Mike WiLL Made-It

Michael Len Williams II (born March 23, 1989), known professionally as Mike Will Made It (often stylized as Mike WiLL Made-It) or simply Mike Will, is an American record producer, rapper and singer. He is best known for producing trap beats on several Southern hip-hop, contemporary R&B and pop singles. His credits include "Black Beatles" and "Powerglide" by Rae Sremmurd, "Mercy" by Kanye West, "No Lie" by 2 Chainz, "Bandz a Make Her Dance" by Juicy J, "Pour It Up" by Rihanna, "Love Me" by Lil Wayne, "Body Party" by Ciara, "We Can't Stop" by Miley Cyrus, "Formation" by Beyoncé, and "Humble" by Kendrick Lamar. He embarked on a career as a non-performing lead artist in 2013, signing with Interscope Records to release his debut single "23" (featuring Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa and Juicy J), which peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. His 2017 follow-up single, "Rake It Up" (with Yo Gotti featuring Nicki Minaj) peaked at number eight on the chart.

Prior to releasing "23", he self-released 5 mixtapes. His debut studio album, Ransom 2 (2017), peaked at number 27 on the Billboard 200. He also curated the accompanying soundtrack (2018) to the sports film Creed II, and signed with Giant Music to release his second album R3set (2026). As an imprint of Interscope, Williams founded the record label EarDrummer Records in 2013; the label has signed acts including the Mississippi-based hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd and late Atlanta-based rapper Trouble.

Early life Williams was born in Marietta, Georgia, the youngest of three children; he has two older sisters. His father, Michael Williams Sr., is a former IBM executive who worked as a club DJ in the 1970s. His mother, Shirley Williams, a former bank loan officer, was once in a gospel group, singing for Dottie Peoples. He grew up in a musical family as his uncle was an accomplished guitar player and one of his older sisters was a drum major in the Olympics.

His life also centered around a love of hip-hop music. Williams first developed his talent for music by re-playing popular instrumentals that he heard on the radio while he and his friends would freestyle to them.

At age 14, Williams began to develop his own beats on a Korg ES1 beat machine, which his father bought for him as a Christmas present from the local music store Mars Music. As he became more accomplished, he also began to use production equipment, including the Korg Triton, the Akai MPC1000, the Yamaha Motif, and the Roland Fantom. He was initially ignored, but eventually one of his beat tapes made its way into the hands of Gucci Mane, who then invited WillIams to Patchwerk studios, an Atlanta recording studio.

Career

2011–2012: Production and mixtapes In an interview with XXL, Mike Will said, "Gucci Mane was the first [major artist] to ever rap on my beat." Mike Will first met Gucci Mane at Atlanta recording studio, PatchWerk Recording Studios, and upon introducing himself and giving Gucci Mane a CD of beats, Gucci Mane proceeded to freestyle over each of the instrumentals. He then offered Mike Will $1,000 for one of his beats. The two artists began releasing songs together, such as "East Atlanta 6", and a number of songs from Gucci Mane's mixtape, No Pad, No Pencil. After developing this close relationship with Gucci Mane, he began working with other big-name Atlanta rappers such as Future, Waka Flocka Flame, Rocko, and 2 Chainz. The single was released on April 5, 2011, and peaked at No. 31 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Billboard chart. This came after Mike Will submitted some of his beats to an A&R for Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group label. "Itchin", and three songs from Future's 2012 major label debut album Pluto: "Neva End", "Truth Gonna Hurt You", and "Turn On the Lights".

On December 27, 2011, Mike Will released his first mixtape, Est. in 1989 (Last of a Dying Breed). It was released in conjunction with popular mixtape website LiveMixtapes.com.

On March 23, 2012, Mike Will partnered with popular music site The FADER to announce the second installment of his mixtape series, Est. in 1989 Pt. 2, and to release the mixtape's first single, "Back 2 the Basics", which features his manager/rapper Gucci Mane, founder/CEO/president of Brick Squad and Waka Flocka Flame. The project Est. in 1989 Pt. 2 features songs with Diddy, 2 Chainz, Juicy J, Future, Lil Wayne, T.I., Mac Miller, French Montana, Jeremih, and others.

Will has also worked extensively with Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz, producing "La La", which features Busta Rhymes, from 2 Chainz, then known as Tity Boi, Codeine Cowboy mixtape and "Got One" from 2 Chainz's T.R.U. REALigion mixtape. According to an interview with Complex magazine, Mike Will has been working together with 2 Chainz "since 2008, when he was Tity Boi...We're kind of like family." In 2012, Mike Will produced the lead single, "No Lie", from 2 Chainz' debut album, Based on a T.R.U. Story, released via Def Jam. The single has been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, selling over 500,000 copies digitally.

In 2012, Mike WiLL Made-It produced "Bandz a Make Her Dance", a single for Taylor Gang rapper Juicy J that also features Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz. The song was listed as one of the 25 Best Songs of Summer 2012 by Complex magazine, and as of September 2012, the single had peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Mike Will, alongside producers Kanye West, Mike Dean, Lifted, and Anthony Kilhoffer, co-produced the G.O.O.D. Music single "Mercy", which features vocals by Kanye West, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, and Pusha T. "Mercy", released April 3, 2012, served as the lead single from the G.O.O.D. Music compilation album Cruel Summer, and peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while reaching No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. Other notable production efforts for Mike Will include the single "Way Too Gone", featuring Future from Young Jeezy's 2011 studio album Thug Motivation 103: Hustlerz Ambition, "Just a Sign" from B.o.B's second studio album Strange Clouds and "Pour It Up" from Rihanna's 2012 studio album, Unapologetic.

