Before “Low” went diamond and “Walk It Out” became a movement, it all started in Atlanta.

In this iconic episode of BackTrak, legendary producer DJ Montay steps into the studio to recreate the records that made the South dance—and the world follow. From Flo Rida & T-Pain’s chart-destroying “Low” to the snap-era classics “Walk It Out” and Shawty Lo’s “Foolish,” Montay breaks down the sounds that helped define a generation of club music.

It’s more than nostalgia—it’s a blueprint for how ATL shaped the culture.

0:00 Intro

3:05 Origins: Born and Raised in Atlanta

4:26 The 90s Mixtape Scene & The Identity of Atlanta

11:31 Street Respect: Oomp Camp

17:15 First Equipment: From the Boss 990 to the MPC 2000

22:51 Balancing Radio, Production, and Touring with T-Pain

26:52 Behind Andre 3000 on "Walk It Out" Remix

30:34 Sacrifice: Balancing Music with Fatherhood

32:16 The Success of "Low": T-Pain and Flo Rida

34:06 Spending the Royalty Checks: Buying 15 Cars

37:47 Realigning for Success: Day Trading and Investments

41:58 Technology in Music: AI and Modern Production

44:29 The Business of Selling Catalogs

45:55 Beat Breakdown: "Foolish" (Shawty Lo)

1:00:41 Beat Breakdown:"Walk It Out" (DJ Unk)

1:10:56 Beat Breakdown: "Low" Sound (Flo Rida & T-Pain)

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#tpain #walkitout #florida

No I.D. isn’t just a producer—he’s the quiet architect behind some of the most important careers and sounds in hip-hop.

In this special episode of BackTrak, we sit down with the legendary Chicago native to talk legacy, growth, silence, structure, and why true creativity takes time. Known for shaping artists like Common, Kanye West, J. Cole, and executive producing for Jay-Z, No I.D. reveals the philosophies that have guided his multi-decade career. He reflects on building from intention, not clout—on letting the music age well—and on the lessons he's still learning every day.
He also gives us a rare look into the DNA of “I Used to Love H.E.R.”, remaking it live in the studio—but that’s just one page of a much deeper book.

0:00 Intro
4:52 The Rise of House Music & DJ Dion Wilson  
9:46 1988: The Apex of Influence (Criminal Minded & Paid in Full)  
11:24 Learning to Dig for Jazz Samples with The Beat Nuts  
13:14 The Pursuit of Dopeness vs. Commercial Success  
15:47 The South: Getting Pennies Thrown at FAMU  
17:23 Character Building: Opening for KRS-One in Jersey  
19:17 Moving to Atlanta: Seeking Jermaine Dupri’s Infrastructure  
21:19 Songwriting Lessons: Learning the Artist Side of Producing  
23:35 Mentoring Kanye West: Watching Him Break the Rules  
26:11 The Jesus Piece vs. Buying Equipment  
30:16 The "Diamond Era": Street Rap & The Shift to Big Money  
36:44 Long-term Career Strategy: The Rick Rubin & Quincy Jones Model  
37:54 What do you need all that money for?
41:30 The 5-to-7 Year Artist-Producer Relationship Cycle  
45:47 Staying Sharp: Why Value Trumps Loyalty  
48:37 Debunking the Jay-Z "Rock the World" Production Myth  
54:15 Dealing with Industry Calamity & Storytelling  
57:04 List Culture: Being Offended by "Top 50" Producers  
1:04:13 Legacy Beyond Music: Photography & Writing  
1:07:21 The "Vintage Chair" Philosophy  
1:10:00 Reconnecting with Kanye after the Loss of His Mother  
1:12:15 The Hawaii Sessions: Treating the Studio Like a Band  
1:14:33 Technical Breakdown: Producing "I Used to Love H.E.R."  
1:21:56 Recreating the Sample & Bassline in Ableton  
1:31:27 Realizing the Legacy: When Resurrection Became a Classic  
1:34:51 Final Reflections: Doing it for the Love

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#common #jayz #kanye

In this episode of BackTrak, Zaytoven retraces the creation of “Make the Trap Say Aye” by Gucci Mane and OJ Da Juiceman—a record that helped define the Atlanta trap sound in its rawest form. From the churchy melodies to the unfiltered bounce, Zay walks us through how the beat came together in a flash, why Gucci and Juice were the perfect match, and how this song lit up the streets like a firework. This is trap history from the man who scored it.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

3:21 Early Upbringing and Moving All The Time

10:40 Church Lifestyle

15:10 First Placements

19:15 Moving To Atlanta

24:28 So Icy

29:28 Gucci Locked Up | Working With OJ

31:26 Instruments & Still Playing In Church

36:01 The Zaytoven Sound

40:32 Musical Influences & Family

44:14 Make The Trap Say Aye Backstory

48:58 Collaborations & Engineering

53:04 Prepping The Process

55:59 Beat Recreation

01:07:57 The Legacy

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#zaytoven #guccimane #zaytoventypebeat

Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “Murder to Excellence” wasn’t just a standout track on Watch the Throne—it was a dual narrative of trauma and triumph, a sonic requiem for Black America and a proclamation of generational power. In this episode of BackTrak, Grammy-winning producer S1 (Symbolyc One) takes us into the architecture of one of his most emotionally layered productions. From sourcing the chilling choral sample that opens the track, to constructing the sharp transition into a victorious, synth-driven second half, S1 reveals how this beat was designed to feel like two different worlds colliding—because that’s exactly what it was.

He reflects on the call from Kanye that changed everything, the spiritual weight he carried while producing the song, and how Jay and Ye each approached the duality of the record with different emotional perspectives. This isn’t just a beat remake—it’s a walk through the DNA of a modern protest anthem. A creative act of reverence, resistance, and resilience.

This is Murder to Excellence—rebuilt from the ground up.

0:00 Intro

1:39 Show Introduction: Backtrack with Don Cannon & S-1

3:00 Family Foundation in Waco, Texas

5:27 The Power of Music in the Church

7:13 Hip Hop Awakening: Discovering Underground Music

11:07 Symbolic Elements: From Rapper to Producer

14:44 First Production Gear: The Alesis SR-16 Drum Machine

16:17 Strange Fruit Project & Early Co-signs (Erykah Badu, Questlove, Dilla)

18:31 Producer Influences: Dilla, Premier, Hi-Tek, Pete Rock

21:56 Discipline and Focus: How Early Parenthood Fueled Success

23:39 The "Power" Story Begins

25:17 Kanye's Text: "He's About to Change Your Life"

26:33 Hearing the First Version of "Power" in Hawaii

33:36 Post-"Power" Production Growth

36:27 Drum Kits & Non-Selfish Approach

41:15 Landing the Beyoncé Placement

45:13 S-1's Formula: Breakbeat, Chant, and Dope Progression

1:02:03 From Reason 6 to Ableton

1:05:57 Merging "Black on Black Murder" & "Black Excellence"

1:07:52 MTE Breakdown: Laying the Breakbeat and Modern Drums

1:14:10 MTE Breakdown: Sampling The Color Purple

1:19:23 MTE Breakdown: Piano, Organ, and Bassline Progression

1:28:23 Closing Remarks

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#jayz #kanye #jayztypebeat

On this episode of Backtrak, we spotlight platinum producer Needlz as he breaks down the creation of Drake’s early classic “I’m Goin In” featuring Lil Wayne and Jeezy. Known for his precise drum programming and cinematic layering, Needlz walks us through how the track came together. From dialing in the hard-hitting 808s to building the moody backdrop that set the tone for Drake’s So Far Gone era, this episode offers a rare look into how a timeless record was crafted. It’s a behind-the-scenes deep dive into the sound that helped shape a generation and cement Drake, Wayne, and Jeezy as a legendary trio on wax.

In this episode of BackTrak, producer The Runners pull back the curtain on one of Rihanna’s most celebratory anthems: “Cheers (Drink to That).” Built around a bold Avril Lavigne sample and driven by stadium-sized drums, this record captures the carefree chaos of Rihanna’s Loud era. The Runners take us inside the creative process—how they fused rock textures with island swagger, how Rihanna’s energy in the booth elevated every layer, and why this track became the ultimate toast to resilience and release. From genre-blending production to global party anthem, this is the story of how “Cheers” turned life’s chaos into a celebration.

