hard on Conway’s track. There wasn’t anyone more deserving of the blockbuster feature than Conway, who’s meticulously been developing as an MC through pure grit over the past decade. Featuring an eerie beat, all three of them are talking their s**t from start to finish. “Scatter Brain” was the last single released before 2021’s La Maquina. The song is about to surpass 50 million streams on Spotify alone.
“200 Pies” ft. 2 Chainz (2021)
Another song off of Conway The Machine’s La Maquina, “200 Pies,” features Atlanta Hall of Famer 2 Chainz. A relatively mellow beat produced by The Alchemist, it’s interesting to hear 2 Chainz over a more minimally produced beat. In fact, it’s probably the best version of him we had heard in a while. The two trade bars throughout, with Chainz stating, “I’m a money-getter, business leader, vibe-reader.” His ability to garner features from household names speaks volumes to his notoriety with hip-hop circles.
Conway references Drumwork Music Group, a record label which he founded himself. He states, “Build the next powerhouse record label, that was the next plan / Drumwork like Death Row in the 90s mixed with Def Jam.” With 2 Chainz being a multi-business tycoon, Conway makes it clear that he’s looking to follow in his footsteps by being more than just a rapper.
Conway The Machine’s “Lemon” features iconic Wu-Tang legend Method Man. The song displays venom and raw skill from start to finish, with production chops from Daringer and Beat Butcha. With Pray For Paris and The Price of Tea in China elevating Griselda to pristine relevance in mid-2020, Conway The Machine lived up to the pressure on the song “Lemon,” refusing to be a weak link of any sorts. Method Man is potent throughout, stating, “I use the system / you cowards use euphemisms / Women call me Super Daddy, my powers is supervision / Who gave you permission to speak?”
“Anza” ft. Armani Caesar (2020)
Featuring production chops from Murda Beatz, “Anza” sees Conway and Armani floating over a heavy 808. More traditionally rooted in trap compared to Conway’s usual sound, the two Griselda Records headliners flow seamlessly over the beat. “Anza” is a primary example of Conway looking to elevate his sound beyond the touted sample looping associated with the New York rap scene. The result is surprisingly great, with Armani delivering one of her better verses.
Throughout much of God Don’t Make Mistakes, Conway The Machine references his life-altering shooting as a catalyst rather than a deterrent for his rap career. Back in 2012, he was shot in the back of the head and neck, which paralyzed the right half of his face. As he references throughout the project, there was a significant social fallout after the incident. His supposed close friends were quick to turn, doubting that Conway would ever be able to become relevant as an MC.
“Tear Gas” sees Conway reflect on his legacy as a rapper. He states, “Probably won’t get my flowers while I can smell ’em / It’s gon take my untimely demise ‘fore they realize I was a legend.” However, he makes it clear that his career is only just getting started. Bringing in Rick Ross and Lil Wayne in itself is a statement of how far he’s come since the incident. Every verse is fantastic, as the three bounce off each other seamlessly.
G Herbo is officially back with his first offering of the year. The Chicago-bred artist ditches the drill rap this time around, however, as he reflects on a past relationship. Yung Bleu also appears on “Raining” making the Murda Beatz and Cardiak-produced track a touch more melodic. This is the first time the pairing has been featured on a track together.
“You should be loving me, daily / Baby, where you at? I miss you f**king me, crazy / Now you with that sucker, he ain’t nothing like me, you crazy / Remember when you couldn’t get enough of me, s**t crazy,” Herbo starts. He continues to reflect on their whirlwind romance throughout the verse, with Yung Bleu chiming in on the song’s captivating chorus. The two artists also get a little raunchy in the lyrics that follow as they reminisce on X-rated activities with their seemingly toxic lovers.
“I be biting on your back like a Great Dane / Our 7th time having space like we in Uranus / Still gon’ put it in her face, finger in her anus,” the Survivor’s Remorse rapper recites. Yung Bleu comes in shortly after on a similar tone as he professes the love he has for his leading lady. “You must’ve been insecure when he had you / But I’m tryna carve you out like a statue,” Bleu chants. “You say fingers in your mmm, it relax you / Or suckin’ on your oooh, like a vacuum / Now it’s raining on my window…” The song is currently streaming on Apple Music and Spotify
It’s becoming clear G Herbo’s ruthless ways have come to a halt. The Cinematic signee is currently dating Instagram influencer Tania Williams, who he shares two children with. He briefly spoke on their relationship and how it began during his appearance on Yung Miami’s show, Caresha Please. In the highly-viewed interview, Herbo admits to cheating on the mother of his first child with his new lover. “I was young,” he tells Miami. “I was dumb. I ain’t know no better, man, I was just doin’ s**t.”
Quotable Lyrics:
“It’s raining on my window, but I can’t see the clouds I want more than affection, you haven’t been close to me in a while It’s raining on my windows, but my tears are running dry What you feel inside is way too common, it’s gon’ be alright”
Before he makes his highly-anticipated Asylum Records album debut, high-profile Dallas recording artist Yella Beezy releases his first project in three years with new mixtape, Bad Azz Yella Boy, which is accompanied by the new music video for the album-cut, “DFMW”. Released Friday (August 5) on all digital streaming platforms via Profit Music Group, the new project comes on the heels of the “That’s On Me” hitmaker being cleared of all charges in several high-profile cases and signing a new deal with Asylum Records in late-2021 after leaving L.A. Reid’s Hitco Records.
Bad Azz Yella Boy includes 16 new songs that features guest appearances by newly-signed Quality Control recording artist Icewear Vezzo (“Out The Jar”) and up-and-coming act Mozz (“Problems”). On the production side, the project features multi-platinum producer, Murda Beatz (Migos, Travis Scott). From the cover to the sound, Yella’s latest release heavily sampled the nostalgic No Limit and Cash Money era.
“It’s like a reboot of how Cash Money and No Limit… their covers used to be,” Beezy tells iHeartRadio. “It was kinda inspired by that. I always wanted to do a cover like that. Since this is just a mixtape, I was like this is the perfect timing.”
The new mixtape is reset for the artist and fans who fell in love with him and his flashy trash talk-but-can back it up at any given moment ways in 2017 with his breakout mixtape, Broke Nights Rich Days. The return of that signature southern charm and grit that saw him collaborate with several of the biggest names in music, like Lil Baby (“Up One”), Gunna (“On Fleek”), and Chris Brown (“Restroom Occupied”)
He continued: “Yella Boy is just talking his s**t on there,” Beezy says. “So I feel like, this tape right here, I’m really talking a lot of s**t on there.”
BAD AZZ YELLA BOY THE MIXTAPE DROPPING FRIDAY ON ALL MUSIC PLATFORMS !!!!! PRESAVED LINK IN MY BIO pic.twitter.com/oJ2SoWqb8R
In “DFWM,” Yella Beezy stars as ruthless no nonsense hustler who has to teach a rival crew a lesson for trying to stiff him on a deal. Things get ugly quickly while he raps about dealing with haters and unsavory characters when he is simply getting to the money and minding his own business. The visual delivers more nostalgia with Beezy and crew rolling around in a cherry-red 1985 BMW. Watch it above.
Bad Azz Yella Boy follows his 2019 mixtape, Baccend Beezy, that features Too Short, Chris Brown, Young Thug, and NLE Choppa. Beezy’s forthcoming album, currently untitled, coming soon on Asylum Records.
