Conductor Williams

{{Infobox musical artist | name = Conductor Williams | image = | landscape = yes | caption = Conductor Williams profile picture on Spotify | birth_name = Denzel Williams | alias = {{hlist|Conductor|DWill|D! Williams}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|03|05}} | birth_place = Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | genre = {{hlist|Hip-hop|East Coast hip hop|boom bap}} | occupation = {{hlist|Record producer|songwriter}} | years_active = 2008–present | label = {{hlist|Conductor Williams Production|Griselda Records}} | website = {{URL|https://conductorwehaveaproblem.com}} }}

'''Denzel Williams''' (born March 5, 1982), known professionally as '''Conductor Williams''', is an American record producer known for his work with the musical collective Griselda. He has produced for rappers Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine, Boldy James, and Rome Streetz, as well as their former member and associate Mach-Hommy. He is also known for his work with other artists such as Drake, Tyler, The Creator, JID, J. Cole, and Joey Badass.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Bush |first=Jared |date=2023-10-05 |title=Kansas City producer Conductor Williams produces new song for Drake |url=https://fox4kc.com/news/entertainment/kansas-city-producer-conductor-williams-produces-new-song-for-drake-ahead-of-his-album/ |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=WDAF-TV |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Wallace |first=Riley |date=2023-12-14 |title=Conway The Machine & Conductor Williams End 2023 On A High Note With 'Conductor Machine' |url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/conway-the-machine-conductor-williams-conductor-machine-album-review |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=HipHopDX |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Horvath |first=Zachary |date=2024-06-28 |title=Boldy James Has Another AOTY Contender With Conductor Williams-Assisted "Across The Tracks" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/820508-boldy-james-conductor-williams-across-the-tracks-stream |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}</ref> His work on Leon Thomas' ''Mutt'' saw him place a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year and win an award for Best R&B Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2026 Grammys: See The Full Winners & Nominees List {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://grammy.com/news/2026-grammys-nominations-full-winners-nominees-list |access-date=2026-03-08 |website=grammy.com}}</ref>

Williams is part of a hip hop collective named "The Heartbreakers" which include fellow Griselda in-house producers Denny LaFlare and Camoflauge Monk.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=S |first=Ryan |date=2023-10-05 |title=Kansas City's Conductor Williams Produces Lead Single for Drake's New Album |url=https://kansascitydefender.com/arts-culture/conductor-williams-drake-kansas-city-hip-hop/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=Kansas City Defender |language=en-US}}</ref> Prior to his music career, Williams worked as a railway conductor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zisook |first=Brian |date=2025-06-02 |title=How Conductor Williams Left a 20-Year Career to Make Beats Full-Time |url=https://djbooth.net/features/how-conductor-williams-left-a-20-year-career-to-make-beats-full-time-060225/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=DJBooth |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Musical style == With the use of the Roland SP-606,<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> Williams musical style is considered a blend of loop-heavy,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carmichael |first=Rodney |date=November 13, 2021 |title=Westside Gunn and Conductor Williams are perfecting rap's most refined aesthetic |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/11/13/1041902175/the-formula-westside-gunn-conductor-williams-hip-hop-collaboration |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=NPR}}</ref> vinyl-esque sample chops and gritty boom bap drums, which is said to add a sense of nostalgia and richness to his music production.<ref name=":0" />

He is also known for intentionally incorporating elements of dissonance in his production, often choosing unconventional sounds to include as a part of his beats and distorting samples. Williams self-describes his musical aesthetic as "polarizing" and aims to garner intrigue among listeners above all else.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVwhN8vMyyk |title=Conductor Williams Breaks Down WestSide Gunn's Danhausen Instrumental |date=2023-05-14 |last=ConductorWilliams |access-date=2024-10-22 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqNPtHjHgjo |title=How I Made Suicide In Selfridges for Westside Gunn and DJ Drama |date=2023-10-21 |last=ConductorWilliams |access-date=2024-10-22 |via=YouTube}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=June 2025}}

== Discography == {{Main|Conductor Williams production discography}}

=== Studio albums === * ''Listen to Your Body. Talk to Plants. Ignore People.'' (March 16, 2018) * ''Positive Vibes Matter'' (April 2, 2020) * ''Conductor We Have a Problem'' (March 3, 2023) * ''Conductor We Have a Problem 2'' (November 3, 2023) * ''Conductor We Have a Problem 3'' (October 31, 2024)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Horvath |first=Zachary |date=2024-11-01 |title=Conductor Williams Calls On Wiz Khalifa, Benny The Butcher, Russ, & More For "Conductor We Have A Problem, Pt.3" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/856520-conductor-williams-conductor-we-have-a-problem-pt-3-stream |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}</ref>

