S. Samuel
After Drake's in-house producer 40 recently revealed he is only allowed to work with Jay-Z and Lil Wayne, SOHH hit up hitmaker Nitti Beatz to get his reaction on artist-producer allegiances.
Known for producing handfuls of hits like Yung Joc‘s “It’s Goin’ Down” and “Bring It Back” by 8Ball & MJG track, Nitti said he can respect Drizzy’s strict request.
“I mean, there is not anything wrong with being a loyal producer to an artist who you came up with,” Nitti told SOHH in a statement. “[laughs] I did learn a lot from watching [ex-Cash Money Records producer] Mannie Fresh. But if you can give that same artist multi-platinum hits that will make you some big checks, get cha money until it [ends or] that well dries up!” (SOHH)
According to 40, Drake only permits him to currently do records for Jay and Weezy.
“At this point in time the only rappers I have any interest in working with outside of Drake are Wayne and [Jay-Z],” 40 revealed in an interview. “And that’s from Drake’s mouth. I think Drake has been so instrumental in creating that sound that I have a commitment to him. If he doesn’t’ want me to give it away I won’t…My ambitions are to stay focused with Drake. When it comes time to develop another artist I’ll make that move…I feel blessed. I’m a kid from Toronto. I’ve been driving my mom’s station wagon for the last 8 years for real. I’m trying to make a career for myself and not flush it down the toilet.” (VIBE)
In a past interview, Drake opened up about his relationship with 40.
There’s no question that Drake is the biggest thing in rap, but the industry is just starting to understand the talent of Noah “40” Shebib, the producer/engineer behind almost all of Drizzy’s music. Last week MTV featured the low-key mastermind in their documentary Drake: Better Than Good Enough, where the rapper confessed, “40 is everything to me. Without 40, I don’t know what I would do.” It’s the rare musical partnership that seems to be clicking on every level, but most don’t know that 40 has something else in common with Drake: he was also a child actor. (Complex)
Last September, 40 signed a management deal with Hip-Hop Since 1978.
Drake’s longtime engineer and producer Noah “40” Shebib has joined the famed Hip-Hop Since 1978 family. Known for producing the bulk of Drizzy’s critically-acclaimed So Far Gone mixtape, including the monster single “Successful,” XXLMag.com recently caught up with 40 to talk about his new management deal. “Working around Drake so much and with G and [Cor]Tez {Bryant] and everybody you know, [I] ended up becoming very close with them,” 40 said. “Coming from Toronto and New York City where Hip Hop Since 1978 is based is like a second home to me. It was an easy fit.” (XXL Mag)
Check out footage of Drake & 40 below:
