Oz (music producer)

{{Short description|Swiss record producer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = OZ | image = OZ.jpg | caption = Oz in 2019 | birth_name = Ozan Yildirim<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-05-28|title=Schweizer Beats im US-Hip-Hop|url=https://www.20min.ch/story/schweizer-beats-im-us-hip-hop-171476209410|access-date=2021-05-16|website=20 Minuten|language=de}}</ref> | alias = {{hlist|Oz on the Beat|Ozmusiqe}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|1|11|df=y}} | birth_place = Wattwil, Switzerland |genre = {{hlist|Hip hop|trap|R&B}} |occupation = {{hlist|Record producer|songwriter}} | instrument = {{hlist|FL Studio|keyboard}} | years_active = 2008–present | label = | associated_acts = {{hlist|Drake|Trippie Redd|Travis Scott|Meek Mill|G-Eazy|Logic|Shindy}} | website = }} '''Ozan Yildirim''' ({{langx|tr|Ozan Yıldırım}};<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/yazarlar/sinem-vural/zirvede-bir-turk-produktor-ozan-yildirim-41420836|title=Zirvede bir Türk prodüktör: Ozan Yıldırım|language=tr|date=16 January 2020|work=Hürriyet|access-date=10 January 2024}}</ref> born 11 January 1992), professionally known as '''OZ''', is a Swiss record producer and songwriter of Turkish descent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://genius.com/artists/Oz|title = OZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/4438842-OZ-39|title = Oz (39)|website = Discogs}}</ref> He has produced for many hip hop artists, including Drake, Future and Travis Scott, including on the number-one hits "Sicko Mode" (2018), "Highest in the Room" (2019) and "Life Is Good" (2020).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kxan36news.com/swiss-producer-oz-in-grammy-race | title=Swiss producer OZ in Grammy race - KXAN36 - Austin Daily News | date=10 December 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pulserecordings.com/news/oz-co-produced-sicko-mode-on-travis-scotts-1-album-astroworld/|title = OZ co-produced "Sicko Mode" on Travis Scott's #1 album 'Astroworld'}}</ref> He has received nominations for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Song for "Sicko Mode" and "Gold Roses".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/11/20/grammy-award-nominations|title=Here are all the nominations for the 2020 Grammy Awards|work=The Fader|access-date=22 July 2020}}</ref>

== Early life == Yildirim grew up in Wattwil, Switzerland, as a son to Turkish parents.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |url=https://www.fm1today.ch/ostschweiz/stgallen/wattwiler-mischt-musikszene-auf-und-stuermt-weltweit-charts-138537258 |title=Wattwiler mischt Musikszene auf und stürmt weltweit Charts |work=FM1Today |date=25 July 2020 |publisher=fm1today.ch |access-date=August 10, 2020 |language=de}}</ref><ref name="kuenzler">{{cite web |url=https://www.tagblatt.ch/ostschweiz/drake-travis-scott-dj-khaled-der-ostschweizer-musikproduzent-oz-kooperiert-mit-globalen-stars-und-erobert-die-us-charts-ld.1230157 |publisher=St. Galler Tagblatt |title= Drake, Travis Scott, DJ Khaled: Der Ostschweizer Musikproduzent "OZ" kooperiert mit globalen Stars und erobert die US-Charts |last=Künzler |first=Remo |work=St. Galler Tagblatt |date=June 25, 2020 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |language=de}}</ref> He developed an early passion for music, trying himself as a remixer and DJ under the stage name DJ Ladykiller.<ref name="coverstory" /> At 13 years old, he won an international DJ competition, beating out 63 competitors of all ages and winning a prize money of 300 Euros.<ref name="coverstory" />

His family moved to the small and rural village of Gibswil in the Canton of Zürich, when Yildirim was 15 years old.<ref name="blick">{{cite web |url=https://www.blick.ch/schweiz/ozan-yildirim-produziert-hits-fuer-superstars-wie-drake-ich-habe-mich-immer-nach-einem-hit-gesehnt-id18110035.html |title=Ozan Yildirim produziert Hits für Superstars wie Drake: "Ich habe mich immer nach einem Hit gesehnt" |last=Schräder |first=Adrian |date=December 4, 2022 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |language=de |publisher=Blick}}</ref> According to him, there, he was the only foreigner in school and experienced a great deal of xenophobia, leading him to isolate himself and focus on his music.<ref name="coverstory" />

After school, he completed an apprenticeship in retail and began working as a salesman for washing machines in the Swiss electronics store chain Fust.<ref name="kuenzler" />

