Mustard

Hailing from Los Angeles, producer and beatmaker Mustard—originally introduced as DJ Mustard—forged a buoyant, melody-driven strain of hip-hop that he labeled ratchet music. He supplied the pivotal tracks that propelled multiple rappers and vocalists while also delivering his own compelling solo releases. The buoyant, dance-oriented, and club-centric character of his productions proved so pervasive that they redefined the prevailing West Coast hip-hop aesthetic throughout the 2010s. Chart-dominating singles he crafted for Big Sean, Tyga, Jeremih, Rihanna, and his enduring associate YG carried the producer’s increasingly recognizable tag. Beyond his extensive credits shaping other artists’ successes, he maintained a steady output of acclaimed solo projects, among them the rousing 2019 set Perfect Ten. Following his work on Kendrick Lamar’s chart-topping 2024 single “Not Like Us,” he issued his fourth studio album, Faith of a Mustard Seed.

Born Dijon McFarlane, he first entered music at age eleven when his uncle asked him to handle the turntables at a family gathering. Adopting the name DJ Mustard as a playful nod to his given name, he deepened his involvement and soon performed at neighborhood clubs and bars around Los Angeles. A connection with Compton rapper YG launched his professional production career, as YG became one of the earliest artists to enlist the emerging talent. Mustard supplied beats for YG’s 2009 mixtape The Real 4Fingaz, forging a style that balanced hard edges with dance-floor appeal. The alliance proved fruitful, leading Mustard to serve as producer on YG’s subsequent mixtapes and numerous recordings.

His first major breakthrough arrived with a Top Ten single for Tyga in 2011, after which a succession of commercial successes quickly followed for both rap and R&B acts. In the ensuing years his polished yet sharp productions appeared on charting tracks such as 2 Chainz’s “I’m Different,” YG’s “My N***a,” Jeremih’s club hit “Don’t Tell ’Em,” T.I. and Iggy Azalea’s “No Mediocre,” Big Sean’s forceful “I Don’t F**k with You,” Omarion’s celebratory “Post to Be,” and countless additional releases.

Mustard’s signature sound began steering pop-radio trends, and he extended the same approach to his own recordings. The 2013 mixtape Ketchup marked his first project released under his own name, followed by the debut studio album 10 Summers in August of the following year. That LP entered the Billboard Top 200 and climbed to number 20 on the hip-hop/R&B charts. A roster of prominent rap guests contributed, among them Lil Wayne, Big Sean, Rick Ross, Nipsey Hussle, and Ty Dolla $ign. His second studio effort, Cold Summer, appeared in 2016 and featured the single “Don’t Hurt Me,” which included appearances by Nicki Minaj and Jeremih.

He sustained his customary command of the charts while adapting to evolving currents in rap and R&B, crafting beats for newer voices including Cardi B, Demi Lovato, and 21 Savage. In 2019 the ten-track album Perfect Ten arrived, spotlighting contributions from Gunna, Young Thug, and Migos. The Roddy Ricch collaboration “Ballin’” earned a 2020 Grammy nomination in the Best Rap/Sung Performance category. Throughout the early 2020s he produced or appeared on material by Megan Thee Stallion, Vince Staples, and Quavo, among others. He also helmed Kendrick Lamar’s chart-topping 2024 single “Not Like Us,” the standout track from the rapper’s widely discussed exchange with Drake. Shortly afterward came “Parking Lot,” which featured Travis Scott, and the ten-minute track “Pray for Me.” Both songs were included on his fourth studio album, Faith of a Mustard Seed.