Matthew Burnett

Matthew Raymond Burnett (born July 24, 1991) is a Canadian record producer, musical director and manager from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who has worked with a number of major recording artists in various genres from R&B to soul, hip hop and rap. Burnett has produced for the likes of Daniel Caesar, Drake, Eminem, Nas, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, Childish Gambino, Ellie Goulding and Snoh Aalegra to name a few. He has also musically directed Daniel Caesar, Charlotte Day Wilson, Jessie Reyez, Willow Smith and Queen Naija and currently manages both Caesar and Wilson alongside longtime music partner, Jordan Evans. Matthew Burnett's work has earned him two Grammy Award nominations and five Juno Award nominations. In 2018 he took home a Juno Award for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year for Caesar's debut studio album, Freudian.

Biography

Burnett's tuneful ability became apparent at an early age. Starting piano lessons at just four years old, his music instructor noted his natural talent to play songs by ear. As he got older, Burnett's love of music would only grow stronger. By the time he was in ninth grade he was playing in a professional band around the city. Music production software FL Studio (formerly FruityLoops) would introduce him to the art of producing and recording his own music. A student of his craft, Burnett coupled his inherent passion with a fierce dedication to honing his skills, earning a Bachelor of Music degree from the Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

In 2007, Burnett was introduced to Grammy Award-winning producer Matthew Samuels, known commonly as Boi-1da, thus beginning a mentorship that would change his life and career. Under Samuels’ guidance Burnett continued to hone his sound and technique, officially signing to Boi-1da Productions in 2010 where he and Evans would thrive as the production power-duo behind some of the biggest hits in hip hop and R&B. Notable among Burnett's earliest achievements was his production on “ Not Afraid,” the lead single on rapper Eminem’s seventh studio album, Recovery, and the sixteenth song in Billboard history to debut at number one. The track earned Burnett a Grammy Award-nomination for “ Best Rap Song” in 2011.

Ending his Boi-1da deal in 2013, Burnett and partner Evans moved on to cultivate Canadian R&B artist, Daniel Caesar. The two are the principal producers for Caesar's debut album, Freudian, which was nominated for two awards at the 60th Annual Grammys. Today, Burnett continues to lend his expertise in studio production, live show curation, musical direction and management to several of today's leading artists.

Artistry

Record production

Production was Burnett's first love and a talent that catapulted him to success at a very early age. By just 21 years old, his unique ear led him to co-produce music for some of the industry's biggest names, including Drake, Eminem, Keri Hilson, Nas, Lil Wayne and DJ Khaled. Today, that list has expanded to include Daniel Caesar, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, Childish Gambino, Kelly Rowland, Jessie Reyez and Ellie Goulding. His sound and production style were heavily influenced by his Christian upbringing, taking inspiration from gospel music. As he matured, his musical style followed suit and took form through consistent experimentation, practice, and the tutelage of Boi-1da. Today, Burnett's work is unified across genres by a soulful, powerful sound.

Musical direction

A producer at heart, Burnett's wheelhouse soon expanded to include not only studio production, but live show curation and musical direction. He is the visionary behind the live performances for singers Daniel Caesar, Charlotte Day Wilson, Jessie Reyez, Willow Smith, and Queen Naija among others. From composing musical arrangements to scouting, hiring and rehearsing their bands, Burnett is a conduit of creativity, building harmonies both in music and within the teams that create it.

Management

Burnett currently serves alongside longtime music partner Jordan Evans as the co-manager to Grammy Award-winning artist, Daniel Caesar. They also co-manage fellow Canadian rising star, Charlotte Day Wilson. In partnership with Evans and Caesar, Burnett founded the independent record label Golden Child Recordings.

Discography

2010

Drake – ''Thank Me Later''
*06. "Up All Night" (featuring Nicki Minaj)

Eminem – ''Recovery''
*07. " Not Afraid"
*08. "Seduction"

Bun B – '' Trill OG''
*16. "It's Been a Pleasure" (featuring Drake)

Lil' Wayne – '' I Am Not a Human Being''
*10. "Bill Gates"

Drake – Unreleased single
*"Something"

Lloyd Banks – ''The Hunger For More 2''
*15. "Where I'm At" (featuring Eminem)

Keri Hilson – ''No Boys Allowed''
*01. "Buyou Music" (featuring J. Cole)
*10. "Gimmie What I Want"
*16. "Fearless"

2011

DJ Khaled – ''We The Best Forever''
*08. "Can't Stop" (featuring Birdman and T–Pain)

Mindless Behavior – ''#1 Girl''
*08. "Future"

Down With Webster – ''Time to Win, Vol. 2''
*07. "I Want It All"

2012

Childish Gambino – ''Royalty''
*16. "Wonderful" (featuring John Osho)

Nas – ''Life Is Good''
*19. "Trust"

Busta Rhymes – ''Year of the Dragon''
*09. "Sound Boy" (featuring Cam'ron)

2 Chainz – ''Based on a T.R.U Story''
*01. "Yuck" (featuring Lil Wayne)

Slaughterhouse – ''Welcome to Our House''
*13. "Goodbye"

Talib Kweli – ''Attack The Block''
*06. Outstanding (featuring Ryan Leslie)

Nicki Minaj – ''Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded – The Re–Up''
*02. "Freedom"

Game – ''Jesus Piece''
*09. "See No Evil" (featuring Kendrick Lamar and Tank)

2013

Kelly Rowland – '' Talk a Good Game''
*09. "Red Wine"