== Career == He started producing beats in 2005,<ref name="blick" /> and later uploaded them on the internet. His career as a hip hop producer began in 2012, after being contacted by Austrian rapper Nazar and subsequently signing a deal with his label Wolfpack Entertainment.<ref name="coverstory">{{cite web |url=https://www.lyricsmagazin.ch/artikel/vom-papierkorb-zu-platin-die-grosse-coverstory-von-oz-aus-2018 |title=«Vom Papierkorb zu Platin»: Die grosse Coverstory von OZ aus 2018 |last=Wey |first=Moritz |language=de |publisher=Lyrics Magazin |access-date=August 30, 2023}}</ref> A collaboration began and OZ produced large parts of Nazar's albums ''Narkose'' (2012) and ''Fakker Lifestyle'' (2013).<ref>[https://www.16bars.de/newsartikel/3051/nazar-nimmt-produzenten-oz-unter-vertrag/ Nazar nimmt Produzenten O.Z unter Vertrag] (in German) on 16bars.de, accessed on 13 November 2016</ref>

Starting in 2014, OZ began receiving placements on tracks by US rappers. He would contact rappers via social media and e-mail and send them selections of his beats.<ref name="NZZ">{{cite web |url=https://www.nzz.ch/feuilleton/der-schweizer-produzent-oz-versorgt-rap-stars-mit-frischen-beats-ld.1712751 |title=Der Schweizer Star-Produzent OZ: "Ich bin der Falsche, um Drake zu sagen, was er rappen soll" |last=Schräder |first=Adrian |publisher=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |language=de |date=November 21, 2022 |access-date=August 30, 2023}}</ref> According to OZ, he contacted American record producer The Beat Bully on Twitter and paid him 250 Swiss francs for rapper Meek Mill's e-mail address.<ref name="coverstory" /> In a similar manner, he managed to find out rapper Travis Scott's email address online.<ref name="NZZ"/> Both times, a placement was the result: in the case of Meek Mill, OZ ended up producing the songs "Been That" (featuring Rick Ross) and "Cold Hearted" (featuring Puff Daddy) on the rapper's 2015 album ''Dreams Worth More Than Money'' and in the case of Travis Scott, he produced the song "Backyard" on his 2014 mixtape ''Days Before Rodeo''.

At the same time, OZ became more known within German hip hop, producing top-tier artists such as Bushido or Ufo361 and befriending rapper Shindy.<ref name="dasding">{{cite web |url=https://www.dasding.de/musik/was-du-ueber-den-produzenten-oz-wissen-musst-100.html |title=Beats für Drake, Travis Scott und Shindy: Was du über OZ wissen musst |language=de |last=Modler |first=Joshua |publisher=DASDING |date=August 31, 2020 |access-date=August 30, 2023}}</ref> He has produced multiple songs on all of Shindy's albums since then and in 2020 recorded the track "Morning Sun" with Shindy, where OZ can also be heard singing.<ref name="dasding" />

In 2018, OZ produced his first number-one single by supplying the second part of the beat to the song "Sicko Mode" by Travis Scott.<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine|last=Saponara|first=Michael|date=2018|title=Y'all Know I Don't Follow Suit: How Travis Scott's 'SICKO MODE' Became the Unlikeliest No. 1 Hit of 2018|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/travis-scott-sicko-mode-number-one-hit-8488882/|access-date=2021-06-04|magazine=Billboard|language=en}}</ref>

In 2020, he produced both "Popstar" and "Greece" by DJ Khaled featuring Drake. Although uncredited, he also supplied the original lyrics and vocal melody to the latter song.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lyricsmagazin.ch/artikel/drake-schnappt-sich-oz-solo-song-der-weg-von-der-insta-skizze-bis-zu-greece|title=Drake schnappt sich OZ' Solo-Song: Der Weg von der Insta-Skizze bis zu "Greece"|date=July 17, 2020|website=lyricsmagazin.ch|access-date=July 20, 2020|language=de}}</ref><ref name="dasding"/>

He also solely produced Drake's number-one hit "Toosie Slide".

