The Legendary Traxster

Samuel Lindley

(1973-07-14) July 14, 1973
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

1991–present

Nothing But Dope

Career[edit]

A native of Chicago, The Legendary Traxster rose to prominence for his production work for fellow Chicago artists Twista and famed rap trio Do or Die, for whom he produced several albums, including their 1996 debut Picture This, which was certified gold.[1] In 1997, Traxster produced the entirety of Twista's certified platinum[2] album, Adrenaline Rush. He has also produced for Kanye West, Ty Dolla Sign, Big Sean, Mystikal, E-40, Cam'ron, Tech N9ne, and The Outlawz, with songs featuring notable artists, including Chris Brown, Waka Flocka Flame, Yo Gotti, Ray J, R. Kelly, T.I., Lil Boosie, Scarface, Bun B, WC, C-Bo, Static Major, Raekwon, and Shawnna.


He earned a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year in 2006 for his work with Mariah Carey, co-writing and producing the track "One and Only" on her 2005 album, The Emancipation of Mimi.


In 2009, he reunited with Twista for Category F5, including the single, "Wetter", which was certified gold[3] and went on to win two ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards in the Rap and R&B/Hip Hop category. The duo also collaborated on "Make a Movie", which featured Chris Brown. The song was the lead single for Twista's 2010 album, The Perfect Storm, which featured eight songs produced by Traxster.


Traxster participated in the ASCAP SCORES program, leading a songwriting class with kids at Chalmers Elementary School in Chicago on December 1 and 8, 2010. Traxster and the students recorded the song at Chicago Recording Company studios on December 14, 2010, with the finished track included on a compilation CD produced by ASCAP, and distributed to music industry decision makers and each of the schools involved.[4]


The following year, he produced the single "My Chick Bad" by Ludacris featuring Nicki Minaj, from his chart-topping album, Battle of the Sexes, as well as the official remix, which featured Eve, Trina, and Diamond. The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was nominated for a 2011 Grammy Award in the category Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. On November 30, 2022, the single was certified triple platinum in the US.[5]


In January 2017, Traxster signed a deal with Priority Records for his label Nothing But Dope. The new Priority Records launched in 2013. The label's re-launch was a venture by Capitol Records, which is owned by the Universal Music Group.

Personal life[edit]

In 2015, he married singer-songwriter Tia London. They have one child together, who was born in July 2015.

2001: All Hell Breaks Loose

2008: The Return of Gangsta Music

2013: You Owe Me A Favor (Beat Tape)

2015: You Owe Me Another Favor (Beat Tape)

2016: "Black Saints"

Production discography[edit]

2024


¥$ (Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign), Future and Metro Boomin - "Like That Remix"


¥$ (Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign) - Vultures 1 - "Stars"


¥$ (Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign) - Vultures 1 - "Keys to My Life"


¥$ (Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign) - Vultures 1 - "Do It"


¥$ (Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign) - Vultures 1 - "Paperwork"


¥$ (Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign) - Vultures 1 - "Burn"


¥$ (Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign) - Vultures 1 - "Fuk Sumn"


¥$ (Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign) - Vultures 1 - "Carnival"


2023


Beyoncé - "Cuff It (Wetter Remix)"


2014


Twista - Dark Horse - "The Dark Horse" Featuring Tyme


Twista - Dark Horse - "I Am Sucha Mobsta"


Twista - Dark Horse - "It's Yours" Featuring Tia London


Twista - Dark Horse - "Nothing Like Me" Featuring Gritz


Twista - Dark Horse - "Me And You"


2013


Java Starr - Troubled Waters - "Peakin" Featuring Dollarmentary


Java Starr - Troubled Waters - "Gotta Do Better" Featuring Jack Freeman


Java Starr - Troubled Waters - "My City" Featuring Scarface


Java Starr - Troubled Waters - "What's Pop'n" Featuring Twista


Java Starr - Troubled Waters - "Champion" Featuring Siren The Goddess


Java Starr - Troubled Waters - "Dreamer" Featuring Tia London


Java Starr - Troubled Waters - "Let Me In" Featuring Darilyn Monroe


Java Starr - Troubled Waters - "Lost" Featuring Twista & Yukmouth


Java Starr - Troubled Waters - "See Me" Featuring Green Giant


Java Starr - Troubled Waters - "Pop A Crate" Featuring Lyru & Green Giant


Java Starr - Troubled Waters - "Smoke"