In 2012 interviews, Mike Will mentioned upcoming work with Kanye West, Brandy, Big Sean, and Pusha T. The mixtape featured guest appearances from Gucci Mane, Future, Rihanna, Big Sean, Trinidad Jame$, Lil Wayne, and other artists.

2013–present: Debut studio album, collaborations, and Creed II soundtrack

Mike Will executive produced Miley Cyrus's fourth studio album Bangerz (2013), including its lead single "We Can't Stop". He produced eight tracks on Bangerz and six tracks on Cyrus' other project Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz.

On September 9, 2013, Mike Will premiered his commercial debut single "23", featuring Wiz Khalifa, Juicy J and Miley Cyrus. He revealed that he had signed with Interscope Records to release his debut album. His debut album will also feature Beyoncé, Future, Kendrick Lamar, and 2 Chainz.

He was named producer of the year by HipHopDX on December 18, 2013.

On June 17, 2014, Mike Will Made It released the first single from his mixtape, "Buy the World", featuring Future, Lil Wayne and Kendrick Lamar. On December 15, 2014, he released his fifth mixtape, Ransom. Featured artists include Big Sean, Juicy J, 2 Chainz, Lil Wayne, and Kendrick Lamar.

On March 24, 2017, he released Ransom 2, featuring Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Future, Pharrell, Lil Wayne, Big Sean, Migos, YG, and more.

In 2018, the soundtrack for the action-drama film Creed II was released, entitled Creed II: The Album. The album featured all original songs written and produced by Mike Will Made It (with the exception of three tracks).

On August 21, 2020, Mike Will released the single "Bang Bang" with rapper Chief Keef. He also announced that his upcoming project is "74%" done.

In 2023, Mike Will partnered with ESPN’s Custom NBA Music Strategy as its first-ever lead producer to curate music for the 2023-24 NBA season. ON October 16, 2023, Mike Will released the new single ‘Different Breed’ featuring Latto and Swae Lee on ESPN.

Influences In interviews, Mike Will has named several musical influences on his own production work. In a "Behind the Beats" interview with Complex magazine, he says that he "always admired Dr. Dre's drums", and calls Timbaland "the first crazy pop producer... He brought so many artists to the game." As a southern producer, he says, he "was also looking up to Shawty Redd. He was the first producer to really bring that dark trap energy and sound."

Production equipment Mike Will uses a variety of production equipment to create beats. His gear includes the Korg Triton, Akai MPC 1000, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Yamaha Motif, and the Roland Fantom-X.

Ear Drummer Records

In 2006, Mike Will started his own production company called . In 2013, he founded Ear Drummer Records (initially known as Eardruma Records) and signed the label to Interscope Records on December 19, 2013. In 2014, Mike Will signed Rae Sremmurd (whose name is "Ear" "Drummers" backwards) and Two-9 to the label.

Artists Mike Will Made It Shotta Spence Two-9 Rae Sremmurd Swae Lee Slim Jxmmi Eearz Andréa Trouble (formerly) Rico Pressley

In-house producers 30 Roc DJ Fu Blue Cheeze DJ Fu GT J-Bo Lifted Marz P-Nazty Scooly

Released: March 24, 2017 Label: Ear Drummer, Interscope Format: CD, digital download

Released: March 20, 2026 Label: Ear Drummer, Giant Music

Soundtrack albums + List of soundtrack albums, with selected details Title Album details Peak chart positions US Label: Ear Drummer, Interscope Format: CD, digital download 49 63

Mixtapes + List of mixtapes, with selected details Title Mixtape details Peak chart positions USR&B USHeat Est. in 1989 (Last of a Dying Breed) Released: December 28, 2011 Label: Self-released Formats: Digital download — — — Est. in 1989 Pt. 2 Released: July 24, 2012 Label: Self-released Formats: Digital download Hosted by DJ Infamous, DJ Esco and DJ Green Lantern — — — Est. in 1989 Pt. 2.5 Released: December 24, 2012 Label: Self-released Formats: Digital download Hosted by DJ Drama — — — #MikeWiLLBeenTriLL Released: December 23, 2013 Label: Self-released Formats: Digital download Hosted by Future — — — Ransom Released: December 15, 2014 Label: Ear Drummer Records Formats: Digital download — 45 4 Gotti Made-It Released: June 1, 2017 Label: Self-released Formats: Streaming, digital download 40 7 — Dirty Nachos Released: March 15, 2024 Label: 43B, EarDrummer Records, RBC Records Formats: Streaming, digital download Hosted by DJ Trap-a-Holics & DJ Pharris — — —

Singles

"Perfect Pint" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number six on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart. (with Big Sean, Pharrell, Quavo and Rae Sremmurd) 2018 — — — — — — — "Kill 'Em with Success" (with Eearz, ScHoolboy Q and 2 Chainz) — — — — — — —Creed II: The Album "The Mantra" — — — — — — — "Bang Bang" 2020 — — — — — — — Dirty Nachos "What That Speed Bout!?" 35 11 10 — 76 — — "Status" — — — — — — — Dirty Nachos "Love Don't Live Here" 2021 — — — — — — — "Blood Moon"2023 — — — — — — — "Different Breed" — — — — — — — "Now or Neva" — — — — — — — "Wanna Come Thru" 2024 — — — — — — — Lemon Cars "Dirty Nachos" — — — — — — —Dirty Nachos "Rooms" 2026 — 33 — — — — — R3set "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Promotional singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications AlbumUS