Rich Gang – ''Rich Gang''
*01. "R.G." (featuring Mystikal)

Lil Wayne – '' Dedication 5''
*12. "Live Life" (featuring Euro)

Audio Push – ''Come as You Are''
*09. "Turn Down"

Drake – '' Nothing Was the Same''
*13. " Pound Cake"

Doley Bernays – ''Just In Case''
*06. "Drown"

Fabolous – ''The Soul Tape 3''
*07. "You Know" (featuring Young Jeezy)

2014

Eric Bellinger – ''The Rebirth''
*06. "Delorean"

Zuse – ''Bullet''
*11. "Oiler" (featuring Trae The Truth)

Sebastian Mikael – ''Speechless''
*04. "Made For Me" (featuring Teyana Taylor)

G–Eazy – ''These Things Happen''
*05. "Opportunity Cost"

Game – '' Blood Moon: Year of the Wolf''
*02. "F.U.N."
*06. "Married To The Game" (featuring French Montana, Dubb and Sam Hook)

Astro – ''Computer Era''
*10. "N*gga Pls"

Jahkoy – ''Forward Thinking''

* 08. "Vacay"

OB O'Brien – "Schemin' Up" Single

* "Schemin' Up"

2015

Kyndall – ''Still Down'' EP
*02. "All Mine"

Raekwon – ''Fly International Luxurious Art''
*13. "Worst Enemy" (featuring Liz Rodrigues)

Daniel Caesar – ''Pilgrim's Paradise''
*02. "Death and Taxes"
*03. "Paradise"
*05. "Streetcar"
*06. "Show No Regret"

KYLE – ''Smyle''
*10. "Remember Me?" (featuring Chance The Rapper)

Chris Brown – ''Royalty''
*06. "Zero"

Various artists – '' Magic Mike XXL Original Motion Picture Soundtrack''

* 08. "Untitled (How Does It Feel)"

2016

June's Diary – "All of Us" Single
* "All of Us"

Audio Push – ''90951''
*04. "Spread Love"

Daniel Caesar – ''Get You –'' Single

* '"Won't Live Here" (produced with Jordan Evans)
* " Get You" (produced with Jordan Evans)
* "Japanese Denim" (produced with Jordan Evans)

Nathan Sykes – ''Unfinished Business''
*09. " Give It Up" (featuring G–Eazy)

Ellie Goulding – Single

* "Just in Case" (produced with Jordan Evans)

PartyNextDoor – TBD

* "You Made It" (produced with Jordan Evans)
11:11 - ''11:11'' (Executive producer with DZL)

* 01. "West Side"
* 02. "You"
* 03. "Byo"
* 04. "I'm Good"
* 05. "My Bish"
* 06. "Henny & Gin"
* 07. "Don't Worry"

2017

Joyner Lucas – ''508-507-2209''
*09. "Way To Go" (featuring Snoh Aalegra)

Chris Brown – '' Heartbreak on a Full Moon''

* 41. "Reddi Whip" (produced with Jordan Evans)

Daniel Caesar – ''Freudian'' (Executive producer with Jordan Evans)

* 01. "Get You" (feat. Kali Uchis)
* 02. " Best Part" (feat. H.E.R)
* 03. "Hold Me Down" (produced with Alex Ernewein and Riley Bell)
* 04. "Neu Roses (Transgressor's Song)"
* 05. "Loose" (produced with and Alex Ernewein)
* 06. "We Find Love" (produced with and Jordon Manswell)
* 07. "Blessed"
* 08. "Take Me Away" (feat. Syd) (produced with Riley Bell)
* 09. "Transform" (feat. Charlotte Day Wilson) (produced with Alex Ernewein and Riley Bell)
* 10. "Freudian" (produced with and Riley Bell)

2018

Jessie Reyez feat. Daniel Caesar – Single

* " Figures, a Reprise" (produced with Jordan Evans)
Daniel Caesar – Single

* "Who Hurt You?" (co-produced with Jordan Evans)

2019

Snoh Aalegra – ''Ugh, Those Feels Again''

* 06. “Toronto” (produced with Riley Bell)

Daniel Caesar – '' Case Study 01'' (Executive producer with Jordan Evans and Daniel Caesar)

* 02. "Cyanide" (produced with Jordan Evans)
* 03. "Love Again" (feat. Brandy) (produced with Jordan Evans)
* 05. "Open Up" (produced with Jordan Evans)
* 06. "Restore the Feeling" (feat. Sean Leon and Jacob Collier) (produced with Jordan Evans)
* 08. "Too Deep to Turn Back" (produced with Jordan Evans and River Tiber)

2020

Fousheé – Single

* "Single AF" (produced with Solomonophonic)

2021

Dylan Sinclair - Single

* "Black Creek Drive" (produced with Jordan Evans and Zachary Simmonds)

2022

Daniel Caesar - Single

* "Please Do Not Lean" (produced with Jordan Evans and BADBADNOTGOOD)

Giveon - '' Give or Take''

* "dec 11th" (produced with Jordan Evans)

Tours (musical direction)

TV and live performances (musical direction)

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

Juno Awards

Canadian Film Screen Awards

References

External links

Matthew Burnett
on Twitter

Sit Down with Matthew Burnett & Jordan Evans via JahmalGittens.com

Matthew Burnett & Jordan Evans Talk Producing “Pound Cake” For Drake & JAY Z

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burnett, Matthew
1991 births
Living people
Musicians from Toronto
Black Canadian musicians
Canadian hip hop record producers