M1onTheBeat is a rare breed of producer who feels like a legacy act and an exciting newcomer simultaneously. His style is raw, encompassing, eclectic and mature. A master at laying down the canvas for rappers to paint upon, his beats are continuously impressive, evolving yet rooted in his own authentic sonic philosophy.
At the forefront of UK drill’s prolific popularity in the late 10s and early ‘20s, M1 has produced for most names with substances in the UK scene; he’s the beatsmith behind meteoric hits like “Warm” by K-Trap and “Only You Freestyle” from Drake and Headie One.
Now, he looks set to become more of a recognised and decorated artist in his own right, with the announcement that he will be unveiling his debut mixtape, “M1onTheBeat: The Mixtape”, on Friday 24th November. The announcement follows previous teaser single “Sing Dat” with rising Brixton rapper Cristale, and comes accompanied by a mixtape trailer, filmed at Brit Award-designer Slawn’s East London cafe, Beau Beau’s.
The forthcoming mixtape in question is a who’s who in UK rap, a line up so star studded that it’s barely possible to comprehend. There’s drill heavyweights like Digga D, K-Trap and Headie One, there’s real rap icons like Youngs Teflon, Krept & Konan and Skrapz, there’s an array of non-London rappers like Meekz, Booter Bee and M1llionz, and there’s some of the best alternative spitters, like Knucks, Kojey Radical and DC. The breadth of the artists involved suggests an expanding stylistic vision for M1, as he moves beyond his drill label and into the boundless territory of wider UK rap. He will surely lead from the front in the continued innovation of the genre, augmenting the industry’s view on the scene, and also his own production style.
We had the chance to pick the producer’s brains, reflecting on his musical journey so far, blowing up at a young age, and what to expect from the highly anticipated new mixtape.
Watch “Sing Dat”…
Watch the mixtape announcement…
Read the exclusive interview…
What influences you to create?
What influences me most of the time is hearing different sounds globally. When I go on Spotify or Soundcloud for example, and listen to new music or discover an artist for the first time it pushes me to get in studio and create something brand new based on how that music has inspired me.
What was it about production that first grabbed your interest?
What intrigued me about production was how a beat is created based on your thoughts and bringing those thoughts to life, through sound. Most importantly though, is how I’ve been able to change my life for the better, as well as my family’s lives and those around me. That’s what has kept me producing all these years.
After initially beginning to produce, how did you start to find success?
I found success by sticking with the artists that I was originally working with when I first started producing, and staying consistent in that work. I think I also always knew it was important to keep my ear to the ground on the new artist coming through in the scene and reaching out to them – it was as simple as me sending an email and sharing some of my beats.
How would you define your production style?
I would define my production style as “turning nothing into something”.
You’ve been in the public eye as a producer from a really young age, what advice would you give to your 16 year old self just starting out?
I’d say, make a plan and stick to it, and don’t forget to manifest your goals and dreams. Set yourself tasks and see them through – it doesn’t even have to be producing.
What do you think of the current state of the UK rap scene? Who’s standing out to you?
I think it’s in a really good place and there’s a whole new wavelength of artists that are making music and making a career out of it. It’s more open for people to be more creative and experiment. I’ve noticed the topics artists are rapping about are becoming broader which is great to see.
What’s your favourite beat that you’ve ever made, if you had to pick one? (We’ll accept a top three)
My favourite would have to be Drake and Headie “Only You Freestyle”. It was a very precious time in my life and really unexpected. When I look back, I can see that my hard work paid off. “Street x Industry” by K-Trap and Headie One also has to get a mention – I actually sampled one of Nines’ old songs for that track. Of course K-Trap “Warm”, I love how organically the song found its way through.
Congratulations on your debut mixtape! What provoked the decision to release a solo body of work?
I wanted to be an example for producers worldwide , especially in the UK and Europe. If i can put together a body of work, then it’s more possible for other producers to do the same. Ultimately though, I wanted to Introduce myself properly. I’ve been shown a lot of love over the years and this was a way for me to really push myself and create a cohesive body of work.
Talk us through the creative process?
The process changes from session to session. I pretty much start from scratch. I create the melody, add some drums or bass and create the beat around that. Sometimes I sit on the laptop and make a melody or i could create a drum sequence. Sometimes I might find inspiration from a sample which helps with my knowledge of chords and I try to interpret it in my own way.
How did you decide who to feature?
I think it was important that the mixtape featured artists that I’ve already had massive moments with from the very early stages of my career – Digga, Headie, Abra Cadabra, K-Trap for example. However I had to make sure I was stepping out of my comfort zone and working with people you wouldn’t necessarily pair me with. I always keep trying to keep myself up to date with what’s new and fresh, so I also wanted to spotlight artists I believe will cut through in the next few years.
What do you want the legacy of the mixtape to be?
I’ve created some classic drill hits – “Woi”, “Warm”, “Only You Freestyle” – and for me this mixtape, and all the others to come, is an opportunity for me to keep creating history.
Do you think producers are still often overlooked by the public?
Definitely. There’s not enough opportunities for producers to stand out, which is why it’s been important for me to create a community of like-minded producers who can come together, connect, learn from one another and do what we love. The more of us the better.
Where do you want to take your career next? What’s your goals?
I want to continue creating music and my own projects. I want to connect with more people, I’d love to do more work across Europe specifically. I want to continue being a vehicle in UK rap as a whole, being heard globally.