His recording studio is located in Wald, Zürich.<ref name="lyrics">{{cite web |url=https://www.lyricsmagazin.ch/artikel/so-reich-ist-oz |title=So reich ist OZ |language=de |date=June 2, 2022 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |last=Mosberger |first=Luca |publisher=Lyrics Magazin}}</ref>

== Production discography ==

=== Charted songs === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center;" |+ ! rowspan="2" |Title ! rowspan="2" |Year ! colspan="7" |Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" |Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US R&B/HH ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | AUS ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | CAN ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | IRE ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | NZ ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | UK |- ! scope="row"| "How Many Times" {{Small|(DJ Khaled featuring Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, and Big Sean)}} | rowspan="2" |2015 |68 |23 |— |— |— |— |— |''I Changed a Lot'' |- ! scope="row"| "Random" {{Small|(G-Eazy)}} |94 |31 |— |— |— |— |— |''When It's Dark Out'' |- ! scope="row"| "U With Me?" {{Small|(Drake)}} | rowspan="2" |2016 |44 |20 |— |47 |— |— |72 |''Views'' |- ! scope="row"| "Offended" {{Small|(Meek Mill featuring 21 Savage and Young Thug)}} |70 |29 |— |100 |— |— |— |''DC4'' |- ! scope="row"| "Saved" {{Small|(Khalid)}} | rowspan="2" |2017 |— |— |92 |— |— |— |— |''American Teen'' |- ! scope="row"| "Dubai Shit" {{Small|(Huncho Jack featuring Offset)}} |83 |35 |— |63 |— |— |— |''Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho'' |- ! scope="row"| "Contra" {{Small|(Logic)}} | rowspan="5" |2018 |60 |28 |— |71 |— |— |84 |''Bobby Tarantino II'' |- ! scope="row"| "Champion" {{Small|(Nav featuring Travis Scott)}} |86 |43 |— |47 |— |— |— |''Reckless'' |- ! scope="row"| "Sicko Mode" {{Small|(Travis Scott featuring Drake)}} |1 |1 |6 |3 |11 |7 |9 |''Astroworld'' |- ! scope="row"| "Love Scars 3" {{Small|(Trippie Redd)}} |73 |37 |— |— |— |— |— | rowspan="2" |''A Love Letter to You 3'' |- ! scope="row"| "1400 / 999 Freestyle" {{Small|(Trippie Redd featuring Juice Wrld)}} |55 |24 |— |76 |— |— |— |- ! scope="row"| "Freaky" {{Small|(Tory Lanez)}} | rowspan="6" |2019 |— |— |— |41 |— |— |94 |''Love Me Now? Reloaded'' |- ! scope="row"| "24/7" {{Small|(Meek Mill featuring Ella Mai)}} |54 |25 |— |— |— |— |66 |''Championships'' |- ! scope="row"| "Omertà" {{Small|(Drake)}} |35 |14 |69 |8 |44 |— |33 |''The Best in the World Pack'' |- ! scope="row"| "Gold Roses" {{Small|(Rick Ross featuring Drake)}} |39 |16 |91 |33 |76 |— |42 |''Port of Miami 2'' |- ! scope="row"| "Peta" {{Small|(Roddy Ricch featuring Meek Mill)}} |72 |31 |— |72 |— |— |— |''Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial'' |- ! scope="row"| "Highest in the Room" {{Small|(Travis Scott)}} |1 |1 |3 |1 |3 |2 |2 |''JackBoys'' |- ! scope="row"| "Life Is Good" {{Small|(Future featuring Drake)}} | rowspan="6" |2020 |2 |2 |11 |3 |5 |13 |3 |''High Off Life'' |- ! scope="row"| "Toosie Slide" {{Small|(Drake)}} |1 |1 |3 |2 |1 |1 |1 | rowspan="3" |''Dark Lane Demo Tapes'' |- ! scope="row"| "Time Flies" {{Small|(Drake)}} |30 |17 |— |22 |— |— |— |- ! scope="row"| "Losses" {{Small|(Drake)}} |51 |26 |— |49 |— |— |— |- ! scope="row"| "Greece" {{Small|(DJ Khaled feat. Drake)}} |8 |6 |35 |3 |21 |— |8 |rowspan=2|''Khaled Khaled'' |- ! scope="row"| "Popstar" {{Small|(DJ Khaled feat. Drake)}} |3 |3 |10 |1 |14 |17 |11 |- ! scope="row"| "Girls Want Girls" {{Small|(Drake featuring Lil Baby)}} | rowspan="2" |2021 |2 |2 |2 |8 |3 |11 |2 | rowspan="2" |''Certified Lover Boy'' |- ! scope="row"| "Love All" {{Small|(Drake featuring Jay-Z)}} |10 |9 |12 |20 |— |— |—{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"Love All" did not enter the UK Singles Chart, as chart rules only allow three songs per artist to chart within the top one hundred at a time, but peaked at number 7 on the UK Streaming Chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/audio-streaming-chart/|title=Official Audio Streaming Chart|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=August 11, 2022|archive-date=October 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003235126/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/audio-streaming-chart/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} |}

