Zaytoven
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Zaytoven | |
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![]() Zaytoven in 2018 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Xavier Lamar Dotson |
Born | Frankfurt, West Germany | January 12, 1980
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Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Instruments |
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Years active | 1997–present |
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Website | zaytovenbeatz |
Xavier Lamar Dotson (born January 12, 1980), known professionally as Zaytoven, is an American record producer from Atlanta, Georgia.[1][2][3][non-primary source needed] He has released collaborative projects with artists including Gucci Mane, Usher, Future, Young Dolph, Migos, Lecrae, Lil Yachty, Chief Keef, Young Scooter, B.o.B, Boosie Badazz, Waka Flocka Flame, 21 Savage, Deitrick Haddon and La Fève.[4]
Zaytoven signed a deal with rapper Gucci Mane to become 1017 Brick Squad's in-house producer and then went on to win a Grammy Award in 2011 for his contribution to Usher's album Raymond v. Raymond,[5][6] as a co-producer and writer for the single "Papers" along with Sean Garrett.[7][8]
Early life
[edit]Dotson spent a lot of time at church growing up, as his father was a preacher when not working for the army.[9] He learned to play instruments through the church bands along with his three younger siblings. He gravitated toward playing the piano and organ.[10]
Dotson was introduced to rap in middle school by a friend. He learned to produce music while attending high school in his spare time between school and basketball, Dotson played the keyboard during halftime at his high school football games. While he was performing one day at the game, he met rapper JT the Bigga Figga who liked what he heard, and invited Dotson to his studio, where Dotson had unlimited access to his keyboards.[10] He truly began to utilize his skills as a producer while making beats in JT's studio before he started making a name for himself in Atlanta.
Career
[edit]Career beginnings
[edit]Zaytoven started going over to JT the Bigga Figga's studio every day to make beats and learn how to use the equipment. He began to sell beats to JT and went on to collaborate with Bay Area artists such as Messy Marv and E-40 while still in high school.[9] During his senior year in high school, Zaytoven's family moved to Atlanta, Georgia, due to his father's retirement. Zaytoven decided to stay in San Francisco, California, finish his senior year, and continue his producing for local rappers. He realized that he needed a studio of his own where he could produce with his own equipment and work at any time of the day.[11]
Having saved up money from his day job as a barber, Zaytoven began to buy equipment for producing. He would ship this to his parents' house in Atlanta, to which he eventually moved, and set up his own studio there.[11] He enrolled in a local barber college in Atlanta and got a job as a barber to help finance the rest of his studio. While attending barber school, a classmate of his introduced Zaytoven to Gucci Mane, who would become his right-hand man in his career as a producer.[10] Zaytoven and Gucci Mane began to work together every day after meeting each other. Zaytoven said in an interview with Fader that Gucci Mane would call him at 7 a.m. asking if he was ready to start making music for that day.[10] Zaytoven and Gucci Mane spent the majority of the early 2000s making music together and selling mixtapes out of the trunks of their cars in Atlanta. It wasn't until 2005 that the two gained mainstream recognition from their hit song "Icy", with features from Young Jeezy and Boo.[9] This recognition gave Zaytoven's career the boost it needed to take off, landing the hit song "Papers" with Usher in 2010 on Usher's certified platinum album Raymond v. Raymond.[12]
Rise to fame
[edit]Zaytoven's work on Usher's album Raymond v. Raymond earned him a Grammy Award in 2011 and a serious reputation in the hip-hop world. He started to work with more artists as his popularity grew in the Atlanta rap scene. He helped shaped the careers of artists such as OJ da Juiceman, Yung L.A., Yung Ralph, Shop Boyz, Lil Scrappy, Jagged Edge, and Gorilla Zoe.[12]
Zaytoven collaborated with hip hop trio Migos. He produced several tracks on their 2013 mixtape, Y.R.N. (Young Rich Niggas), including the hit track "Versace", which peaked at 53 on the Billboard chart.[9] Zaytoven's collaboration with Migos continued; he helped produce their followup mixtape No Label 2, released on February 25, 2014.[13]
In 2015, Zaytoven provided exclusive production for ten mixtapes, including Future's Beast Mode, released on January 15. He also worked on Future's album DS2, which debuted on July 17.[14]
In July 2016, Zaytoven produced or co-produced seven songs on Gucci Mane's first album since being released from prison, Everybody Looking.[13] In the same month, Lil Uzi Vert's The Perfect LUV Tape was released, containing the Zaytoven-produced songs "Money Mitch" and "SideLine Watching (Hold Up)".[13] In 2017, Zaytoven contributed to projects such as Gucci Mane's Mr. Davis, 21 Savage's Issa Album, Migos' Culture, Moneybagg Yo's Heartless, and Yo Gotti's I Still Am. Zaytoven also released two independent projects, Wake Up & Cook Up and Where Would the Game Be Without Me.[13]
Zaytoven was scheduled to release his debut album Trap Holizay on May 25, 2018,[15] and a collaborative album with Lecrae titled Let the Trap Say Amen on June 22, 2018.[16]
Acting career
[edit]Zaytoven made his acting debut in the 2012 film Birds of a Feather, co-starring with Gucci Mane. The sequel Birds of a Feather 2 was released in 2018.
Tracklib
[edit]In 2018, Zaytoven joined the Creators Advisory Board of Tracklib.[17]
Discography
[edit]Collaborative albums
[edit]Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
US [18] | US R&B/HH [19] | NLD [20] | ||
Let the Trap Say Amen (with Lecrae) |
| 49 | 26 | — |
A (with Usher) |
| 31 | 19 | 135 |
Lost Tapes (with B.o.B)[21] |
| — | — | — |
Pray For Atlanta (with 1K Phew)[22][23] |
| — | — | — |
Compilation albums
[edit]Title | Album details |
---|---|
Zaytoven Presents: Fo15[24] (with Fo15) |
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Extended plays
[edit]Title | Album details |
---|---|
GucTiggy (with Gucci Mane) |
|
Greatest Gift (with Deitrick Haddon) | |
Drip & Zay (with Kountry Wayne) |
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Only One |
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24 the EP (with Damon Fletcher) |
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Mixtapes
[edit]Title | Mixtape details | Peak chart positions | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [18] | US R&B/HH [19] | CAN [28] | FRA [29] | NLD [29] | UK [30] | ||
World War 3 (Lean) (with Gucci Mane) |
| — | 33 | — | — | — | — |
Beast Mode (with Future) |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
Juggathon (with Young Scooter) |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
For Trappers Only (with Shy Glizzy) |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
Trapping Made It Happen[31] |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
Trapholizay |
| 78 | 43 | — | — | — | — |
Beast Mode 2 (with Future) |
| 3 [32] | 3 | 13 | 130 | 49 | 55 |
6Toven (with Foolio)[33] |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
GloToven (with Chief Keef) |
| 153 | — | — | — | — | — |
Camp GloTiggy (with Chief Keef)[34] |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
Bad Azz Zay (with Boosie Badazz) |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
A-Team (with Lil Keed, Lil Gotit, and Lil Yachty) |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
Pack Just Landed Vol. 1[35] |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
Pack Just Landed Vol. 2[36] |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
Zaystreet (with Young Scooter) |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
GrinchToven Stole The Trap |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
Moetoven[37] (with Moe) |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
Pack Just Landed Vol. 3[38] |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
Keys To the Streets[39] (with Luh Soldier) |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
GhostToven[40] (with Ghostluvme) |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
Streetz Got No Heart[41] |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
Loverz n Friendz[42] |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
Other charted songs
[edit]Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
US R&B [43] | |||
"Stay at Home" (with Usher featuring Future) | 2018 | 22 | A |
Production discography
[edit]Charted songs
[edit]Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US | US R&B/HH | US Rap | |||
"Icy" (Gucci Mane featuring Jeezy and Boo) | 2005 | —[A] | 46 | 23 | Trap House |
"Pillz" (Gucci Mane featuring Mac Bre-Z) | 2006 | — | —[B] | — | Hard to Kill, No Pad, No Pencil |
"I'm a Dog" (Gucci Mane featuring DG Yola) | 2008 | — | —[C] | — | Chicken Talk 2, Bird Money, The State vs. Radric Davis |
"Bricks" (Gucci Mane featuring Yo Gotti and Yung Ralph or OJ da Juiceman) | — | —[D] | — | EA Sportscenter, The State vs. Radric Davis | |
"Make tha Trap Say Aye" (OJ da Juiceman featuring Gucci Mane) | —[E] | 22 | 13 | The Otha Side of the Trap | |
"I Don't Love Her" (Gucci Mane featuring Rocko and Webbie) | 2011 | — | —[F] | — | The Return of Mr. Zone 6 |
"Versace" (Migos) | 2013 | 99 | 31 | 23 | Y.R.N. (Young Rich Niggas) |
"3500" (Travis Scott featuring Future and 2 Chainz) | 2015 | 82 | 25 | 18 | Rodeo |
"Guwop Home" (Gucci Mane featuring Young Thug) | 2016 | —[G] | —[H] | — | Everybody Looking |
"No Sleep (Intro)" (Gucci Mane) | — | —[I] | — | ||
"Waybach" (Gucci Mane) | — | —[J] | — | ||
"Too Much Sauce" (DJ Esco featuring Future and Lil Uzi Vert) | 50 | 21 | 15 | Project E.T. | |
"Used to This" (Future featuring Drake) | 14 | 5 | 4 | Future | |
"St. Brick Intro" (Gucci Mane) | —[K] | —[L] | — | The Return of East Atlanta Santa | |
"What the Price" (Migos) | 2017 | —[M] | 41 | — | Culture |
"Get Right Witcha" (Migos) | 72 | 29 | 19 | ||
"Big on Big" (Migos) | —[N] | 47 | — | ||
"Brown Paper Bag" (Migos) | —[O] | 40 | — | ||
"When I Was Broke" (Future) | —[P] | —[Q] | — | Future | |
"Feds Did a Sweep" (Future) | — | —[R] | — | ||
"Famous" (21 Savage) | 94 | 41 | — | Issa Album | |
"Nothin New" (21 Savage) | —[S] | —[T] | — | ||
"Wifi Lit" (Future) | 2018 | 53 | 26 | 23 | Beast Mode 2 |
"31 Days" (Future) | 64 | 34 | — | ||
"Cuddle My Wrist" (Future) | 70 | 38 | — | ||
"Racks Blue" (Future) | 76 | 42 | — | ||
"Red Light" (Future) | —[U] | —[V] | — | ||
"Some More" (Future) | —[W] | —[X] | — | ||
"Doh Doh" (Future featuring Young Scooter) | —[Y] | —[Z] | — | ||
"When I Think About It" (Future) | —[AA] | —[AB] | — | ||
"Hate the Real Me" (Future) | —[AC] | — | — | ||
