Midi Mafia

Music production duo

The MIDI Mafia is a music production duo consisting of American Bruce Waynne (born Waynne Nugent) from Brooklyn, New York and Canadian Dirty Swift (born Kevin Risto) from Ottawa, Ontario.[1] Together as Midi Mafia since 2003, they are most notable for their production of 50 Cent's number-one single "21 Questions".[2] The MIDI Mafia has also produced for artists such as Frank Ocean ("Swim Good"), Fantasia ("When I See U"), Sha Stimuli (the single "Clap At Ya"), Capone-N-Noreaga ("Yes Sir"), Justin Bieber, Bravehearts, Gemma Fox, Jean Grae, Talib Kweli, Young Buck, Nelly, Miri Ben-Ari, Lloyd Banks and Tamia.[3]

## History

[edit]

### Beginnings

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Bruce Waynne met Dirty Swift at Makin' Records Studio in Brooklyn, NY, while working on a project for Bad Seed. At the time, Swift was the in house engineer/beat maker for the project, while Bruce pitched beats and helped compose and perform choruses for Bad Seed.[1]

The duo officially began working together after attending a meeting with manager Tony Perez, who suggested that Bruce and Swift would make a good musical team. They began to hold meetings with different A&R representatives and did spec work for various people, including Sylvia Rhone, who was the president of Elektra Records at the time.[1]

### Initial success

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In 2002, Dino Devalie, who was preparing to sign 50 Cent to his label, approached The MIDI Mafia about using some of their beats for 50 Cent's debut record, Get Rich or Die Tryin'. MIDI Mafia agreed, and though 50 Cent ended up signing to Interscope Records instead, their beats were used for the song "21 Questions", which was featured on Get Rich or Die Tryin'.

After the success of "21 Questions", The MIDI Mafia signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV and a label and production deal with Elektra Records. They were also offered A&R positions at Elektra and were being prepared to run Black Music.

In 2006, The MIDI Mafia launched FamilyTies, an imprint label that allows them to sign and develop their own roster of talent. Singer/songwriter Deemi was the first artist signed to their label.[2]

The MIDI Mafia produced Pop/R&B song "When I See U", (originally written for Tori Kelly when she was signed to Geffen Records) the second single from Fantasia Barrino's self-titled album Fantasia[2] which held the number one spot for eight weeks on the U.S. Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.[4] The song was written by Grammy award-winning songwriter Jane’t Sewell, Bruce Waynne, and Erika Nuri.

In 2007, the duo worked with Jennifer Lopez on her track "Hold It Don't Drop It", contributing as both writers and producers.[5]

### Relocation to Los Angeles

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In 2008, The MIDI Mafia moved from New York to Los Angeles. After their relocation, MIDI Mafia collaborated with American Idol contestant David Archuleta, contributing a track on his self-titled debut album, released in November 2008.[6]

In the process of working with Brandy and James Fauntleroy II, MIDI Mafia met and began to work with Frank Ocean, whom at the time went by the name Lonny Breaux. Then, Breaux was working as a lyricist, and approached The MIDI Mafia with a desire to become better at composing melodies.

While with The MIDI Mafia, Frank Ocean wrote the songs "Quickly" for John Legend,[7] "Bigger" and "Mamma’s Boy" for Justin Bieber.[8] In 2010, The MIDI Mafia recorded Frank Ocean's mix tape, Nostalgia Ultra, in which The MIDI Mafia produced the song Swim Good. The mixtape was recorded by The MIDI Mafia engineer, Reggie Rojo Jr.[9]

The MIDI Mafia also collaborated with Frank Ocean as writers on the track "Bad Religion", off Ocean's debut album, Channel Orange".[10]

### Branding

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In November 2009, "PHamous", a hip house song they wrote and produced, was used as a backing track for a flash mob at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. The flash mob was conceived by YouTuber ShayCarl, who was assisted by fellow YouTubers LisaNova, MysteryGuitarMan, KassemG, Denise Vlogs, Traphik, and HiimRawn.[11][12] The flashmob video reached two million views within 5 days of its release.

Within the first 20 minutes of the song being posted for download on the Internet, 450,000 people downloaded the song, causing The MIDI Mafia’s website to crash.

"PHamous" was used in promos for VH1 television programs and it was also used as the ending song for the weekly video of What da Faq Show which airs on YouTube and Facebook.

On July 16, 2010, the video for "PHamous" debuted on YouTube on TheStation channel, a collaboration channel of most of the YouTubers of the original flash mob, including the lyric about being "friends with ShayCarl." The song was also featured on the We Killed the Radio Star Podcast[13] as the introductory and concluding piece of music during the episode "Don't Drink the Water".

