Spotlighting Our Favorite Producers On M.I.A.'s 'MATA’

Marking her sixth studio album, iconic artist M.I.A. has finally returned with MATA. Initially announced in January of 2020, MATA has been a long time coming, and continues putting M.I.A.’s unmatched talents on display. The British-born Sri Lankan rapper has enjoyed a career that spans the past 20 years, with MATA making for a truly ambitious effort, with a diverse cast of producers, among them Rick Rubin, Pharell Williams and Diplo. Here are our favorites who contributed to the sound of the record.

Heavy Mellow

Production credits on “The One” and “Marigold”

Having pioneered his signature guitar style, Acid R&B, Heavy Mellow is one of the most fascinating names to follow within music production. A multi-faceted artist, he has worked with everyone from Juice WRLD, Kid Cudi and Jack Harlow to Jonas Brothers, Jaden and Halsey.

Rex Kudo

Production credits on “Beep,” “The One,” “K.T.P. (Keep The Peace)” and “Marigold”

One of the producers behind Post Malone’s breakout hit “White Iverson,” alongside FKi 1st and Cashio, Rex Kudo is a multi-platinum producer who has enjoyed a truly monumental career over the past years. Beyond his extensive collaborations with Post Malone, he has lent his production talents to the likes of The Weeknd, NAV, Young Thug, Kodak Black, Roddy Ricch and more.

Charlie Handsome

Production credits on “The One” and “ K.T.P. (Keep The Peace)”

Charlie Handsome’s game-changing work dates all the way back to Travis Scott’s iconic track “Drugs You Should Try It,” which he co-produced alongside FKi 1st. Some of his recent hits include Jack Harlow’s “First Class” and Trevor Daniel’s “Falling,” while he has also worked with the likes of Khalid, Kanye West, Drake, Ariana Grande and Mac Miller.

Skrillex

Production credits on “Beep,” “K.T.P. (Keep The Peace)” and “Marigold”

Since becoming a leading force in dubstep’s crossover to the US market in the early 2010s, Skrillex has been on a diverse musical journey. While his legions of fans mostly recognize him for his colossal career as a DJ, his productions for some of today’s most influential artists are numerous. Following his debut studio album Recess in 2014, he has been a part of countless hits, among them Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” and J Balvin’s “In Da Getto,” while having worked with the likes of Ed Sheeran, ZHU, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and more.

The full list of producers who contributed to MATA includes Boaz van de Beatz, Bobby Raps, Cadenza, Charlie Handsome, Cisco Adler, Dale “Dizzle” Virgo, Diplo, Heavy Mellow, Jaegen, Lil Uzi Vert, Maher Woo-Shear, M.I.A., Munchi, Neil Comber, P2J, Pharrell Williams, Rex Kudo, Rick Rubin, Shiera Johnpillai, Skrillex, Swick, T-Minus, Tropkillaz and Troy Baker.