"Problems" (Lil Wayne) | 57 | 33 | — | Tha Carter V | |
"Moana" (G-Eazy and Jack Harlow) | 2020 | —[AD] | — | — | Non-album single |
"RIP Luv" (21 Savage and Metro Boomin) | 76 | 32 | — | Savage Mode II | |
"Real Baby Pluto" (Future and Lil Uzi Vert) | 54 | 17 | 16 | Pluto × Baby Pluto | |
"Million Dollar Play" (Future and Lil Uzi Vert) | 67 | 25 | 23 | ||
"Roadrunner" (Migos) | 2021 | —[AE] | — | — | Culture III |
"Better Believe" (Belly, The Weeknd, and Young Thug) | 88 | 31 | 25 | See You Next Wednesday |
Notes
- ^ "Icy" did not enter the "Billboard" Hot 100, but peaked at number five on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[44]
- ^ "Pillz" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number three on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[45]
- ^ "I'm a Dog" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number eight on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[45]
- ^ "Bricks" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number 19 on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[45]
- ^ "Make tha Trap Say Aye" did not enter the "Billboard" Hot 100, but peaked at number eight on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[46]
- ^ "I Don't Love Her" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number two on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[45]
- ^ "Guwop Home" did not enter the "Billboard" Hot 100, but peaked at number 23 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[44]
- ^ "Guwop Home" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number one on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[45]
- ^ "No Sleep (Intro)" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number four on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[45]
- ^ "Waybach" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number eight on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[45]
- ^ "St. Brick Intro" did not enter the "Billboard" Hot 100, but peaked at number seven on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[44]
- ^ "St. Brick Intro" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number two on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[45]
- ^ "What the Price" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number two on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[47]
- ^ "Big on Big" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number eight on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[47]
- ^ "Brown Paper Bag" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number one on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[47]
- ^ "When I Was Broke" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 22 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[48]
- ^ "When I Was Broke" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number six on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[49]
- ^ "Feds Did a Sweep" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number seven on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[49]
- ^ "Nothin New" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number nine on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[50]
- ^ "Nothin New" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number one on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[51]
- ^ "Red Light" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number six on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[48]
- ^ "Red Light" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number three on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[49]
- ^ "Some More" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number seven on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[48]
- ^ "Some More" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number four on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[49]
- ^ "Doh Doh" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number eleven on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[48]
- ^ "Doh Doh" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number six on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[49]
- ^ "When I Think About It" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number fifteen on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[48]
- ^ "When I Think About It" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number seven on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[49]
- ^ "Hate the Real Me" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 24 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[48]
- ^ "Moana" did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100, but did peak at number 23 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
- ^ "Roadrunner" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number sixteen on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[47]
Filmography
[edit]Year | Film | Role |
---|---|---|
2012 | Birds of a Feather[52] | Himself |
2013 | Weed Man [53] | |
2018 | Birds of a Feather 2[54] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Zaytoven". Discogs.com. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
- ^ "Sofia Pacheco (397908461) on Myspace". Retrieved July 1, 2016.
