DJ Mustard
DJ Mustard Talks All Things Production

Pensado’s Place is one of the best YouTube channels for music producers and engineers. Since 2011, the show has featured icons like Young Guru (Jay Z), Noah “40” Shebib (Drake), Mixed By Ali (Kendrick Lamar), Mike Dean (Kanye West), Showtek, and many others.
Adding to Pensado’s impressive guest list is none other than DJ Mustard, a super producer who requires no introduction. The Los Angeles native recently sat down for a 50-minute discussion about all things production and was joined by his engineer James Royo, who also mixed Major Lazer and DJ Snake’s “Lean On.”
Watch the full interview below.
Here’s a breakdown of the topics:
Intro – 0:00
Tuning drum samples – 8:30
How Mustard begins a new song – 13:10
How Mustard’s background as a DJ has helped him as a producer – 16:25
Mustard’s musical influences – 20:25
Mustard’s current production setup – 21:40
How Mustard decides who he records with – 25:50
Mustard’s role in co-producing Big Sean’s “I Don’t F#ck with You” – 28:45
How Fergie’s “L.A. Love (La La)” came about – 32:35
Mustard’s preferred songwriters – 34:00
What Mustard looks for in new artists – 36:05
How the ratchet movement came about – 38:20
Mustard’s advice to new artists – 40:55
How Royo met Mustard – 45:50
How Royo and Mustard work together – 48:10
Royo’s role in mixing Major Lazer and DJ Snake’s “Lean On” – 49:40
How Royo makes 808 drums sound great – 55:00
Related: Meet Young Guru: Jay Z’s Sound Engineer and Tour DJ
Exclusive: Maliibu N Helene Drop DJ Mustard-Produced ‘Figure 8’

Urban pop duo Maliibu N Helene have connected with DJ Mustard for a strip club-inspired track. While the majority of Mustard’s productions clock in between 90 and 100 BPM, “Figure 8” operates at 117 yet retains elements of his signature sound.
“Figure 8” is available exclusively on DJcity for one week. Shout out to our friends at Island and Republic Records.
Stream and download below:
[djc url=http://www.djcity.com/digital/maliibu-n-helene-figure-8—42416.htm]
Download: Maliibu N Helene – Figure 8
Follow Maliibu N Helene: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
YG, DJ Mustard & Ty Dolla $ign Named ‘Men Of The Year’ by The Source

Los Angeles all-stars YG, DJ Mustard and Ty Dolla $ign have been named “Man/Rookie of the Year” by The Source. It’s the first time the magazine has selected simultaneous men and rookies of the year.
The Source writes:
“All year long, YG, Ty Dolla $ign and DJ Mustard joined forces, whether it was on YG’s debut album My Krazy Life, Ty Dolla $ign’s own slew of bangers (‘Or Nah’, $ign Language) records (‘Or Nah’) or the gazillion hits DJ Mustard produced, not to mention his own album, 10 Summers. They single-handedly changed not just regional radio, but the national sound-scape, all in their first full year in the league.”
Fergie and YG Represent in ‘L.A. Love’ Video
Fergie’s comeback track “L.A. Love (La La)” — the most-downloaded song on DJcity in October — just received much-needed visuals. Join her, YG and DJ Mustard as they cruise around Los Angeles in a tripped-out party bus.
Download: Fergie ft. YG – L.A. Love (La La)
Related: Snoop Dogg Calls DJ Mustard & YG the ‘New Pioneers’ of West Coast Hip-Hop
Big Sean Drops Video for ‘IDFWU’ ft. E-40
Big Sean’s unapologetic banger “IDFWU” has finally received visuals. The video for the DJ Mustard and Kanye West-produced single takes place at a high school football game and features a cameo from our boy Mo Beatz (Big Sean’s DJ).
“IDFWU” is currently the 8th most-Shazamed track in the US.
Download: Big Sean ft. E-40 – IDFWU
Related: Calvin Harris Enlists Big Sean for New Track, ‘Open Wide’
Jeezy Releases ‘Link Up’ ft. Beenie Man & Ty Dolla $ign

Atlanta rapper Jeezy has released a new DJ Mustard-produced track featuring legendary dancehall singer Beenie Man and west coast coorner Ty Dolla $ign. The 98 BPM song appears on Baby Yu’s new mixtape, Snow “The Rebirth,” which you can stream here.
Download: Jeezy ft. Beenie Man & Ty Dolla $ign – Link Up
Related: Young Jeezy Drops ‘Seen It All’ ft. JAY Z
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