### Vegas Lights

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On June 1, 2010, The MIDI Mafia released their own album, Vegas Lights, via FamilyTies. The songs "PHamous", "Last Call" "Mr. Vegas", and "2 Piece" were included on the album.[14] "PHamous", "Last Call", and "2 Piece" were also featured on Season 3 of the MTV show, Jersey Shore.[15][16] "Mr. Vegas" was used for former Dance Moms star Kalani Hilliker's hip hop trio on Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition. "Mr. Vegas" features an Acme siren.

The song "Lucky Tonight" was featured on Jersey Shore vs American Reunion, an MTV video used to cross-promote the new season of Jersey Shore and the release of the movie, American Reunion.[17]

### Get Connected

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In the beginning of 2012, The MIDI Mafia released Get Connected, an EDM album. MIDI Mafia used the project to re-launch their brand.[18]

A remix of their song "Blinded By The Lights" off of Get Connected was used in a promotional trailer for Pauly D’s show, The Pauly D Project.

On July 27, 2012, Conor Maynard released his debut album Contrast featuring the Midi Mafia produced "Pictures".[19]

The MIDI Mafia also remixed Josh Osho's "Giants" featuring Childish Gambino which was included on Osho's album L.I.F.E.[20]

## Production discography

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Year  | Artist  | Album  | Song

