Mike Dean (record producer)

Michael George Dean (born March 1, 1965) is an American hip hop record producer, audio engineer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Houston, Texas. He is best known for recording and mixing songs and synthesizers for major artists across the American hip hop industry such as Kanye West, Kid Cudi, 2Pac, Scarface, Travis Scott, 2 Chainz, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Desiigner, Drake, Madonna, Selena Gomez, Lana Del Rey, and The Weeknd. He has released three solo studio albums: 4:20 on April 20, 2020, 4:22, on April 22, 2021, and Smoke State 42222 on April 22, 2022.

Mike Dean
Birth nameMichael George Dean
Also known as
  • Freaky Dean
  • Vador
  • Synth God
Born (1965-03-01) March 1, 1965
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Record producer
  • audio engineer
  • songwriter
  • multi-instrumentalist
Instrument(s)
  • Guitar
  • keyboards
  • piano
  • bass guitar
Years active1983–present
Labels
Websitetherealmikedean.com

Career

Mike Dean started doing collaborations with numerous Texan artists, including Selena, for whom Dean served as musical director and producer. Dean first became widely known for pioneering the Dirty South sound in the 1990s, particularly in work for artists from Rap-A-Lot Records.[1][2] Dean has most notably worked alongside Scarface of the Geto Boys, Do or Die, Tha Dogg Pound, Yukmouth of the Luniz, C-Bo, Nate Dogg, Tech N9ne, UGK, Z-Ro, Devin the Dude, Outlawz, and 2Pac.[3]

Dean went on to mix, produce, and master widely throughout American hip hop. He has become known for producing work with Kanye West. After initially contributing to the mixing of West's albums The College Dropout and Late Registration, Dean contributed as producer on West's Graduation, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Yeezus, The Life of Pablo, Ye, and Donda albums.[4] He also co-produced with West on his collaboration album with Jay-Z, Watch the Throne. Dean was an additional producer on "Mercy" and "Higher" on GOOD Music's 2012 compilation album Cruel Summer. Dean has made particularly heavy contributions on West's last albums, and is credited on most tracks.

In recent years, Mike Dean has served as a regular guitarist and keyboardist for Kanye West and Travis Scott at their live performances, headlining numerous music festivals, the Watch the Throne Tour, the Yeezus Tour and Travis Scott's Birds Eye View tour as well as the Astroworld - Wish You Were Here Tour. Dean has also been a frequent collaborator with Travis Scott. Dean's production has appeared on every one of Scott's musical bodies of work from 2013 to the present. In 2016, Dean mastered Frank Ocean's visual album Endless, wrote and produced tracks on Desiigner's mixtape New English, and produced Desiigner's single "Tiimmy Turner".[5][6]

In May 2017, Dean announced he was launching a record label by the name of M.W.A.[7] When asked what made him decide that now would be the best time to unveil his new record label, Dean responded: "Just a lot of new young artists that's been asking to get down with me and have me work on their projects and help them get deals. I figured I'd start a label and sign some new acts. Seems like a good time to start it. I got a studio out here [in Los Angeles] and I'm able to meet a lot of new artists."[7] When asked the meaning of M.W.A, Dean answered: "That's just what I call myself when I DJ. Mexican Wrestling Association. It's something that I've done with the merch, so I just figured I'd keep the name going."[7] He also revealed Dice Soho the first artist he signed to M.W.A: "One of my homies Gustavo Guerra brought [Dice Soho] to me. I think he's gonna be the next wave out of Houston. I picked him up. Dice has a nice swag."[7]

He released an instrumental mixtape, 4:20, on April 20, 2020.[8] On May 20, 2021, the Lana Del Rey single "Wildflower Wildfire" was released, which was produced by Dean. In an interview with Anthony Fantano before the song's release, Dean said that he was "planning on working with [Del Rey] a lot".[9]

Discography
List of studio albums
Title Album details
4:20
  • Released: April 20, 2020
  • Label: N/A
  • Formats: digital download, streaming
4:22
  • Released: April 22, 2021
  • Label: MWA Music
  • Formats: digital download, streaming
Smoke State 42222
  • Released: April 22, 2022[10]
  • Label: MWA Music
  • Formats: digital download, streaming

As featuring artist
  • 2020: Together (with Carnage and The Martinez Brothers featuring Elderbrook and Mike Dean)[11]

Production discography

1980s

Def Squad, Texas

1990s

1992

  • Bushwick Bill – Little Big Man
  • UGK – Too Hard to Swallow
  • Willie D – I'm Goin' Out Lika Soldier

1993

  • 5th Ward Boyz – Ghetto Dope
  • Ganksta N-I-P – Psychic Thoughts
  • DMG – Rigormortiz

