808Melo
Andre Michael Loblack (born 6 April 1997), known professionally as 808Melo or 808MeloBeats, is a British record producer and songwriter from Ilford, East London.[1][2] 808Melo is credited as a pioneer of UK drill and Brooklyn drill and is known for his bass heavy percussion.[3][4][5] In 2019, he produced Pop Smoke's debut mixtape, Meet the Woo.[1] He also produced most of the songs on Pop Smoke's sophomore mixtape, Meet the Woo 2, and he helped produce Pop Smoke's posthumous album Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 artist charts in July 2020.[2][6] 808Melo has also produced songs for Travis Scott, Fivio Foreign, and Lil Tjay.
808Melo | |
---|---|
Birth name | Andre Michael Loblack |
Also known as | 808MeloBeats |
Born | Ilford, London, England | 6 April 1997
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Years active | 2016–present |
Labels | Victor Victor |
Career
808Melo started producing in 2016 when he bought a laptop computer and the FL Studio digital audio workstation program.[7] He developed a style of crisp bass lines with sliding 808 percussion drum patterns. He became popular in the UK after producing songs for Headie One, 410, K-Trap, CB and OFB.[8] The latter lead to him be recognized as one of the best producers for UK drill music with Headie One and RV’s “Know Better” in early 2018.[8]
After producing for Headie One, OFB and K-Trap, his music was discovered by Pop Smoke, who enlisted him to produce his debut mixtape, Meet the Woo.[9][5][10]
808Melo produced Pop Smoke's "Welcome to the Party" in 2019, which went viral on YouTube and was certified platinum by the RIAA in 2020.[11][12]
The song was later remixed by Skepta and Nicki Minaj.[13][14] It peaked at number 5 on the Billboard 100 Bubbling Under chart.[15] Later in 2019, he and AXL Beats gained a mainstream hit for producing the single “GATTI” by Travis Scott and Pop Smoke, which appeared on the former's collaborative tape, JACKBOYS.[16]
808Melo primarily produced Pop Smoke's second mixtape Meet the Woo 2.[17] He produced 4 out of the 18 original tracks on Pop Smoke's posthumous album entitled Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, which reached number one on the Billboard 200 Chart.[18] In May 2020, 808Melo earned platinum certification for producing Pop Smoke's “Dior”.[19]
Since the death of Pop Smoke, 808Melo has produced for rappers YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Quando Rondo, Lil Tjay, Fivio Foreign, Freeze Corleone, Smoove’L, Blizz Vito, 22Gz and Sheff G, as well as Italian rapper Lazza on several occasions.[20][21][22][23]
Production discography
Mixtapes
- Meet the Woo by Pop Smoke, released: July 26, 2019 via Victor Victor and Republic Records
- Meet the Woo 2 by Pop Smoke, released: February 7, 2020 via Victor Victor and Republic Records
Albums
- Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon by Pop Smoke, released on July 3, 2020, via Victor Victor Worldwide and Republic Records[24]
References
- Caramanica, Jon (9 July 2020). "The Rapid Rise of Pop Smoke, Brooklyn Rap's Homecoming King". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- Zellner, Xander (14 July 2020). "Pop Smoke & 808MeloBeats Rule Hot 100 Songwriters & Producers Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- Acevedo, Kai (25 February 2020). "24 Essential Producers to Look Out for in 2020". XXL Mag. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- Herlock, Ethan (22 January 2020). "8 UK drill artists pushing the sound forward". Red Bull. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- Fletcher, Lily (17 March 2020). "Remembering Pop Smoke, the US rapper who introduced the UK drill sound to New York". The Independent. Archived from the original on 16 March 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- Jackson, Reed (13 February 2020). "Pop Smoke: Meet the Woo Vol. 2". Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- "808 Melo". Genius. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- Gannon, Colin (1 April 2020). "These are the most exciting UK drill producers right now". DJMag.com. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- Bundy, Tee (30 July 2019). "Pop Smoke's Debut "Meet The Woo" Is An Introduction To A New Sound In New York City Hip-Hop". KAZI. MAGAZINE. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- Pierre, Alphonse (31 July 2019). "Pop Smoke: Meet the Woo Vol. 1". Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- "In Search Of: 20-Year-Old Rapper Pop Smoke Is Emerging From Brooklyn's Growing Drill Scene". Genius. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- "Pop Smoke Receives Posthumous Platinum Certification for "Dior"". Highsnobiety. 9 May 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- "Nicki Minaj Featured On Pop Smoke's "Welcome To The Party" Remix". Vibe. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- "Welcome To The Party (Remix) Pop Smoke featuring Nicki Minaj".
- "Chart History for Pop Smoke featuring Nicki Minaj Welcome to the Party". Billboard. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- "Chart History for Pop Smoke GATTI". Billboard. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- Espinoza, Joshua (7 February 2020). "Pop Smoke Unleashes 'Meet the Woo 2' Project f/ Quavo, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, and More". Complex. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- "Pop Smoke & 808MeloBeats Rule Hot 100 Songwriters & Producers Charts". Billboard. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- Osei, Sarah (9 May 2020). "Pop Smoke Receives Posthumous Platinum Certification for "Dior"". Highsnobiety. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- Bassil, Ryan (22 July 2020). "Drake and Headie One "Only You" Track Review". www.vice.com. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- Coscarelli, Joe (30 June 2020). "Pop Smoke Took Brooklyn Drill Global. Fivio Foreign Is Carrying the Torch". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- Ibrahim, Shamira (18 September 2020). "Your Guide to New York Rap's Next Generation". Vulture. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- Blizz Vito –featuring 808 Melo Opp Down Pt.2 Fuego Freestyle. Genius.com, retrieved 21 September 2020
- Richardson, Mark (8 July 2020). "'Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon' by Pop Smoke Review: A Young Artist's Final Dispatch". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 21 September 2020.