|
|
|

1991  | Ground Control | Non-album single  | Another Dope Jam
1993  | Jimmy George | A Month Of Sundays | My Final Days With You
1995  | k-os | Non-album single  | Musical Essence
1996  | Breez Evahflowin' | Non-album single  | Forsaken
1997  | Breez Evahflowin'  | Non-album single  | I Heard It
1999  | Precious Paris | Non-album single  | Four P's In A Pod
US  | Non-album single  | Niggaz
Non-album single  | Streetz Worldwide
Non-album single  | Where U At
Non-album single  | Make 'Em Bleed
2000  | The Bad Seed  | Uhhnnh | War & Peace
US  | Non-album single  | East New York
Non-album single  | Price Is Right
Non-album single  | Were #1
Non-album single  | Seen What I Seen
2001  | DJ Spinbad | Underground Airplay Version 1.0 | Smokey
2002  | Angie Martinez | Animal House | Never
Choclair | Memoirs of Blake Savage | Love ’Em All (feat. Baby Blue Soundcrew & Mr. Mims)
Baby | Birdman | What Happened To That Boy (Dirty Swift Remix) (feat. Clipse)
Liberator The Righteous Warrior  | Strange Girl | Movin' Up In Life
2003  | 50 Cent | Cradle 2 the Grave (soundtrack) | Follow Me Gangster (feat. G-Unit)
G-Unit | Beg for Mercy | Groupie Love (featuring Butch Cassidy)
Westside Connection | Terrorist Threats | You Gotta Have Heart
Izm
50 Cent | Get Rich or Die Tryin' | 21 Questions (feat. Nate Dogg)
Capone-N-Noreaga | What Up 2 da Hood | Yes Sir (feat. Musaliny-N-Maze)
Tamia | More | Officially Missing You (MIDI Mafia Remix)
The God Mommie  | Non-album single  | I'm So Ghetto
Non-album single  | Watch Ya Head
Bravehearts | Bravehearted | B-Train
Buss My Gun (featuring Nashawn)
Realize (featuring Nashawn and Teedra Moses)
Lil' Mo | Meet the Girl Next Door | 21 Answers (featuring Free)
4Ever (Midi Mafia Remix) (featuring Baby Cham)
2004  | Young Buck | Straight Outta Ca$hville | Thou Shall
Nelly | Sweat | Getcha Getcha (featuring St. Lunatics)
Talib Kweli | The Beautiful Struggle | Black Girl Pain (feat. Jean Grae)
We Got the Beat (feat. Res)
I Try (feat. Mary J. Blige)
Jean Grae | This Week | You Don't Want It
Chamillionaire | The Mixtape Messiah | Call Some Hoes (featuring Kanye West & Stat Quo)
Tres Coronas | New York Mixtape | Solo Me Deja Mi Tristeza
The UN  | UN Or U Out | Russian Hat Wear
Non-album single  | D.O.A.
Non-album single  | Money
Non-album single  | What They Want
Non-album single  | Game Of Death
Mr. Vegas | Non-album single  | Pull Up
Sha Stimuli | Non-album single  | Clap At Ya
Midi Mafia  | Non-album single  | Let's Get It On (Feat. Notorious B.I.G. & 2Pac) (Midi Mafia Remix)
Boramy  | Non-album single  | Le Souffle De La Roquette
2005  | Lloyd Banks | The Big Withdraw | Gettin Money
Talib Kweli  | The Beautiful Mixtape Vol. 2: The Struggle Continues | Tryin To Breathe (feat. Killer Mike)
Right About Now: The Official Sucka Free Mix CD | Rock On
Mack 10 | Hustla's Handbook | So Gangsta (featuring Butch Cassidy)
Keep It Hood (feat. Bre Perry)
Miri Ben-Ari | The Hip-Hop Violinist | 4 Flat Tires (feat. Birdman, Lil Wayne & Six-Shot)
Sha'Liek Rivers  | Non-album single  | Get 2 Know Ya (feat. Juvenile)
Midi Mafia  | Non-album single  | Wait (Remix) (feat. N.O.R.E.)
Kast One  | Non-album single  | I'm A Hustla (feat. Mary J. Blige)
2006  | Lady Wray | InDepenDance Day Vol. 1: The Takeover | I’ll Take Your Man
Lloyd Banks  | Rotten Apple | Make A Move
T-Reps  | MLB 06: The Show Soundtrack | Heat It Up
2007  | Little Brother | And Justus For All | Grown Man (feat. Talib Kweli)
Mia Aguilera  | Late Nights & Early Mornings | When I See U
Talib Kweli  | Eardrum | Getting My Grown Man On (featuring Little Brother)
Deemi | Soundtrack of My Life | Soundtrack of My Life
Fantasia | Fantasia | When I See U
Elliott Yamin | Elliott Yamin | Free
Wait for You (feat. Bruce Waynne) (Midi Mafia Radio Edit)
Midi Mafia  | Non-album single  | Oh Drama (feat. Kanye West & Stat Quo)
Non-album single  | Big Chips (feat. Deemi & Cassidy)
Non-album single  | Get Off The Block (feat. N.O.R.E.)
Shiré  | Non-album single  | Miss My Love
Sidi-O  | Extrait D'amertume | Petit Speech
Le Prix A Payer (feat. Seth Gueko)
Deemi  | Non-album single  | Why N@ggas Always Wanna F#ck?
Non-album single  | The Hoodz Princess (feat. Styles P)
2008  | Bryn Christopher | My World | Help Me (feat. Bruce Waynne)
The Way You Are
Jennifer Lopez | Brave | Hold It Don’t Drop It
John Legend | Evolver | Quickly (featuring Brandy)
Brandy | Human | Casualties
Torn Down
David Archuleta | David Archuleta | Running
Christina Milian | Dream In Color | One Kiss
2009  | Toni Braxton | Non-album single  | If I Was Sane
Elliott Yamin  | Fight for Love | Torn Down
Apart From Me
Forever In You
Know Better
Sean Kingston | Tomorrow | Why U Wanna Go
Justin Bieber | My World | Bigger
Down to Earth
2010  | Frank Ocean | Non-album single  | Wayfarers (Light Show)
Non-album single  | Good Decoration
Fantasia  | Back To Me | Overload
Justin Bieber  | My World 2.0 | Overboard (with Jessica Jarrell)
Mama’s Boy
Midi Mafia  | Jersey Shore Soundtrack | Last Call
Chanel West Coast | Chanel a.k.a CC | Tease
I'm Done
Kat DeLuna | Inside Out: The Mixtape | Club On Smash
Non-album single  | Fire
Ciara | Basic Instinct | Why You
If Only
2011  | Glasses Malone | Beach Cruiser | Go Big
Justin Bieber  | Never Say Never: The Remixes | Overboard (Live) (featuring Miley Cyrus)
Frank Ocean  | The Lonny Breaux Collection | Standing Still
Old Terror
Done
Read the Stars
Greedy Love
Richest Man in the Room
Standing Still
Lights
Taste
Bedtime Story
No Bonnie
Rocket Love
If I'm in Love
Simply
Quickly
Overload
Got the Keys
Scared of Beautiful
Miss You So
Ohh in Love
Time Machine
One Look
Blasted
Hardest Thing
When I’m Done
nostalgia,ULTRA. | Swim Good
Non-album single  | Try
Nick Carter | I'm Taking Off | Special
Electric Barbarellas | Strange World | Strange World
2012  | Midi Mafia  | What to Expect When You're Expecting Soundtrack | Put Your Hands Up
Conor Maynard | Contrast | Pictures
Brams L’Insatiable  | Sky is the limit | Dans la mesure du plausible
JLS | Evolution | Troublemaker (featuring Bebe O'Hare)
Brandy | Two Eleven | Scared of Beautiful
Frank Ocean  | channel ORANGE | Bad Religion
Cee Lo Green | Sparkle: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | I'm a Man
Sazamyzy & Hype  | Grand Banditisme Paris Vol. 2 | El Diablo
Paris, Paris (feat. Demon One)
2013  | Angel | About Time | Rocket Love
Eric Bellinger | Born II Sing Vol. 3 | R&B Singer
Club Lights (feat. Tank)
Body Language (feat. Sha Sha Jones)
Chanté Moore | Moore Is More | On and On (feat. Da Brat)
Midi Mafia  | Non-album single  | Moola (feat. K.I.D & Eric Bellinger)
Non-album single  | Do 4 Love (feat. Eric Bellinger)
Jazmin Sisters  | 90's Baby | You
PYT
Rockie Fresh | Get Connected Brand X | Back Down
Honey Cocaine | Non-album single  | He's The One (feat. Roxie LS)
2014  | Midi Mafia  | Non-album single  | Reach For The Stars (feat. Frank Ocean & Rockie Fresh)
Mucho DeNiro  | Non-album single  | Finally Single (feat. Rayven Justice)
Kehlani | Cloud 19 | As I Am
Eric Bellinger  | The Rebirth | R&B Singer (Remix) (feat. Joe Budden)
Do 4 Love
President Davo  | Non-album single  | When I see you
Jazmin Sisters  | Non-album single  | Power
Non-album single  | You (Remix) (feat. Iamsu!)
Keep on Livin’ | Keep On Living
Do it Right
Stay Right Here
Second Chances
Paper Cut
2015  | Indiana | No Romeo | Swim Good
Antonique Smith | Love Is Everything | Higher (Let Your Guard Down)
2016  | H Magnum | Gotham City | Saint Blaise
Jade Mckenzie  | Non-album single  | Love Letters
Original God  | The Great American Tragedy | Armada (feat. Swerzie, Yung Bitch & XELA)
Beez  | Hey Tomorrow | Donuts In A Lambo
Round Here
What You Want
Bibi Bourelly | Free the Real (Pt. 2) | Ballin
2017  | Eric Bellinger  | Eric B for President: Term 2 | Naked in the White House
Make You Mine
Know / Vibes
Too Cool / Boujee
Treat Yourself
Coastin'
Island
Malibu Nights
Cannabliss | Blazin’ Wit the Bros
Flight
Wayne Tucker  | Wake Up and See The Sun  | Bad Religion
2018  | Tank  | Non-album single  | When We (Remix) (feat. Trey Songz & Ty Dolla $ign)
Tinashe | Joyride | Weekday
2020  | A Boogie wit da Hoodie | Artist 2.0 | Cinderella Story
Myke Towers | Easy Money Baby | Girl
Eric Bellinger  | Feelin' Like Christmas | Wakin Up
Gift Exchange
2021  | Foolio  | Non-album single  | When I See You
Lil Muk  | Non-album single  | See Me
Eric Bellinger  | Genius | Share You With No One
Genius
Juice WRLD | Non-album single  | Turkey Burgers
2022  | Cat Power | Covers | Bad Religion