1994

  • 5th Ward Boyz – Gangsta Funk
  • Big Mello – Wegonefunkwichamind
  • Big Mike – Somethin' Serious
  • Blac Monks – Secrets of the Hidden Temple
  • Odd Squad – Fadanuf Fa Erybody!!
  • Scarface – The Diary

1995

  • 5th Ward Boyz – Rated G
  • Jamal – Last Chance, No Breaks
  • Menace Clan – Da Hood

1996

  • 3-2 – Wicked Buddah Baby
  • Do or Die – Picture This
  • Facemob – The Other Side of the Law
  • Ganksta N-I-P – Psychotic Genius
  • Geto Boys – The Resurrection

1997

  • 3X Krazy – Stackin' Chips
  • Big Mike – Still Serious
  • Scarface –The Untouchable
  • Seagram – Souls on Ice

1998

  • A-G-2-A-Ke – Mil-Ticket
  • Devin the Dude – The Dude
  • Do or Die – Headz Or Tailz
  • Ganksta N-I-P – Interview with a Killa
  • Yukmouth – Thugged Out: The Albulation

2000s

2000

  • C-Bo – Enemy of the State
  • Outlawz – Ride Wit Us Or Collide Wit Us
  • Scarface – Last of a Dying Breed

2001

  • Oz (soundtrack)
  • Tha Dogg Pound – Dillinger & Young Gotti
  • Yukmouth – Thug Lord: The New Testament
  • Sherm – Sherm Smoke[12]

2002

  • Big Syke – Big Syke
  • Daz Dillinger – This Is The Life I Lead
  • Devin the Dude – Just Tryin' ta Live
  • E-40 – Grit & Grind
  • Hussein Fatal – Fatal
  • Kastro & E.D.I. – Blood Brothers
  • King Tee – Thy Kingdom Come
  • Scarface – The Fix
  • Young Noble – Noble Justice

2003

  • Yukmouth – Godzilla

2004

2005

  • Geto Boys – The Foundation
  • Pimp C – Sweet James Jones Stories
  • Z-Ro – Let the Truth Be Told
  • Kanye West – Late Registration

2006

  • Juvenile – Reality Check
  • Pimp C – Pimpalation
  • Z-Ro – I'm Still Livin'

2007

2008

2009

  • Mike Jones – The Voice
  • UGK – UGK 4 Life

2010s

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

  • Travis Scott – Days Before Rodeo
  • Freddie Gibbs & Mike Dean – GTA 5 :Radio Los Santos - “Sellin’ Dope”

2015

2016

2017

  • 2 Chainz – Pretty Girls Like Trap Music
  • Vic Mensa – The Autobiography
  • Lunice – CCCLX
  • Ty Dolla Sign – Beach House 3
  • Travis Scott & Quavo – Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho

2018

  • AJ Mitchell – Used to Be
  • Migos – Culture II
  • Desiigner - L.O.D.
  • Pusha T – DAYTONA
  • Kanye West – ye
  • Dermot Kennedy – Mike Dean Presents: Dermot Kennedy
  • Kids See Ghosts – KIDS SEE GHOSTS
  • Christina Aguilera – Liberation
  • Nas – NASIR
  • The Carters – Everything Is Love
  • Teyana Taylor – K.T.S.E.
  • Travis Scott – Astroworld
  • Trippie Redd — Life's a Trip
  • Genetikk – Y.A.L.A

2019

2020s

2020

2021

2022

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2023 The Idol TBA Main role [31]

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2005 The College Dropout (as engineer/mixer) Album of the Year Nominated [32]
2006 "Gold Digger" (as engineer/mixer) Record of the Year Nominated
Late Registration (as engineer/mixer) Best Rap Album Won
Album of the Year Nominated
2008 Graduation (as engineer) Nominated
Best Rap Album Won
"Good Life" (as songwriter) Best Rap Song Won
2012 My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (as engineer/mixer) Best Rap Album Won
2013 "Ni**as In Paris" (as songwriter) Best Rap Song Won
"Mercy" (as songwriter) Nominated
2014 "New Slaves" (as songwriter) Nominated
2015 "Bound 2" (as songwriter) Nominated
2016 "All Day" (as songwriter) Nominated
Beauty Behind the Madness (as producer) Album of the Year Nominated
2017 Lemonade (as producer) Nominated
Purpose (as producer) Nominated
"Famous" (as songwriter) Best Rap Song Nominated
"Ultralight Beam" (as songwriter) Nominated
2019 "Sicko Mode" (as songwriter) Nominated
2021 Jesus Is King (as engineer/mixer) Best Contemporary Christian Music Album Won
2022 "Jail" (as songwriter) Best Rap Song Won
Donda (as producer and songwriter) Album of the Year Nominated

