Hip-Hop Producer Frank Dukes on Working With Frank Ocean, His Artistry & the Mixtape Era [Premiere]

During a candid, hourlong conversation Dukes speaks on being in the studio with The Weeknd, Camila Cobello and more.

Frank Dukes is the machine behind a plethora of hits from artists we all love.

Drake, Rihanna, Travis Scott, Cardi B, Frank Ocean, The Weeknd, and Kendrick Lamar have enlisted the services of Dukes (Aaron Feeney). We are premiering a new in-depth Red Bull interview with Dukes featuring Gavin Sheppard (Public Records Inc.). During the interview, the Toronto creative speaks on working with music’s biggest stars, the mixtape era and more.

Dukes initially started his career as a rap producer by working with old records, separating the pieces he found memorable and fusing them with drums. According to SPIN, this method consisted of a lot of trial and error as some of the samples couldn’t be cleared even after months or years of waiting.

In the beginning stages of his artistry, he created music for 50 Cent and Lloyd Banks. This led him to licensing recordings out to other producers, this would later be coined as the Kingsway Music Library, a collection of original samples he composed ready for purchase.

During one poignant moment of his conversation with Sheppard he touches on his first song deal with 50 Cent and also quitting his day job. He then goes on to chat about what it was like creating Frank Ocean’s “Biking” featuring JAY-Z and Tyler, the Creator.

An additional highlight during the interview includes Dukes speaking on his work with Camila Cabello on her first solo album, Camila, and her chart-topping single “Havana.” He expands on this and shares that it took six months to create the hit song.

Watch the entire interview below.