🔥 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more beat deconstructions!

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#rihanna #cheers #producer

In this episode of BackTrak, Hit-Boy breaks down the creation of the explosive posse-cut “1 Train.” A gritty blend of boom-bap drums, ominous sample textures, and cinematic energy, the record highlights Hit-Boy’s ability to modernize classic East Coast aesthetics while keeping the raw underground feel. From structuring the beat’s relentless drum patterns to shaping the dark, rolling atmosphere that every rapper attacked, he shares insight into how the track came together—and how it marked another milestone in his evolution as a dynamic, genre-bending producer.

Hit-Boy

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#asaprocky #hitboy #producing

In this episode of BackTrak, Blxst breaks down the creation of his standout record “Aye Girl.” A blend of melodic West Coast production and modern R&B flair, the track showcases Blxst’s signature self-produced sound. From drum programming to harmonic layering, he gives insight into how the song came together—and what it represents in his evolution as both an artist and producer.

0:00 Intro

2:32 Early Life & West Coast Musical Roots

6:08 First Equipment: The FL Studio Trial

9:13 The "Bug": Inspired by Kanye West's Graduation

12:30 High School Jerk Crew & Learning the Business

16:35 Securing the Kendrick Lamar Feature

18:01 Betting On Himself: The Non-Traditional Deal

26:00 Patience, Generational Wealth, and Attorneys

30:28 Choosing Love Stories Over Gang Culture

34:33 Raphael Saadiq’s High Praise

41:31 How Blxst Made "Aye Girl"

47:55 Upcoming Album & The Roxy Residency

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#blxst #blxsttypebeat

In this episode of BackTrak, Turbo the Great revisits the melodic chemistry that defined a new Atlanta sound with Gunna’s “Won’t Stop” and “GP.” He takes us inside the sessions that shaped The Last Wun—the late-night experiments, the minimalist melodies that left room for emotion, and the unspoken rhythm between producer and artist. Trap luxury, emotional texture, and effortless cool. This is the story of the sound that made the drip eternal.

00:00 Intro

01:55 From Atlanta With Greatness

03:40 Early Inspiration

06:05 The Trap or Die Era

10:15 First Beats & FL Studio Beginnings

13:20 Learning from the Legends

15:00 Atlanta’s Futuristic Sound Wave

18:05 Sleeping in Studios & Sacrifice

23:10 Family & Motivation

25:00 Producer Talk: FL Studio vs. Everything Else

33:00 Loops, Credit & Respect

44:50 Playmakers & Legacy

57:18 How He Made Gunna's Songs

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#gunna #turbothegreat #gunna

In this special BackTrak episode, Atlanta-based producers OG Parker and Romano reconstruct the making of Cardi B’s “Enough (Miami)”—a standout single from her 2024 run. The duo shares how the beat came together in a focused session in Atlanta, how Cardi connected with the energy, and why the record became a viral favorite. They break down each layer live—from percussion to melody—and share lessons from the process that continues to influence the next wave of hip-hop production.

00:00:00 Intro

00:01:11 How OG Parker and Mono Got Their Names

00:03:43 Collaborative Atlanta Music Culture

00:04:45 Their Biggest/Most Notable Records

00:05:32 Mentorship from Coach K and P

00:08:18 Joining QC and Improving Work Ethic

00:11:00 Catching the Production Bug (FL Studio)

00:12:40 Hardware vs. Software & DAW Preferences

00:15:00 Logic vs. FL Studio vs. Ableton

00:18:02 Mixtape Era and Inspiring Actionable Records

00:22:02 Alternative Careers (Cybersecurity & Graphic Design)

00:26:07 Setting the Standard: The Timbaland Approach to Sessions

00:31:45 Top 3 Favorite Artists & Producers

00:38:43 Remaking the Cardi B "Enough" Beat

01:03:23 Business Strategy: Selling Your Catalog

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