As Drake said on the title track of his 2016 album Views, it is always wise to “keep the family close.” While his lovers may have turned to enemies and his past collaborators may be calling him an OV-HOE live, his team, especially in production, has stayed by his side.
He has been working with some producers like Boi-1da since his mixtape days in the early 2000s while balancing his role as Jimmy in Degrassi. Their collaborative relationship has led Boi-1da to win a Grammy for “God’s Plan” back in 2019, along with nominations for other songs like “Best I Ever Had.”
Pair that with Drake’s other producers, like his right-hand man 40 and Noel (both a part of the official OVO team), and Drake has his winning formula downpacked. He rarely strays outside his close-knit production team, following an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality for hit-making.
In a 2018 interview, 40, who was named Variety’s Hitmaker Producer of the Year, detailed how everyone on Drake’s team works as one unit to create the next big song.
“Everyone involved is a key person in making these songs hits…From [engineer] Noel Cadastre to myself to [mixer] Gadget to all the producers—and, most importantly, Drake… At the end of the day, my role is to produce Drake’s album. So I’m always making sure all the people involved can work well together and enjoy the journey. That, to me, makes the most special music,” 40 said.
With almost two decades in the rap game and more songs (and maybe a round two with Kendrick) in the works, the close-knit group is not just family at this point—they are certified hitmakers. We gathered all the info you need to know about Drake’s closest confidants producing his most iconic songs and their experiences working with Drizzy.
Noah ‘40’ Shebib
The Grammy award-winning producer is not only best buds with Drake but has been one of his go-to producers for over a decade. He started as a DJ before getting into the production side of music and earned the nickname “40” because of his workaholic reputation, staying up for “40 days and 40 nights.”
As one of the founding members of OVO Sound, 40 has had his hands in the production of every major Drake hit, from “Hotline Bling” to “One Dance” and “Back To Back.” He’s known for incorporating elements of R&B and soul into his hip-hop beats, crafting the perfect backdrop for Drake’s contemplative lyrics.
In interview footage released along with Drake’s “100 GIGS” drop, 40 said that he works “with [Drake] as well as for him. That’s irrelevant for me, but I think it’s important in the context of our relationship and friendship, you know. We work together. It’s sort of always been that way, that’s always the way our relationship has been opposed to like working for him.”
40’s five biggest Drake beats
- “God’s Plan”
- “In My Feelings”
- “Hotline Bling”
- “One Dance”
- “Hold On, We’re Going Home”
Boi-1da
Also known as Matthew Samuels, the producer went from sharpening his skills in his basement to being a trusted advisor on Drake’s production team. Their relationship dates back to Drake’s mixtape days, working on songs from 2006’s Room For Improvement.
Since then, he’s been Grammy-nominated for his work on “God’s Plan” and helped make the Kendrick diss tracks “Family Matters” and “Push Ups.” Working on more than 50 songs together, he uses his multiple stylistic choices when it comes to music to keep Drake and his audience on their toes.
“He’s my bro. I’ve known him since I was 17. … Sometimes, he gives me ideas. He’s kind of like a producer. We figure things out together. The process is always great. I always trust when things are in his hands … One of the biggest things I’ve learned from Drake is that less is more. Especially with the creative process. It’s a blessing from God,” he said in a 2019 interview with AP.
Boi-1da’s five biggest Drake beats
- “God’s Plan”
- “Know Yourself”
- “Family Matters”
- “0 to 100 / The Catch Up”
- “Pound Cake / Paris Morton Music 2”
Harley Arsenault
Signed to Drake’s OVO Sound label, Arsenault is a Canadian producer who has worked on Drizzy albums, including Scorpion and For All the Dogs. However, he has also been the mastermind behind songs like “BELIEVE IT” from PartyNextDoor and Rihanna.
He shares the same hometown as Drake, growing up in a small city outside of Toronto. His interest in production goes back to his childhood. Cooking up rhythms with pots and pans turned into making music when he was gifted an electric guitar at age 14. A friend introduced him to the production software FL Studios in high school, and the rest is history,
While he speaks more through the music than the media, his inclusion in some of Drake’s biggest hits, like “Nice For What,” proves that he is an essential part of his production team.
Harley Arsenault’s five biggest Drake beats
- “In My Feelings”
- “Jumpman”
- “Nice For What”
- “Child’s Play”
- “Too Good”
Oliver El-Khatib
Another person on Drake’s team who rarely gives interviews is El-Khatib, the founder of the brand October’s Very Own, Drake’s co-manager, and a producer. He is also the host, curator, and co-founder of OVO Sound Radio. Alongside putting together the perfect mix for the radio show, he’s gotten in his production bag for songs like “Legend” and “The Resistance.”
Discussing working with Drake in a 2023 interview with Glory Media, El-Khatib said “…obviously Drake is an incredible leader. He has an incredible eye for talent and has been able to surround himself with people of substance that all have really good intentions and real talent. The fact that we’ve all navigated such an incredible journey with so many different potential outcomes, it’s a testament to the group that we work with…”
Oliver El-Khatib’s four biggest Drake beats
- “Champagne Poetry”
- “The Resistance”
- “Race My Mind”
- “Flight’s Booked”
Noel Cadastre
Also known as OVO Noel, Noel Cadastre is Drake’s exclusive engineer, not just for his new music but also for his shows. He contributed to multiple tours throughout his career, including The Club Paradise Tour and The Drake vs. Lil Wayne Tour.
His credits for Drizzy can be traced back as early as 2010’s Thank Me Later to his recent K. Dot diss “Push Ups.” In Drake’s 100 GIGS drop, Cadastre talked about working alongside the artist and his overall work ethic during the Certified Lover Boy era.
“I don’t think his work ethic has changed. I don’t think that we have changed in that regard, you know. I don’t think we’ve slowed down in terms of the amount of music that we release, and so that should be a testament to the work ethic right there. I don’t think the quality of music has suffered. I think music has changed. And as an artist, you have to evolve with the changing times and adapt to what’s happening,” he said in the released clip.
Noel’s five biggest Drake beats
- “Hold On, We’re Going Home”
- “Know Yourself”
- “Family Matters”
- “From Time”
- “Started From The Bottom”
