10 Essential Majid Jordan Tracks

Majid Jordan sounds like one name, but the Canadian production team is actually a duo: Majid Al Maskati and Jordan Ullman. Signed to Drake and 40's OVO Sound, the two have gained notoriety over the years by producing gems like Drizzy's "Hold On, We're Going Home" and Beyonce's "Mine." Their unique sound is characterized by rich production and an affection towards many different styles, from funky '70s disco to exotic island vibes.

The two met in 2011 while attending the University of Toronto. They began making tracks in dorm rooms and parents' basements. Their first release came under the name Good People, in the form of an EP called Afterhours. In 2013 they produced, and were featured in, Drake's "Hold On, We're Going Home," and in 2014 they released their first proper EP under the name Majid Jordan, titled A Place Like This. They don't have many more than ten tracks, realistically, but they are releasing their debut LP on February 5th. These next ten are essential if you're looking to dive into the blossoming duo.

It's been a pleasure watching R&B evolve over the decade. It was stuck in time for a minute there, and when it got injected with a moody surge of influence from Toronto via Drake and The Weeknd, everyone took note. Majid Jordan fosters the same sound, which is regrettable referred to as PBR&B on occasion, as seen as they croon over some melancholy, minimal production on their early cut "Patience."

Drake's "Hold On, We're Going Home" was an uncharacteristic single from the superstar, but after hearing Majid Jordan's "Hold Tight," it's a lot easier to see where he got the vision. The warm, danceable disco track doesn't lean too much on nostalgia, but it does borrow a fair bit from that 70s style. However, it is totally modern in its own right as well.

Influenced perhaps by The Police, "Take Control" takes some reggae upstrokes and a patois delivery to package the Afterhours-opening cut. As some of the earliest music created by the duo, it's cool to see where they started and how they got to where they're at today.

 The title track off A Place Like This picks up where Afterhours left off. By switching their name from Good People to Majid Jordan, the duo gained a little Google-ability, but more importantly it allowed them to hone in on their sound. The production is stripped down, focusing on the absolutely vital elements of the music. "A Place Like This" is a quality song that anybody could fall in love with.

With "Her," it sounds like the duo is channeling a Michael Jackson influence. The midtempo track will have you swaying into the night, and wouldn't be a bad romantic track to drop if the occasion calls for it.

As dance music exploded, it took a minute for it to integrate flawlessly into the worlds of R&B. Remember those David Guetta / Chris Brown collaborations? Those didn't hold any longevity. A cut like "Something About You," however, melts a shuffling drum beat with heartfelt soul vocals.

A Place Like This is an important EP because of its melting of R&B and dance styles. "Forever" does it better than the duo ever has, and speaking frankly, better than just about anybody does. The sound wouldn't be out of place if played on your local Funktion-One soundsystem, but also sounds perfect while chillin' on a Sunday afternoon.

The duo finally got a proper Drake feature, and it's over the very dramatic "My Love." With visuals to accompany the single, "My Love" is setting the duo up for a huge 2016. The debut LP Majid Jordan drops in February.

"Mine" is one of those big-budget Beyoncé tracks with a handful of producers and writers that all came together to make something beautiful. Majid Jordan is amongst the team that created the Beyoncé single, along with Drake, Noah '40' Shebib, Sidney Brown, and more. Along with visuals that would impress a Broadway audience, the track is nothing short of epic.

You may or may not know that "Hold On, We're Going Home" actually features Majid Jordan, but the duo's fingerprints are all up on the track now that you're familiar with them. The chilled-out dance vibes are perfect behind Drake's vocals, and when the duo helps him out on the chorus it creates the beautiful melody that everybody was jocking when the track was released a couple years ago.