Donald Robertson

Donald XL Robertson (born January 4, 1973) is an American record producer, mastering engineer, and entrepreneur from New Orleans, Louisiana. He is the founder of the independent music production company and label XL Productionz. Robertson became known for his production work during the rise of Southern hip hop in the late 1990s and early 2000s and has collaborated with artists including Master P, Silkk the Shocker, Soulja Slim, Juvenile, Currensy, Mos Def, and Nas.

Early life Donald XL Robertson was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was introduced to music by his parents, Donald "Duck" Robertson Sr. and Barbara Robertson, who exposed him and his sister, Traci Robertson, to genres including jazz, funk, and early hip hop music.

Before beginning his production career, Robertson performed under the name Jazzy D and later joined the New Orleans rap group Strictly Business, where he adopted the stage name XL.

Robertson's sister later appeared as a performer under the name "Baby Girl" on releases associated with No Limit Records, including material connected to the album Goodfellas by the hip hop group 504 Boyz. The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Music producer Donald XL Robertson working at the mixing console during studio sessions for Master P’s album Only God Can Judge Me.

Career Robertson began producing in the New Orleans hip-hop scene during the 1990s before later contributing to projects associated with No Limit Records and artists from the region.

No Limit Records and UTP era Donald XL Robertson emerged as a record producer during the rise of Southern hip hop in the late 1990s and early 2000s. During this period he produced music for artists associated with No Limit Records and its extended roster, including Master P, Silkk the Shocker, Soulja Slim, C-Murder, and Mac.

American record producer Donald XL Robertson during a photoshoot in the mid-2000s during the period he was producing for artists associated with No Limit Records.

Robertson produced the single "He Did That" by Silkk the Shocker featuring Master P and Mac from the album My World, My Way. The song reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart and number 50 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.

His production credits during the No Limit era also include work appearing on releases by artists including Soulja Slim, C-Murder, 504 Boyz, and Mr. Marcelo.

In 2004 Robertson produced the single "Nolia Clap" by the hip-hop group UTP, consisting of Juvenile, Wacko, and Skip. The song peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number 9 on both the Hot Rap Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.

XL Productionz era In 2003 Robertson founded XL Productionz, a platform focused on music production, artist development, and digital distribution services. Through the company he has produced and released instrumental and genre-spanning projects including lo-fi hip hop, chillhop, jazz-influenced instrumentals, and electronic music.

Robertson continues to release music through XL Productionz while also overseeing projects distributed through the company’s distribution network.

Albums and projects In addition to his production work for other artists, Robertson has released a number of independent instrumental projects exploring jazz, hip hop, and lo-fi production styles.

On June 6, 2016, he released the album Self Portrait, an instrumental project emphasizing melodic composition and atmospheric production.

In 2022 Robertson released A Village Named Seneca (Jazz Lo-Fi), an instrumental album inspired by the history of Seneca Village, a 19th-century African American community that once existed in the area now occupied by Central Park in New York City. The album’s track titles reference locations within Central Park and form a sequence that traces a path through the park toward the historic site of Seneca Village.

In 2025 he released The No Limit Records File – An XL BeatTape, a project referencing his early connections to artists associated with No Limit Records. The release includes spoken-word drops and references from artists connected to the Southern hip hop scene, including Master P, Mia X, Mac, Romeo Miller, and Kurtis Mantronik.

Film and television

Robertson has contributed music to film soundtracks and television projects. His music has been featured in the Freeform comedy series Grown-ish. His composition "Exodus 1863" was included on the official playlist for the OWN Network drama David Makes Man. In a 2021 interview with Rap Olympus, Robertson discussed the creative process behind the composition and its connection to the themes of the series. Coverage in Vibe magazine also referenced Robertson's contribution to projects associated with David Makes Man.

Awards and nominations

2021 – Black to the Future by Pierce Freelon received a nomination for Best Children's Music Album at the Grammy Awards. Robertson contributed production to the project.

Production style

Donald XL Robertson with rapper Juvenile during a studio recording session. Photograph by Lamar Tribble.

Robertson's production style blends hip hop drum programming with melodic instrumentation and genre-crossing arrangements. His work often incorporates piano-driven melodies, layered percussion, and atmospheric textures influenced by jazz, lo-fi hip hop, and chillhop music.

Career

Discography

Robertson has released albums and singles across hip hop, lo-fi hip hop, jazz, and instrumental genres.

Chart success Charting singles produced Year Single Artist US Billboard Hot Rap Singles US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks US Billboard Hot 100 2000 "Down for My N's" C-Murder featuring Snoop Dogg and Magic 8 29 2001 "He Did That" Silkk the Shocker featuring Master P and Mac 3 50 2004 "Nolia Clap" UTP (Juvenile, Wacko and Skip) 9 9 31 2006 "Get Ya Hustle On" Juvenile from the album Reality Check (Billboard 200 #1)

Charting albums produced

Year Album Artist Peak chart positions 1999 Only God Can Judge Me Master P US Billboard 200 – 22 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – 2 1999 Trapped in Crime C-Murder US Billboard 200 – 9 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – 1 2000 Goodfellas 504 Boyz US Billboard 200 – 15 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – 2 2001 My World, My Way Silkk the Shocker US Billboard 200 – 15 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – 5 2004 Straight From the N.O. Choppa US Billboard 200 – 17 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – 4 2006 Reality Check Juvenile US Billboard 200 – 1 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – 1

