JAMAICA-BORN MATTHEW ‘BOI-1DA’ SAMUELS STAYS TRUE TO SELF!

BY KEVIN JACKSON
Observer writer

Jamaican-born producer Matthew “Boi-1da” Samuels has credits on the current number one album in the United States. The album True to Self (RCA Records) by American singer Bryson Tiller is number one on the Billboard 200, Digital Albums, R&B Albums, and Top R&B Hip Hop albums charts. Over in Europe, the album is number 65 in Belgium, number 12 in New Zealand, number 11 in the UK, and number four in Canada.

“Working on the album was dope. Bryson is a close friend of mine,” Samuels told the Splash yesterday from his home in Canada. “Being number one is great. It’s a great album from a great artist.”

Samuels produced two tracks on the album – Run Me Dry (debuts at number 91 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart) and Money Problems/Benz Truck.

The tracks were recorded in the United States. True to Self opened with first-week sales of 107,000 album equivalent units. It is the second studio album for Tiller, who is best known for the hit single Don’t.

Last year Tiller won two BET Awards: New Artist and Male R&B/Pop Artist.

Boi-1da is one of the key producers at Drake’s OVO label in Canada. Born in Kingston, he migrated to Canada at the age of three.

Rihanna

Among his production credits are Drake’s album Views, Rihanna’s album ANTI, Eminem’s album Recovery; and Nicki Minaj’s double platinum album The Pinkprint (2014).

Last year Samuels earned his first number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with Rihanna’s hit single Work, which features Drake.

Samuels, who said he hasn’t visited Jamaica in about two years, is working on several projects slated to be released later this year.

“I have a lot working on but I can’t disclose anything right now,” he said.