Pickering producer Boi-1-Da shut out but still helps Beyoncé win record-breaking Grammy Award

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Published February 7, 2023 at 8:50 am

Pickering producer-extraordinaire Boi-1-Da may not have officially won a Grammy Sunday night but he played a big part in history that was made at the star-studded event in Los Angeles.

Boi-1-Da – AKA Mathew Samuels – has worked with all the greats in his career, including Eminem, Rihanna and fellow Canadian Drake and won a Grammy Award in 2019 for co-writing the title track from Drake’s landmark God’s Plan LP.

Last year was no different with Samuels working his production magic from his north Pickering studio for Travis Scott, Giveon, HER, Lil Durk, Ella Mai and Drake, as well as Kendrick Lamar, Jack Harlow and Queen Bey herself, Beyonce.

His work earned him four Grammy nominations – pushing his total to 19 – with Boi-1-DA getting noms for Producer of the Year (he was also nominated in 2019 for God’s Plan), Album of the Year (Beyoncé – Renaissance, and Lamar – Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers) and Rap Song of the Year (Harlow – Churchill Downs).

He didn’t win a golden gramophone, but he was honoured for his work on Renaissance, which earned Beyonce a Grammy for Best Dance/Electronica Album, the 29th Grammy – an all-time high – for the legendary superstar.

Beyoncé would win three more awards on the night to bring her career total to 32.

“To think I’ve been in the game for 15+ years and I’m still being considered for awards like this is crazy,” Pickering’s most famous music producer said on his Instagram page before the event. “I make music because it’s my passion and never for the accolades, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t feel absolutely honoured nonetheless.”

Boi-1-Da’s work on Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers was also recognized – the record didn’t win Album of the Year but it did land Lamar a Grammy for Best Rap Album.

Beyoncé with her record-breaking 29th Grammy Award

But the 65th annual Grammy Awards was all about Beyoncé and her record-breaking haul, despite being shut out of the major awards.

Beyoncé had the most nominations this year with nine in total for her album Renaissance. In addition to the award for best dance/electronic album, she also scored wins for best R&B song of the year, best traditional R&B performance and best dance/electronic recording for Break My Soul.

Harry Styles won Album of the Year for Harry’s House and Lizzo captured the top prize for Record of the Year for About Damn Time. The Song of the Year went to Bonnie Raitt for Just Like That and Best New Artist was awarded to Samara Joy.

Jack Antonoff (Taylor Swift, Florence +The Machine) beat out Boi-1-Da for Producer of the Year (Non-Classical).

Canadian crooner Michael Bublé won in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Higher and Drake was a winner for his guest appearance (with Tems) on Future’s Wait for You for Best Melodic Rap Performance.

Boi-1-Da in Los Angeles. Photo by Rebecca Cabage

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