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Boi-1da | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Samuels in 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Boi1da[1] |
| Born | Matthew Jehu Samuels[2] (1986-10-12)October 12, 1986 (age 39) Kingston, Jamaica |
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Labels | OVO Sound |
| Website | www |
Matthew Jehu Samuels (born October 12, 1986),[3] known professionally asBoi-1da (a play on Boy Wonder)[4] is a Canadianrecord producer and songwriter based inToronto,Ontario.
He is an in-house producer forDrake'sOVO Sound label and has produced for a variety of artists and groups, most notably Drake,Rihanna,Eminem,Jay-Z,Nicki Minaj,Nas,Jack Harlow,Kanye West andKendrick Lamar among others. In 2015, Samuels served as the executive producer for Drake's mixtapeIf You're Reading This It's Too Late.
Born inKingston, Jamaica, Samuels moved to Canada when he was three and grew up in theNorth York andScarborough districts of Toronto.[5][6] He was also raised inAjax, Ontario, where he attendedPickering High School.[7][8] His father was a keen listener ofdancehall music and so Samuels was brought up listening to Jamaican music.[9] At the age of eight, his mother bought him aCasio keyboard, and at the age of 15, Arun Sellai had introduced him toFL Studio (formerly FruityLoops). Without any formal musical training, he started using the FL Studio beat-making program. A few years later, he won three consecutive Battle of the Beatmakers championships; because of this accomplishment, he was given a spot in the Battle of the Beatmakers judging panel.
His first production work was at the age of 18, when he worked on two tracks on amixtape (Room for Improvement) for Drake.[5]
Samuels began his career producing for Canadian actorDrake's early mixtapes,Room for Improvement (2006) andComeback Season (2007). In 2008, he produced "Set It Off" by Canadian rapperKardinal Offishall, which featured American rap duoClipse and spawned a remix from American rapperDr. Dre.[10] In an interview withFLOW 93.5, Boi-1da revealed that he was working on beats for Dr. Dre's highly anticipated album,Detox, which was to be released in 2011.[11] However, that album was indefinitely shelved,[12] and none of the released or leaked tracks by Dr. Dre featured Boi-1da's production. He has since stated that he was working with songwriterSean Garrett and has submitted tracks forUsher.[13]
In 2010, Boi-1da produced his first song to peak the USBillboard Hot 100, "Not Afraid" byEminem. He also produced "hahahaha jk?" fromDas Racist's debut albumSit Down, Man the same year.[citation needed]
Boi-1da produced a bulk with Drake's second album,Take Care, which was released November 15, 2011.
In March 2013, he produced "5AM in Toronto" byDrake, which was later released in Drake's 2019 compilation album, "Care Package".
Boi-1da worked with rapperLecrae on his song "Gimme a Second" from his mixtapeChurch Clothes.[14] He also collaborated with rapperBizzle on his 2013 albumThe Good Fight3.[15] He is also a member of Drake'sOctober's Very Own withNoah "40" Shebib andT-Minus.[citation needed]
Boi-1da produced "Party Favors" forTinashe for her albumNightride. The single featuresYoung Thug.[citation needed]
In January 2016,Rihanna released thedancehall track "Work", featuring Drake.[16] The song peaked at number one on theBillboard Hot 100, becoming the second Boi-1da produced track to top the charts. Between 2016 and 2017, Boi-1da continued to produce dancehall tracks, such as Drake's "Controlla",Tyga's "1 of 1",PartyNextDoor's "Only U" andNicki Minaj's "Regret in Your Tears".[9]
He co-produced the 2016Kanye West single "Real Friends".
In September 2017, he produced "No Limit" byG-Eazy featuringA$AP Rocky andCardi B.
In January 2018, he produced "God's Plan" byDrake. In May 2018, he produced "TATI" by6ix9ine featuring DJ Spinking. In August 2018, he produced "Lucky You" byEminem featuringJoyner Lucas.
In March 2019, he produced "I'm Single" byJake Paul, and "Maze" and "Make Believe" fromJuice Wrld's album, "Death Race for Love". In May 2019, he produced "Isis" byJoyner Lucas featuringLogic. In June 2019, he produced "No Guidance" byChris Brown featuringDrake. In July 2019, he produced "1000 Nights" byEd Sheeran featuringMeek Mill andA Boogie wit da Hoodie.
In October 2020, he produced "Tyler Herro" byJack Harlow.
In October 2023, it was announced that he had partnered with alcohol brandBacardi to release an AI-powered album called ‘The A.I. Powered Album’, which involves training an AI model on a selection of his unreleased beats.[17]
Boi-1da is known for his distinctivedancehall sound,[18] having been brought up listening to dancehall before hip-hop.[9] He often incorporates live instrumentation and anair horn sound effect into his beats, as used indancehall andreggae, and frequently incorporatessamples in his productions.[9] Boi-1da has spoken out against songs which imitate dancehall, criticising fellow Toronto musicianTory Lanez for doing so in his 2016 single "Luv".[19]
He currently usesFL Studio 12 to make beats, previously, he used Fruity Loops 3.56, 7 XL and 9.[3][6]
Boi-1da has spoken about being influenced by producers such asDr. Dre,Swizz Beatz,Timbaland, andThe Neptunes.[9]
In late 2020, Boi-1da caughtCOVID-19.[20] He had previously stated thathe would not be taking any vaccine for the virus.[21] Reflecting on his experience in 2025, he revealed that COVID-19 had left him bedridden for weeks and that he felt like he was "half-dead" at the time.[20]
In the lead-up to the2025 Canadian federal election, Boi-1da criticisedLiberal Party politiciansJustin Trudeau andMark Carney and endorsedPierre Poilievre's candidacy for Prime Minister.[22]
TheAmerican Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) hosts a series of awards shows, honouring people in different music categories;pop music is one of its seven categories. In 2011, Drake presented the award to him and 40. They both won the ASCAP Pop Music Award for the Songwriters of the Year for "Over".[23]
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | "Over" | Songwriters of the Year(withNoah "40" Shebib) | Won |
TheGrammy Awards are awarded annually by theNational Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Boi-1da has one win out of fourteen nominations.[24][25][26]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "Best I Ever Had"(Drake) | Best Rap Song | Nominated |
| 2011 | "Not Afraid"(Eminem) | Nominated | |
| Recovery(Eminem) | Album of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2015 | "0 to 100 / The Catch Up"(Drake) | Best Rap Song | Nominated |
| 2016 | "Energy"(Drake) | Nominated | |
| To Pimp a Butterfly(Kendrick Lamar) | Album of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2017 | Views(Drake) | Nominated | |
| "Work"(Rihanna) | Record of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2019 | "God's Plan"(Drake) | Nominated | |
| Song of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Best Rap Song | Won | ||
| "Lucky You"(Eminem) | Nominated | ||
| "Win"(Jay Rock) | Nominated | ||
| Boi-1da | Producer of the Year, Non-Classical | Nominated |
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