See also

References
  1. Kelley, Frannie; Muhammad, Ali Shaheed (27 June 2013). "Mike Dean On Working With Selena, Scarface And Kanye". NPR. Retrieved 2015-08-30.
  2. Pikblo, J. (24 June 2013). "Kanye Producer Mike Dean Talks Yeezus". Retrieved 2015-08-30.
  3. HipHopDX (15 February 2010). "Producer's Corner: Mike Dean". Retrieved 2015-08-30.
  4. "Beat Construction: Mike Dean". Retrieved 2015-08-30.
  5. Schwartz, Danny (28 June 2016). "5 Producers You May Not Know On Desiigner's "New English"". Hotnewhiphop. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  6. Boykins, Austin (29 June 2016). "Desiigner Teases Upcoming "Timmy Turner" Track With Mike Dean". Hypebeast. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  7. "Mike Dean Talks Launching New M.W.A. Label & Signing First Artist Dice Soho". Billboard. May 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  8. Strauss, Matthew (20 April 2020). "Producer/Multi-Instrumentalist Mike Dean Releases New Mixtape 4:20". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  9. Newstead, Al (21 May 2021). "Surprise! Lana Del Rey just dropped three new songs". Triple J. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  10. "Mike Dean - Smoke State 42222". Apple Music. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  11. Narozniak, Rachel (2020-08-10). "Carnage, The Martinez Brothers, Elderbrook, and Mike Dean get 'Together' [Stream]". Dancing Astronaut. Archived from the original on 2020-08-19. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  12. "Sherm – Sherm Smoke". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-05-17.
  13. "Listen To Kid Cudi's Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin' Now". Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  14. Mamo, Heran (January 10, 2020). "Selena Gomez Dreams of Adele Singing 'Lose You to Love Me' & 6 More Highlights From 'Rare' Release Party". Billboard. MRC. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  15. Hermes, Will (January 14, 2020). "070 Shake Charts Inner Desire and Outer Space on 'Modus Vivendi'". Rolling Stone. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  16. Draughorne, Kenan (March 30, 2020). "Review: Don Tolliver Steps Into The Spotlight On 'Heaven Or Hell'". HipHopDX. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  17. Schwartz, Zachary (April 20, 2020). "Kanye West and Travis Scott Producer Mike Dean Releases His Long-Awaited Debut Album". Rolling Stone. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  18. Brake, David Aaron (July 16, 2020). "Review: Pop Smoke's No. 1 Album Proves He Was A Star Outside Of 50 Cent & Quavo's Help". HipHopDX. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  19. Elder, Sajae (August 10, 2020). "Burna Boy shares details about new album, Twice as Tall". The Fader. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  20. Yang, Rachel (December 7, 2020). "Kid Cudi releases final album in Man on the Moon trilogy". Entertainment Weekly. Dotdash Meredith. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  21. Groundwater, Colin (April 26, 2021). "Mike Dean's Playlist Is a Synth Voyage". GQ. Condé Nast. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  22. Eustice, Kyle (December 3, 2021). "Producer of the Year Mike Dean on Kanye West's 'Chaotic' 'Donda' Sessions and Vibing With Lana Del Rey". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  23. Walker, Joe (October 18, 2021). "Tyler, The Creator & A$AP Rocky Assist Maxo Kream On 'Weight Of The World' Album". HipHopDX. Warner Music Group. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  24. Pierre, Alphonse (October 13, 2021). "Don Toliver - Life of a DON". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  25. "Mike Dean and Rich the Kid Link Up for New Song "Blue Cheese"". Complex. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  26. Gularte, Alejandra (December 17, 2021). "Listen to Aaliyah's First Single in over a Decade With the Weeknd". Vulture. Vox Media. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  27. Empire, Kitty (January 15, 2022). "FKA twigs: Caprisongs review – party tunes and hard-won notes to self". The Guardian. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  28. "Pusha T Releases New Album It's Almost Dry: Listen and Read the Full Credits". Pitchfork. 2022-04-22. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  29. Ech, Joey EchJoey. "Pusha T, Blxst, Mike Dean and More - New Hip-Hop Projects This Week". XXL Mag. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  30. "Megan Thee Stallion Unleashes Her New Banger "Plan B"". iHeart. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  31. Petski, Dade Hayes,Denise; Hayes, Dade; Petski, Denise (2022-08-21). "'The Idol': HBO Releases New Teaser For Music Industry Drama". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
  32. "Mike Dean". GRAMMY.com. 15 December 2020.
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