Matthew Burnett


Matthew Raymond Burnett is a Canadian record producer, musical director and manager from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who has worked with a number of major recording artists in various genres from R&B to soul, hip hop and rap. Burnett has produced for the likes of Daniel Caesar, Drake, Eminem, Nas, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, Childish Gambino, Ellie Goulding and Snoh Aalegra to name a few. He has also musically directed Daniel Caesar, Tyla, Kelly Rowland, Jessie Reyez, Willow Smith and Queen Naija. Alongside longtime music partner Jordan Evans, Burnett manages Caesar. Matthew Burnett's work has earned him two Grammy Award nominations and five Juno Award nominations. In 2018 he took home a Juno Award for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year for Caesar's debut studio album, Freudian.

Biography

Burnett's tuneful ability became apparent at an early age. Starting piano lessons at just four years old, his music instructor noted his natural talent to play songs by ear. As he got older, Burnett's love of music would only grow stronger. By the time he was in ninth grade he was playing in a professional band around the city. Music production software FL Studio would introduce him to the art of producing and recording his own music. A student of his craft, Burnett coupled his inherent passion with a fierce dedication to honing his skills, earning a Bachelor of Music degree from the Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
In 2007, Burnett was introduced to Grammy Award-winning producer Matthew Samuels, known commonly as Boi-1da, thus beginning a mentorship that would change his life and career. Under Samuels' guidance Burnett continued to hone his sound and technique, officially signing to Boi-1da Productions in 2010 where he and Evans would thrive as the production power-duo behind some of the biggest hits in hip hop and R&B. Notable among Burnett's earliest achievements was his production on "Not Afraid," the lead single on rapper Eminem's seventh studio album, Recovery, and the sixteenth song in Billboard history to debut at number one. The track earned Burnett a Grammy Award-nomination for "Best Rap Song" in 2011.
Ending his Boi-1da deal in 2013, Burnett and partner Evans moved on to cultivate Canadian R&B artist, Daniel Caesar. The two are the principal producers for Caesar's debut album, Freudian, which was nominated for two awards at the 60th Annual Grammys. Today, Burnett continues to lend his expertise in studio production, live show curation, musical direction and management to several of today's leading artists.

Artistry

Record production

Production was Burnett's first love and a talent that catapulted him to success at a very early age. By just 21 years old, his unique ear led him to co-produce music for some of the industry's biggest names, including Drake, Eminem, Keri Hilson, Nas, Lil Wayne and DJ Khaled. Today, that list has expanded to include Daniel Caesar, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, Childish Gambino, Kelly Rowland, Jessie Reyez and Ellie Goulding. His sound and production style were heavily influenced by his Christian upbringing, taking inspiration from gospel music. As he matured, his musical style followed suit and took form through consistent experimentation, practice, and the tutelage of Boi-1da. Today, Burnett's work is unified across genres by a soulful, powerful sound.

Musical direction

A producer at heart, Burnett's wheelhouse soon expanded to include not only studio production, but live show curation and musical direction. He served as the visionary behind live performances for singers Daniel Caesar, Tyla, Jessie Reyez, Willow Smith, Kelly Rowland, and Queen Naija among others. From composing musical arrangements to scouting, hiring and rehearsing their bands, Burnett is a conduit of creativity, building harmonies both in music and within the teams that create it.

Management

Burnett serves alongside longtime music partner Jordan Evans as the co-manager to Grammy Award-winning artist, Daniel Caesar. In partnership with Evans and Caesar, Burnett founded the independent record label Golden Child Recordings.

Production Discography

2010

Drake – Thank Me Later
  • 06. "Up All Night"
Eminem – Recovery
  • 07. "Not Afraid"
  • 08. "Seduction"
Bun B – Trill OG
  • 16. "It's Been a Pleasure"
Lil' Wayne – I Am Not a Human Being
  • 10. "Bill Gates"
Drake – Unreleased single
  • "Something"
Lloyd Banks – The Hunger For More 2
  • 15. "Where I'm At"
Keri Hilson – No Boys Allowed
  • 01. "Buyou Music"
  • 10. "Gimmie What I Want"
  • 16. "Fearless"

    2011

DJ Khaled – We The Best Forever
  • 08. "Can't Stop"
Mindless Behavior – #1 Girl
  • 08. "Future"
Down With Webster – Time to Win, Vol. 2
  • 07. "I Want It All"

    2012

Childish Gambino – Royalty
  • 16. "Wonderful"
Nas – Life Is Good
  • 19. "Trust"
Busta Rhymes – Year of the Dragon
  • 09. "Sound Boy"
2 Chainz – Based on a T.R.U Story
  • 01. "Yuck"
Slaughterhouse – Welcome to Our House
  • 13. "Goodbye"
Talib Kweli – Attack The Block
  • 06. Outstanding
Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded – The Re–Up
  • 02. "Freedom"
Game – Jesus Piece
  • 09. "See No Evil"