===Collaborative projects=== * ''Tomorrow is Forgotten'' (with Stik Figa) (August 5, 2020) * ''Heavens to Mergatroyd'' (with Stik Figa) (November 27, 2020) * ''Joyland'' (with Stik Figa) (November 12, 2021) * ''Valley of Dry Bones'' (with Stik Figa) (October 14, 2022) * ''Good'' (with Jabee) (December 16, 2022) * ''Conductor Machine'' (with Conway the Machine) (December 1, 2023)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guerra |first=Noel |date=2023-12-05 |title=Conway the Machine & Conductor Williams 'Conductor Machine' review |url=https://rhymejunkie.com/posts/conway-the-machine-conductor-williams-conductor-machine-review-01hgsh7bz8mx |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=Rhyme Junkie |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Spencer |first=Tallie |date=2023-12-01 |title=Conway The Machine And Conductor Williams Unleash New Body Of Work "Conductor Machine" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/740292-conway-the-machine-conductor-williams-unleash-conductor-machine |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> * ''Across The Tracks'' (with Boldy James) (June 28, 2024)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duong |first=Paul |date=2024-06-28 |title=Album: Boldy James, Conductor Williams 'Across The Tracks' |url=https://rapradar.com/2024/06/28/album-boldy-james-conductor-williams-across-the-tracks/ |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=Rap Radar |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Diaz |first=Angel |date=2024-07-01 |title=Boldy James & Conductor Williams' 'Across the Tracks': All 10 Tracks Ranked |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/boldy-james-conductor-williams-across-the-tracks-songs-ranked/ |access-date=2024-07-01 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Horvath |first=Zachary |date=2024-06-28 |title=Boldy James Has Another AOTY Contender With Conductor Williams-Assisted "Across The Tracks" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/820508-boldy-james-conductor-williams-across-the-tracks-stream |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> * ''Operation Flamethrower'' (with Rei the Imperial) (September 6, 2024) * ''Trainspotting'' (with Rome Streetz) (May 30, 2025)<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Gee |first=Andre |date=2025-05-30 |title=Rome Streetz and Conductor Williams Got Inspired by 'Trainspotting' and Made a Masterpiece |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/rome-streetz-conductor-williams-interview-trainspotting-1235351285/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> * ''Samy x Conductor'' (with Samy Deluxe) (September 4, 2025)<ref>[https://blackouthiphop.com/blog/samy-deluxe-x-conductor-williams-der-verlorene-reim/ Samy Deluxe x Conductor Williams – Der verlorene Reim]</ref> * ''The Uncomfortable Truth'' (with Ransom) (November 20, 2025)

=== EPs === * ''Ready. Aim. Beautiful.'' (June 25, 2014) * ''Winter Forever Cries'' (January 27, 2019)

=== Singles === * "The Observer" (July 6, 2019) * "Champion of The Mars League" (January 19, 2021) * "Visualizer" (January 21, 2021) * "Samo's Revenge" (August 26, 2022) * "Black Star" (with Jabee and Scoopay) (November 25, 2022) * "Indulgence" (with Jabee and Boldy James) (December 9, 2022) * "Flame" (with Conway the Machine and 7xvethegenius) (September 29, 2023)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duong |first=Paul |date=2023-09-29 |title=Conway The Machine, Conductor Williams Ft. 7xvethegenius "Flame" - Rap Radar |url=https://rapradar.com/2023/09/29/conway-the-machine-conductor-williams-ft-7xvethegenius-flame/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=Rap Radar |language=en-US}}</ref> * "Mercury Thermometers" (with Your Old Droog) (May 17, 2024)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Horvath |first=Zachary |date=2024-05-19 |title=Your Old Droog Revving Up For New Album "Movie" With Conductor Williams-Produced Lead Single "Mercury Thermometers" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/803537-your-old-droog-conductor-williams-mercury-thermometers-hip-hop-news |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}</ref> * "Terms And Conditions" (with Boldy James) (June 14, 2024)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=2024-06-14 |title=Boldy James & Conductor Williams Release New Single "Terms And Conditions": Listen |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2268152/boldy-james-conductor-williams-terms-and-conditions/music/ |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nevares |first=Gabriel Bras |date=2024-06-14 |title=Boldy James & Conductor Williams Establish Their "Terms And Conditions" On New Single: Stream |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/815893-boldy-james-conductor-williams-terms-and-conditions-new-song-stream-hip-hop-news |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}</ref> * "Off-White Lumberjack" (with Boldy James) (June 21, 2024)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Horvath |first=Zachary |date=2024-06-22 |title=Boldy James Is Nearing Project #3 With Conductor Williams-Produced Single "Offwhite Lumberjack" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/818217-boldy-james-conductor-williams-offwhite-lumberjack-stream |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}</ref> * "Flash" (with Solene) (July 5, 2024)<ref>https://tidal.com/browse/album/371996844</ref> * "Baby Charmander" (with Rei the Imperial) (August 22, 2024) * "Panduricane" (with Rei the Imperial) (August 29, 2024) * "Get Away!" (with Rome Streetz) (October 18, 2024) * "Ecstasy (Freestyle)" (with Russ) (October 25, 2024) * "Rule 4080" (with Rome Streetz) (May 13, 2025) * "For The Record" (October 3, 2025) * "Bomaye" (with Ransom) (November 13, 2025) * "Scary Merri" (with IDK.) (November 14, 2025)

== References ==

Category:Living people Category:American record producers Category:American hip-hop record producers Category:Record producers from Missouri Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Musicians from Kansas City, Missouri