## References

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1. ^ a b c Keith Murphy (July 2003). "Midi Mafia: Beward of the Boys". XXL.
2. ^ a b c Elianne Halbersberg (2008-03-01). "Midi Mafia: DJ Dirty Swift and Bruce Waynne break it down and build it up". Mix Magazine. Archived from the original on 2008-09-17. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
3. ^ Jon Michael (2008-07-03). "Midi Mafia - Hitmen For Hire". SixShots.com. Archived from the original on 2008-07-11. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
4. ^ "Fantasia Barrino - Artist Chart History - Singles". Billboard.
5. ^ "iTunes - Music - Brave by Jennifer Lopez". Itunes.apple.com. 2007-10-09. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
6. ^ "iTunes - Music - David Archuleta (Deluxe Version) by David Archuleta". Itunes.apple.com. 2008-11-11. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
7. ^ "iTunes - Music - Evolver by John Legend". Itunes.apple.com. 2008-10-28. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
8. ^ "iTunes - Music - My World by Justin Bieber". Itunes.apple.com. 2009-11-17. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
9. ^ "[frank] my arms are tired. [gurl] drop your... - frank ocean". Frankocean.tumblr.com. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
10. ^ "iTunes - Music - Channel ORANGE by Frank Ocean". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
11. ^ "Phamous Planet Hollywood Flash Mob!". YouTube. 2009-11-30. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
12. ^ "The Day The Mob Saved Vegas". [Vegas Tripping]. 2009-12-28. Retrieved 2009-12-30.
13. ^ [1] Archived March 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
14. ^ THE MIDI MAFIA: ABOUT
15. ^ "Jersey Shore (Season 3) | Ep. 305 | Songs from the Show". MTV. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
16. ^ "The MIDI Mafia On Jersey Shore ::MIDI Mafia News". antiMusic.com. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
17. ^ "Jersey Shore vs American Reunion". YouTube. 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2014-08-09.[dead YouTube link]
18. ^ "iTunes - Music - Get Connected by The Midi Mafia". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-01-24. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
19. ^ "Conor Maynard – Contrast (2012) (ITunes Version) « HipHopCafeExclusive". www.hiphopcafeexclusive.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
20. ^ "iTunes - Music - L.I.F.E by Josh Osho". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-06-22. Retrieved 2014-08-10.

## External links

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* Official website
* Midi Mafia's channel on YouTube