    2013

Kelly Rowland – Talk a Good Game
  • 09. "Red Wine"
Rich Gang – Rich Gang
  • 01. "R.G."
Lil Wayne – Dedication 5
  • 12. "Live Life"
Audio Push – Come as You Are
  • 09. "Turn Down"
Drake – Nothing Was the Same
  • 13. "Pound Cake"
Doley Bernays – Just In Case
  • 06. "Drown"
Fabolous – The Soul Tape 3
  • 07. "You Know"

    2014

Eric Bellinger – The Rebirth
  • 06. "Delorean"
Zuse – Bullet
  • 11. "Oiler"
Sebastian Mikael – Speechless
  • 04. "Made For Me"
G–Eazy – These Things Happen
  • 05. "Opportunity Cost"
Game – Blood Moon: Year of the Wolf
  • 02. "F.U.N."
  • 06. "Married To The Game"
Astro – Computer Era
  • 10. "N*gga Pls"
Jahkoy – Forward Thinking
  • 08. "Vacay"
OB O'Brien – "Schemin' Up" Single
  • "Schemin' Up"

    2015

Kyndall – Still Down EP
  • 02. "All Mine"
Raekwon – Fly International Luxurious Art
  • 13. "Worst Enemy"
Daniel Caesar – Pilgrim's Paradise
  • 02. "Death and Taxes"
  • 03. "Paradise"
  • 05. "Streetcar"
  • 06. "Show No Regret"
KYLE – Smyle
  • 10. "Remember Me?"
Chris Brown – Royalty
  • 06. "Zero"
Various artists – Magic Mike XXL Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
  • 08. "Untitled "

    2016

June's Diary – "All of Us" Single
  • "All of Us"
Audio Push – 90951
  • 04. "Spread Love"
Daniel Caesar – Get You – Single
  • '"Won't Live Here"
  • "Get You"
  • "Japanese Denim"
Nathan Sykes – Unfinished Business
  • 09. "Give It Up"
Ellie Goulding – Single
  • "Just in Case"
PartyNextDoor – TBD
  • "You Made It"
11:11 - 11:11
  • 01. "West Side"
  • 02. "You"
  • 03. "Byo"
  • 04. "I'm Good"
  • 05. "My Bish"
  • 06. "Henny & Gin"
  • 07. "Don't Worry"

    2017

Joyner Lucas – 508-507-2209
  • 09. "Way To Go"
Chris Brown – Heartbreak on a Full Moon
  • 41. "Reddi Whip"
Daniel Caesar – Freudian
  • 01. "Get You"
  • 02. "Best Part"
  • 03. "Hold Me Down"
  • 04. "Neu Roses "
  • 05. "Loose"
  • 06. "We Find Love"
  • 07. "Blessed"
  • 08. "Take Me Away"
  • 09. "Transform"
  • 10. "Freudian"

    2018

Jessie Reyez feat. Daniel Caesar – Single
  • "Figures, a Reprise"
Daniel Caesar – Single
  • "Who Hurt You?"

    2019

Snoh Aalegra – Ugh, Those Feels Again
  • 06. "Toronto"
Daniel Caesar – Case Study 01
  • 02. "Cyanide"
  • 03. "Love Again"
  • 05. "Open Up"
  • 06. "Restore the Feeling"
  • 08. "Too Deep to Turn Back"

    2020

Fousheé – Single
  • "Single AF"

    2021

Dylan Sinclair - Single
  • "Black Creek Drive"

    2022

Daniel Caesar - Single
  • "Please Do Not Lean"
Givēon - Give or Take
  • "dec 11th"

    2023

Daniel Caesar – NEVER ENOUGH
  • "Ocho Rios"
  • "Cool"
  • "Homiesexual "
  • "Superpowers"

    2024

Charlotte Day Wilson - Cyan Blue
  • "Dovetail"
Jessie Reyez - Single
  • "Merry Nothin"

    2025

Givēon - Beloved
  • "Mud"
  • "Rather Be"
  • "Twenties"
  • "Strangers"
  • "Numb"
  • "I Can Tell"
  • "Keeper"
  • "Backup Plan"
  • "Don't Leave"
  • "Avalanche"
Jessie Reyez - Single
  • "Culdn't Be Me "
  • "Culdn't Be Me "
Daniel Caesar - Son of Spergy
  • "Call On Me"
  • "Who Knows"

    Tours (musical direction)

TV and live performances (musical direction)

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

YearNominated workAwardResult
2011"Not Afraid" Best Rap SongNomitated
2017"Freudian" Best R&B AlbumNomitated

Juno Awards

Canadian Film Screen Awards