Studio albums + List of studio albums Title Year Genre Label Distribution Format Strictly Business Reloaded 2009 Hip hop XL Productionz, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Jumpin Porches 2009 Electronic XL Productionz, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Amplified 2009 Electronic XL Productionz, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Self Portrait 2016 Jazz, Hip hop The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Strictly Business (Instrumentals) 2017 Hip hop instrumental The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming The BeatTape Factory (Hip-Hop Instrumentals) 2020 Hip hop instrumental The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP CD, digital download, streaming Chillout Music (Lo-Fi Hip-Hop Beats) 2020 Jazz lo-fi hip hop The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Coffee Talk 2021 Jazz lo-fi hip hop The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming A Village Named Seneca (Jazz Lo-Fi) 2022 Jazz lo-fi hip hop The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Despierto Toda La Noche (Latin Chill Jazz) 2022 Latin jazz The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Self-Awareness and Meditation (Downtempo Beats) 2023 Downtempo The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Escapism: Journey Through Mental Exploration 2023 Downtempo The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Minor Changes (Lo-Fi Study Beats) 2024 Jazz lo-fi hip hop Sounds Like Tape, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Cosmic Beats (Bedtime Beats) 2024 Lo-fi hip hop Sounds Like Tape, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Monday (Lo-Fi Bedtime Beats) 2024 Jazz lo-fi hip hop The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Monday Deluxe Edition (Lo-Fi Beats) 2024 Lo-fi hip hop Sounds Like Tape, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Simplicity (The Art of Lo-Fi) 2024 Jazz lo-fi hip hop The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Afro Lo-Fi Beats (Afrobeats) 2024 Afrobeats, lo-fi hip hop Sounds Like Tape, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Halloween Vibes (Spooky Instrumentals & Haunted Beats) 2024 Lo-fi hip hop The House of Noise, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming No Skips: Top Baile Funk Beats '25 2025 Baile funk The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming The No Limit Records File – An XL BeatTape 2025 Hip hop instrumental The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Singles and EPs + List of singles Title Year Genre Label Distribution Format Dream Weaver's Tale 2026 Jazz lo-fi hip hop The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Baila Ritmo 2025 Baile funk The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming All Day Everyday (Chill Pop Beat) 2025 Chill pop The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Sunset (Chill Lo-Fi) 2025 Jazz lo-fi hip hop Sounds Like Tape, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Road Trip (Chill Pop Beat) 2025 Chill pop The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Day in the Life (Chill Pop Beat) 2025 Chill pop The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Travel Day (Chill Pop Beat) 2025 Chill pop The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Knowledge Is Power (Jazz Hip-Hop Beat) 2025 Jazz hip hop The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming The Heart Knows 2025 Jazz lo-fi hip hop The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Midnight Reflections 2025 Lo-fi hip hop Sounds Like Tape, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming In the Middle of It All (Chillhop Beat) 2025 Lo-fi hip hop Sounds Like Tape, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Get in the Game 2025 Hip hop instrumental The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Never Give Up 2025 Hip hop instrumental The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Baila 2025 Latin hip hop The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Prayer Hands 2025 Hip hop instrumental The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Here We Go 2024 Hip hop instrumental The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Soundscape 2024 Lo-fi hip hop Sounds Like Tape, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming We Own the Night (Remix) 2024 Hip hop instrumental The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Shake It – Like Nobody Ain't Looking 2024 Hip hop instrumental The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming Beautiful (Chill Rap) 2024 Chill rap The BeatTape Factory, LLC XLP Digital download, streaming

Production discography

Album productions Year Artist Album Role Label 1999 Mac World War III Producer No Limit Records / Priority Records 1999 Master POnly God Can Judge Me Producer No Limit Records / Priority Records 2000 504 Boyz Goodfellas Producer No Limit Records 2000 Master P Ghetto Postage Producer No Limit Records / Priority Records 2000 C-Murder Trapped in Crime Producer No Limit Records / Priority Records 2000 Mr. Marcelo Brick Livin''' Producer No Limit Records / Priority Records 2001 Silkk the Shocker My World, My Way| Producer No Limit Records / Priority Records 2001 Soulja Slim The Streets Made Me| Producer No Limit South 2001 Master P Game Face| Producer The New No Limit / Universal Records 2003 Choppa Straight From the N.O.| Producer The New No Limit / Universal Records 2004 UTP The Beginning of the End| Producer Rap-A-Lot Records 2004 Master P Good Side, Bad Side| Producer Koch Records 2005 C-Murder The TRUest Sh!t I Ever Said| Producer Koch Records 2006 Juvenile Reality Check| Producer Atlantic Records / UTP Records 2006 Mos Def True Magic| Producer Geffen Records 2006 Ras Kass Revenge of the Spit| Producer Re-Up Entertainment 2006 C-Murder The Tru Story: Continued| Producer Koch Records 2009 Ray J For the Love Of| Producer Knockout Entertainment 2010 Lok Akim 2112: The Journey| Producer 333 Music University / XL Productionz 2022 Daddy-O First Team'' Producer SpitSLAM Record Label Group