Boi-1da
Matthew Jehu Samuels arrived in Canada at the age of three, leaving behind the streets of Kingston, Jamaica. He grew up within the North York and Scarborough districts of Toronto before settling in Ajax, Ontario. His father listened to dancehall music constantly, so young Matthew absorbed those rhythms from his earliest days. At eight years old, his mother purchased a Casio keyboard for him. This instrument became his first tool for exploring sound without any formal training. Five years later, Arun Sellai introduced the teenager to FL Studio software. He began crafting beats using this program while still attending Pickering High School. A few years after that introduction, he won three consecutive Battle of the Beatmakers championships. That victory earned him a spot on the judging panel for future competitions.
Samuels launched his professional career at eighteen years old working on two tracks for Drake's mixtape Room for Improvement. He continued producing for the Canadian rapper's 2007 project Comeback Season. By 2015, he served as the executive producer for Drake's mixtape If You're Reading This It's Too Late. He joined Noah Shebib and T-Minus as an in-house producer for the label OVO Sound. Their collaboration produced a bulk of Drake's second album Take Care which released the 15th of November 2011. In March 2013, Samuels created the track 5AM in Toronto for the artist. That song appeared later on Drake's 2019 compilation album Care Package. The partnership extended beyond music into business ventures with the October's Very Own brand.
In 2010, Boi-1da produced his first song to peak the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Eminem released Not Afraid that year featuring production from Samuels. January 2016 saw Rihanna release the dancehall track Work featuring Drake. This song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts becoming the second Boi-1da produced track to top the lists. January 2018 brought God's Plan by Drake to the public. August 2018 delivered Lucky You by Eminem featuring Joyner Lucas. These tracks demonstrated his ability to create commercial hits across different genres. His work reached audiences worldwide through these major releases.
Samuels grew up listening to Jamaican music before hip-hop became a dominant force in his life. He often incorporates live instrumentation and an air horn sound effect into his beats. This technique comes directly from dancehall and reggae traditions he heard as a child. He frequently uses samples within his productions to build complex sonic textures. The producer currently uses FL Studio 12 to make beats after previously using Fruity Loops versions 3.56, 7 XL and 9. He has spoken out against songs which imitate dancehall styles without authenticity. In 2016, he criticized fellow Toronto musician Tory Lanez for doing so in his single Luv. His influences include producers such as Dr. Dre, Swizz Beatz, Timbaland, and The Neptunes.
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers hosts awards honoring people in different music categories. Pop music is one of its seven categories. In 2011, Drake presented the award to Samuels and Noah Shebib. They won the ASCAP Pop Music Award for Songwriters of the Year for Over. The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Boi-1da holds one win out of fourteen nominations across various categories. His work on Recovery earned Album of the Year recognition in 2011. Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly received Album of the Year nods during his tenure. Views by Drake also garnered attention from the academy. He was named Producer of the Year Non-Classical at some point in his career.
In late 2020, Boi-1da caught COVID-19 while reflecting on his health choices. He had previously stated that he would not be taking any vaccine for the virus. Reflecting on his experience in 2025, he revealed that COVID-19 left him bedridden for weeks. He felt like he was half-dead at the time during the illness. The pandemic forced him to pause his production schedule temporarily. In the lead-up to the 2025 Canadian federal election, Boi-1da criticized Liberal Party politicians Justin Trudeau and Mark Carney. He endorsed Pierre Poilievre's candidacy for Prime Minister instead. This political activity marked a shift from music into public policy discussions within Canada.
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Common questions
When was Boi-1da born and where did he grow up?
Matthew Jehu Samuels, known as Boi-1da, arrived in Canada at the age of three after leaving Kingston, Jamaica. He grew up within the North York and Scarborough districts of Toronto before settling in Ajax, Ontario.
What software does Boi-1da use to produce music today?
The producer currently uses FL Studio 12 to make beats after previously using Fruity Loops versions 3.56, 7 XL and 9. He began crafting beats using this program while still attending Pickering High School five years after his mother purchased a Casio keyboard for him.
Which songs by Drake and Eminem did Boi-1da produce that reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts?
Boi-1da produced Not Afraid by Eminem which peaked the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2010. January 2016 saw Rihanna release the dancehall track Work featuring Drake which became the second Boi-1da produced track to top the lists.
How many Grammy Awards has Boi-1da won out of his nominations?
Boi-1da holds one win out of fourteen nominations across various categories from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. His work on Recovery earned Album of the Year recognition in 2011 while Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly received Album of the Year nods during his tenure.
What political stance did Boi-1da take during the 2025 Canadian federal election?
In the lead-up to the 2025 Canadian federal election, Boi-1da criticized Liberal Party politicians Justin Trudeau and Mark Carney. He endorsed Pierre Poilievre's candidacy for Prime Minister instead marking a shift from music into public policy discussions within Canada.