Boi 1Da

Matthew Jehu Samuels, professionally known as Boi-1da, was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1986. He immigrated to Canada at the age of three, growing up in Toronto’s North York and Scarborough districts, as well as Ajax, Ontario. His early exposure to dancehall music from his father sparked his interest in music. At eight, his mother gave him a Casio keyboard, and by 15, he was introduced to FL Studio, a beat-making program that ignited his career. Without formal musical training, he honed his skills, winning three consecutive Battle of the Beatmakers championships, which earned him a place on the judging panel.

Boi-1da’s significant career began at 18 when he contributed to Drake’s early mixtapes, ‘Room for Improvement’ (2006) and ‘Comeback Season’ (2007). This partnership proved pivotal, leading to hits like Drake’s ‘Best I Ever Had’ from ‘So Far Gone,’ propelling both artists to wider recognition. His production talents quickly garnered attention, leading to collaborations with major artists. In 2010, he achieved his first US Billboard Hot 100 number one with Eminem’s ‘Not Afraid.’ He became an in-house producer for Drake’s OVO Sound label and executive produced Drake’s 2015 mixtape ‘If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late.’

Throughout his career, Boi-1da has produced for a diverse array of prominent artists, including Rihanna, Eminem, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Nas, Jack Harlow, Kanye West, and Kendrick Lamar. His distinctive sound, blending hip-hop and pop with dancehall rhythms and incorporating samples and live instrumentation, has become a signature. He earned a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song for Drake’s ‘God’s Plan’ in 2019 and continued to influence global music with over 60 Platinum singles and four RIAA-certified Diamond records. His versatility extends beyond hip-hop, with production credits for Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, and Ed Sheeran, cementing his reputation as a generation-defining producer.