Murda Beatz

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Lore & Background

Murda Beatz's origin story starts in Fort Erie, Ontario, near Buffalo, where he was born to Susi and Lee Lindstrom in a musical household. He played drums as a child and began producing beats at age 17 while still in high school, using FL Studio after leaving his drumset at a friend's house. He chose his stage name "Murda Beatz" to promote his music on YouTube. When he turned 18, he moved to Chicago and later worked with established stars such as Chief Keef and Lil Durk. Lindstrom stated that he met most of his early artists through social media and mutual friends. Eventually, he connected with Atlanta rap group Migos and moved in with them to start producing their music. His big break into the Travis Scott orbit came with the 2016 single "Butterfly Effect," which he produced. That track became a cornerstone of Travis Scott's *Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight* album, where Murda also produced "Sweet Sweet" (with Cubeatz and Mike Dean) and "Outside" featuring 21 Savage (with OZ, Nisi, and Mike Dean). In 2017, he co-produced "Go Off" for *The Fate of the Furious: The Album* alongside Quavo and Travis Scott, and produced "Portland" (featuring Travis Scott and Quavo) on Drake's *More Life*. His work with Travis Scott and Quavo continued on the 2017 collaborative album *Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho*, where he produced "Eye 2 Eye" (featuring Takeoff), "Huncho Jack," and "Saint."

In Their Own Story

The session that produced "Butterfly Effect" didn't start with a grand plan. Murda Beatz, then a rising producer from Ontario who had already embedded himself with Migos in Atlanta, was working on a beat that felt different—a dark, atmospheric loop with a haunting melody and a slow, heavy trap sway. Travis Scott heard it and immediately locked in. The track became a defining moment for both artists: for Travis, it was a pre-*Astroworld* single that set the tone for his evolving sound; for Murda, it was his first major placement with one of hip-hop's biggest stars. The song peaked at number 50 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and went multi-platinum. Murda's producer tag—"Murda on the beat so it's not nice!"—became instantly recognizable to millions. That single opened the door to deeper collaborations. On *Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight*, Murda contributed three tracks total. The following year, he was in the room for *Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho*, the joint project between Travis and Quavo, where his production on "Eye 2 Eye," "Huncho Jack," and "Saint" helped define the album's cinematic, menacing atmosphere. By 2018, Murda was also producing for Drake's "Nice for What" and Migos' "Motorsport" (featuring Cardi B and Nicki Minaj), cementing his reputation as one of the most versatile hitmakers in the game.

Reader's Guide

Murda Beatz's role in the Travis Scott universe is that of a foundational producer who helped shape the sound of Travis's mid-2010s output. His most significant contribution is the 2016 single "Butterfly Effect," which he produced solo. That track became a signature Travis Scott song, known for its eerie, minimalist beat and haunting vocal sample. On *Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight* (2016), Murda produced three tracks: "Sweet Sweet" (co-produced with Cubeatz and Mike Dean), "Outside" featuring 21 Savage (co-produced with OZ, Nisi, and Mike Dean), and the aforementioned "Butterfly Effect." In 2017, he co-produced "Go Off" for *The Fate of the Furious: The Album*, a collaboration between Lil Uzi Vert, Quavo, and Travis Scott (produced with Breyan Isaac and The Featherstones). That same year, on Drake's *More Life*, he produced "Portland" featuring Travis Scott and Quavo (with Cubeatz). For the 2017 Travis Scott and Quavo collaborative album *Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho*, Murda produced three tracks: "Eye 2 Eye" featuring Takeoff (with Felix Leone), "Huncho Jack" (with Mike Dean, Quavo, and Illmind), and "Saint" (with Illmind). His production style on these tracks is characterized by dark, atmospheric textures, heavy low-end, and a cinematic quality that complements Travis Scott's vocal delivery. Murda Beatz is not a featured performer on these tracks; his contribution is strictly behind the boards as a producer.

Did You Know?

• Murda Beatz produced Travis Scott's 2016 single "Butterfly Effect," which peaked at number 50 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
• He produced three tracks on Travis Scott's 2016 album *Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight*: "Butterfly Effect," "Sweet Sweet" (with Cubeatz and Mike Dean), and "Outside" featuring 21 Savage (with OZ, Nisi, and Mike Dean).
• Murda Beatz co-produced three tracks on the 2017 Travis Scott and Quavo collaborative album *Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho*: "Eye 2 Eye" (featuring Takeoff), "Huncho Jack," and "Saint."
• He produced "Portland" featuring Travis Scott and Quavo on Drake's 2017 album *More Life* (with Cubeatz).
• Murda Beatz's producer tag is "Murda on the beat so it's not nice!"