- ^ Bell, Max. "Symphony in Trap Major: The Uninterrupted Output of Atlanta's Zaytoven". Complex. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ "Lil Uzi Vert Goes in Over A Zaytoven Banger On "Alot"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
- ^ "Grammy Awards 2011: Winners and nominees for 53rd Grammy Awards". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- ^ "Grammy awards 2011: list of winners". The Guardian. February 14, 2011. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- ^ "Usher Opens Up About Divorce With New Song "Papers"". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- ^ "Usher Says 'Papers' Was Recorded Before His Marriage Ended". MTV News. Archived from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- ^ a b c d Bell, Max. "Symphony in Trap Major: The Uninterrupted Output of Atlanta's Zaytoven". Complex. Complex Media, Inc. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
- ^ a b c d G, Nicky. "Zaytoven Breaks Down ATL History From His Lens + How it All Started For Him". Swaysuniverse. Sway's Universe. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
- ^ a b Zeichner, Naomi. "Beat Construction: Zaytoven". The Fader. The Fader, Inc. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
- ^ a b Digital Mix Agency (September 22, 2017). "Biography". zaytovenbeatz. Digital Mix Agency. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Martin, Liam. "Zaytoven". AllMusic. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
- ^ Schwartz, Danny (June 22, 2016). "Behind the Beat: Zaytoven". HotNewHipHop.com. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
- ^ "Zaytoven Unveils Star-Studded Lineup for New Album 'Trap Holizay'". Billboard. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
- ^ "Lecrae Announces Let the Trap Say Amen with Zaytoven". rapzilla.com. May 24, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
- ^ "Grammy-Winning Producer Zaytoven Joins Tracklib Creators Advisory Board". Music Connection Magazine. October 5, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
- ^ a b "Zaytoven Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ a b "Zaytoven Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ "Usher x Zaytoven - "A"". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
- ^ "Zaytoven & B.o.B - Lost Tapes". Apple Music. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- ^ Pray For Atlanta by 1K Phew & Zaytoven, Apple Music, January 19, 2024, retrieved January 23, 2024
- ^ Sarachik, Justin (January 22, 2024). "1K Phew & Zaytoven Unite the South with 'Pray For Atlanta' Album". Rapzilla. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ "Zaytoven & Fo15 - Zaytoven Presents: Fo15". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
- ^ "Zaytoven & Deitrick Haddon - Greatest Gift - EP". Apple Music. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
- ^ "Zaytoven & Kountry Wayne - Drip & Zay - EP". Apple Music. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
- ^ "Zaytoven - Only One - EP". Apple Music. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ "Future Chart History: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
- ^ a b "Future - Beastmode 2". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. July 13, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
- ^ "Zaytoven - Zaytoven Presents: Trapping Made It Happen". Apple Music. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (July 15, 2018). "Drake's 'Scorpion' Scores Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
- ^ "Foolio & Zaytoven Drop Joint Project "6toven"". HotNewHipHop. July 18, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ "Camp GloTiggy by Chief Keef". May 31, 2019.
- ^ "Zaytoven - Pack Just Landed Vol. 1". Apple Music. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
- ^ "Zaytoven - Pack Just Landed Vol. 2". Apple Music. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
- ^ "Moe & Zaytoven - MOETOVEN". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
- ^ "Zaytoven - Pack Just Landed Vol. 3". Apple Music. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
- ^ "Luh Soldier & Zaytoven - Keys To the Street". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- ^ "Ghostluvme & Zaytoven - GhostToven". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ "Zaytoven - Streetz Got No Heart". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ "Zaytoven - Loverz n Friendz". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
- ^ "Zaytoven Chart History: Hot R&B Songs". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Gucci Mane Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Chart Search: Gucci Mane, Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- ^ "OJ da Juiceman Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Migos Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "Future Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "Future Chart History: Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- ^ "21 Savage Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- ^ "21 Savage Chart History: Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 5, 2019. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- ^ "Birds of a Feather(I)(2012)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- ^ "Weed Man(2013)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
- ^ "Birds of a Feather(II)(201*)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved March 3, 2020.