==Production credits==

===2013 === * Nazar - OZ Interlude

=== 2014 === * Fabolous – "Ball Drop" (feat. French Montana) from ''The Young OG Project'' {{small|(produced with The MeKanics)}} * Travis Scott – "Backyard" from ''Days Before Rodeo'' {{small|(produced with Syk Sense)}} * The Game – "Really" (feat. Yo Gotti, 2 Chainz, Soulja Boy & T.I.) from ''Blood Moon: Year of the Wolf'' {{small|(produced with The MeKanics)}} *Summer Cem – "Nike Airs" from ''HAK''

=== 2015 === * DJ Khaled – "How Many Times" from ''I Changed a Lot'' * Meek Mill – "Been That" (feat. Rick Ross), and "Cold Hearted" (feat. Puff Daddy) from ''Dreams Worth More Than Money'' * G-Eazy – "Random" from ''When It's Dark Out'' * Chinx – "Hey Fool" (feat. Nipsey Hussle & Zack) from ''Welcome to JFK'' * Logic – "I Am the Greatest" from ''The Incredible True Story'' * Jeremih – "Giv No Fuks" (feat. Migos) from ''Late Nights: The Album''

=== 2016 ===

* K.Michelle – "Ain't You" from ''More Issues Than Vogue''

* Drake – "U With Me?" from ''Views'' * Ali Bumaye – "Best Friends" (feat. Bushido) and "Missgestalten" from ''Rumble in the Jungle''

* Meek Mill – "Offended" (feat. Young Thug & 21 Savage) and "Outro" (feat. Lil Snupe & French Montana) from ''DC4'' * Dreezy – "See What You On" from ''No Hard Feelings'' * Travis Scott – "the ends" and "outside" from ''Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight'' * Shindy – ''Dreams'' [full album] * Gucci Mane – "Drove U Crazy" (feat. Bryson Tiller) from ''The Return of East Atlanta Santa'' * 6lack – "Rules" from ''Free 6lack''

=== 2017 === * Khalid – "Saved," "Let's Go," and "Keep Me," from ''American Teen'' * Travis Scott & Quavo / Huncho Jack – "Dubai Shit" (feat. Offset) from ''Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho'' *Bushido – "Moonwalk" * DRAM – "I Had a Dream," "Crumbs" (feat. Playboi Carti), and "Eyeyieyie," from ''Big Baby DRAM'' * G-Eazy – "Shake It Up" (feat. 24hrs, MadeinTYO and E-40)

=== 2018 === * Nav – "Champions" (feat. Travis Scott) from ''Reckless'' {{small|(produced with Foreign Teck)}} * Logic – "Contra" {{small|(produced with Nico Chiara and BLWYRMND)}} and "Wizard of OZ" {{small|(produced with 6ix)}}, from ''Bobby Tarantino 2'' * Trippie Redd - "UKA UKA," "BANG!," "Shake It Up," "Gore," and "Missing My Idols," from ''Life's a Trip'' * 6lack – "Cutting Ties" * Smokepurpp & Murda Beatz – "Big Dope" from ''Bless Yo Trap'' {{small|(produced with Murda Beatz)}} * RIN (Rapper) – "Avirex," "Burberry/SuperParisLight," "Oldboy," "XTC," and "Outro" from ''Planet Megatron'' * Lil Baby – "Bank" (feat. Moneybagg Yo) from ''Harder Than Ever'' {{small|(produced with Turbo)}} *Travis Scott – "Sicko Mode" from ''Astroworld'' {{small|(produced with Cubeatz, add. prod. by MD)}} * Tory Lanez – "FeRRis WhEEL" (feat. Trippie Redd) from ''Love Me Now?'' {{small|(produced with Dez Wright)}} * Trippie Redd – "Can't Love," "Love Scars 3," "A.L.L.T.Y. 3" (feat. Baby Goth), "Emani Interlude" (feat. Emani22), "Wicked", "Loyalty Before Royalty," and "1400 / 999 Freestyle" (feat. Juice WRLD) from ''A Love Letter to You 3'' *Meek Mill – "24/7" (feat. Ella Mai) from ''Championships'' {{small|(produced with EY, Austin Powerz, and Pro Logic)}}

