Canadian hip-hop producer Murda Beatz went from teaching himself music programming to making beats for Gucci Mane and Drake. He produced multiple late-2010s Top Ten hits, including the chart-topping "Nice for What" with Drake, Travis Scott's "Butterfly Effect," and Migos' "Motorsport." In addition to his production for others, Murda Beatz released material of his own, like the 2016 mixtape Keep God First, and kept fans waiting for its sequel (which doubled as his studio full-length debut), Keep God First 2.

Murda Beatz was born Shane Lindstrom in 1994. Growing up in Fort Erie, Ontario, Lindstrom played drums from an early age and would often jam with his family, being encouraged by his rock music enthusiast father to pursue music. At age 17 he began teaching himself production, making beats in his bedroom and selling his rock equipment to buy music production gear. He quickly found placements for his beats and ravenously pursued rappers with his material, contacting Atlanta's Migos before their rise to fame. Socially energetic and always networking, Lindstrom connected with many rappers, eventually working with names as big as Drake, PartyNextDoor, French Montana, and Gucci Mane. His tracks with Montana, 2 Chainz, Drake, and Travis Scott were all certified platinum.

Along with producing for some of the biggest names in rap, Murda Beatz released solo material as well, beginning with his 2016 mixtape Keep God First, featuring guest spots from 2 Chainz, Playboi Carti, Offset, and many other top-shelf MCs. Bless Yo Trap, a collaborative mixtape with Smokepurpp, arrived in April 2018, and included guest features from Lil Yachty and A$AP Ferg. The set debuted in the U.S. Top 40. Around the time of Bless Yo Trap's release, Lindstrom was also rising on the Hot 100. "Motorsport" with Migos, Nicki Minaj, and Cardi B was certified triple platinum and broke into the Top Ten, while "Nice for What" with Drake topped the U.S. chart and reached five-times-platinum status. At the close of 2018, "Fefe" -- his hit single with 6ix9ine and Minaj -- reached number three and went eight-times platinum.

Regular production work continued throughout the next few years, and Murda also released music of his own like the 2019 single "Shoplifting Spree" with Sheck Wes and Lil Pump, the 2020 track "Doors Unlocked," and the 2021 mixtape Memory Lane, made in collaboration with Shordie Shordie and featuring a guest appearance from Trippie Redd. While his work continued, Murda Beatz kept fans waiting for years for his long-promised studio debut full-length, Keep God First 2. The album had yet to arrive by 2022, but a shared track listing revealed it included contributions from YNW Melly, Lil Durk, Wale, and many others. ~ Fred Thomas, Rovi