=== 2019 === * Shindy – "DODI" * Zacari – "Midas Touch" {{small|(produced with Teddy Walton and Syk Sense)}} * Tory Lanez – "Freaky" {{small|(produced with Nil$)}} * Shindy – ''Drama'' {{small|(complete album)}} * Nav – "To My Grave" from ''Bad Habits'' {{small|(produced with Pro Logic)}} * Drake – "Omertà" from ''The Best in the World Pack'' {{small|(produced with Deats & EY)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2019/06/drake-two-new-songs-omerta-money-in-the-grave-rick-ross|title=Listen to Drake's 2 New Songs, "Omertà" and "Money in the Grave" f/ Rick Ross|website=Complex Networks |date=15 June 2019 }}</ref> * Dreamville – "Got Me" (featuring Ari Lennox, Omen, Ty Dolla Sign and Dreezy) from ''Revenge of the Dreamers III'' {{small|(produced with Deputy & MD)}} * Rick Ross – "Gold Roses" (featuring Drake) from ''Port of Miami 2'' {{small|(produced with Vinylz, Syk Sense, and The Rascals)}} * Trippie Redd — "Throw It Away", "Be Yourself", and "Lil Wayne", from ''!'' * Travis Scott – "Highest in the Room" {{small|(produced with Nik D and Mike Dean)}} * Young M.A. – "Bipolar" {{small|(produced with Syk Sense)}} * Killumantii - "Kill Em" {{small| (produced with Don Cannon)}} * Tinashe - "Story of Us" from ''Songs for You''

=== 2020 === *Future - "Life Is Good" {{small|(produced with D. Hill and Ambezza)}}<ref name="5 Big">{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2020/04/drake-toosie-slide-5-big-takeaways|title=5 Big Takeaways From Drake's New Song "Toosie Slide"|work=Complex|last1=Skelton|first1=Eric|last2=McKinney|first2=Jessica|date=3 April 2020|access-date=4 April 2020}}</ref> *Drake - "Toosie Slide"<ref name="5 Big" /> *Shindy - "What's Luv" and "Sony Pictures" *UFO361 - "Bad Girls, Good Vibes" *Drake - "Time Flies" from ''Dark Lane Demo Tapes'' *Drake - "Losses" from ''Dark Lane Demo Tapes'' {{small|(produced with Sevn Thomas and co-produced by Foreign Teck and Elyas)}} * DJ Khaled - "Greece" (featuring Drake) {{small|(produced with Tiggi and DJ Khaled)}} * DJ Khaled - "Popstar" (featuring Drake) {{small|(produced with DAVID x ELI)}} * Gunna - "Relentless" (featuring Lil Uzi Vert) from ''Wunna (Deluxe)'' {{small|(produced with Wheezy and Nik D)}}

=== 2021 === * Drake – "Girls Want Girls" (feat. Lil Baby) {{small|(produced with Ambezza)}}, "Love All" (feat. Jay-Z), "Fair Trade" (feat. Travis Scott) {{small|(produced with Jahaan Sweet, Patron, Travis Scott, and wondaGURL)}}, and "No Friends in the Industry" {{small|(produced with Nik D and Vinylz)}} from ''Certified Lover Boy'' * Travis Scott – "Escape Plan" (single)

=== 2022 === * Drake & 21 Savage – "Middle of the Ocean" {{small|(produced with LOOF, Nik D, Noel Cadastre, and Sucuki)}} and "3AM on Glenwood" {{small|(produced with 40 and Peter Iskander)}} from ''Her Loss'' * Jack Harlow – from ''Come Home the Kids Miss You''

===2023=== * Drake – "Fear of Heights" {{small|(produced with BNYX, Nik D, Pooh Beatz, and xynothing)}} and "First Person Shooter" (feat. J. Cole) {{small|(produced with Boi-1da, Coleman, FNZ, Tay Keith, and Vinylz)}} from ''For All the Dogs'' * Jack Harlow - "Lovin on Me" (Single)

=== 2025 === * Drake – "National Treasures" {{small|(produced with Boi-1da, London Cyr, Nico Baran, Patron, Ben10k, and Ryan Bakalarczyk)}} and "What Did I Miss?" {{small|(produced with Tay Keith, FNZ, London Cyr, O Lil Angel, DJ LEWIS, Patron, Elyas, and Gyz)}} from ''Iceman'' * Drake – "Which One" (feat. Central Cee) {{small|(produced with O Lil Angel, Bonboi, DJ Cruz, and b4u)}} from ''Maid of Honour''

==References== {{Reflist|group=upper-alpha}}

Category:1992 births Category:Living people Category:People from Wattwil Category:Swiss people of Turkish descent Category:Swiss record producers Category:Swiss male songwriters

Category:Swiss DJs