Twista - Back to the Basics (EP) - "Intro/Freestyle"


Twista - Back to the Basics (EP) - "Ferocious"


Twista - Back to the Basics (EP) - "Put It Down"


2012


Tia London - The Overdose


2011


Tia London - Love Junkie


Big Sean - Finally Famous - "I Do It"


2010


Ludacris - Battle of the Sexes - "My Chick Bad" Featuring Nicki Minaj


Ludacris - Battle of the Sexes - "My Chick Bad (Remix)" Featuring Diamond, Trina and Eve


Twista - The Perfect Storm - "Darkness" Featuring DaWreck of Triple Darkness


Twista - The Perfect Storm - "Make a Movie" Featuring Chris Brown


Twista - The Perfect Storm - "I Do"


Twista - The Perfect Storm - "2012" Featuring Tia London


Twista - The Perfect Storm - "Back To The Basics"


Twista - The Perfect Storm - "Hands Up, Lay Down" Featuring Waka Flocka Flame


Twista - The Perfect Storm - "Call The Police" Featuring Ray J


Twista - The Perfect Storm - "Give It To Me" Featuring Teala Chenae


Twista - The Perfect Storm - "Go" Featuring Zamica


Twista - The Perfect Storm - "The Heat" Featuring Raekwon


2009


Twista - Category F5 - "Misunderstood" Featuring Buk


Twista - Category F5 - "Fire" Featuring Lil Boosie


Twista - Category F5 - "Yellow Light" Featuring R. Kelly


Twista - Category F5 - "Wetter" Featuring Erika Shevon


Twista - Category F5 - "Yo Body" Featuring Do or Die & Johnny P.


Twista - Category F5 - "Gotta Get Me One" Featuring Static Major


2007


WC - Guilty by Affiliation - "Side Dick"


2006


Do or Die - Get That Paper - "Get Yo Gunz"


Do or Die - Get That Paper - "t Ain't Hard"


Do or Die - Get That Paper - "On My Own""


Do or Die - Get That Paper - "Get This Paper"


Do or Die - Get That Paper - "Somethin' Like a Playa"


Do or Die - Get That Paper - "Street Sh$"


Do or Die - Get That Paper - "Up That Scratch"


Tech N9ne - Everready (The Religion) - "My World" Featuring Brotha Lynch Hung & Dalima


2005


Mariah Carey - The Emancipation of Mimi - "One and Only" Featuring Twista


Do or Die - D.O.D. - "Against All Odds"


Do or Die - D.O.D. - "Chain of Command"


Do or Die - D.O.D. - "Around Here" Featuring Malik Yusef


Do or Die - D.O.D. - "Wa da da Dang" Featuring Grind


Do or Die - D.O.D. - "Getcha Weight Up"


Do or Die - D.O.D. - "For My N***az" Featuring The Legendary Traxster


2004


Twista - Kamikaze - "Like a 24" Featuring T.I. & Liffy Stokes


Cam'ron - Purple Haze - "Chi (Skit)/Adrenaline/Phone (Skit)" Featuring Twista & Yung Buk of Psycho Drama


2003


Do or Die - Pimpin' Ain't Dead - "One More Way 2 Die" Featuring E.C. Illa


Do or Die - Pimpin' Ain't Dead - "Do U?" Featuring Twista And Johnny P.


Do or Die - Pimpin' Ain't Dead - "Fantasy"


Do or Die - Pimpin' Ain't Dead - "See It Through Reality" Featuring The Legendary Traxster


Do or Die - Pimpin' Ain't Dead - "Lil' Ghetto Boy" Featuring Johnny P.


Do or Die - Pimpin' Ain't Dead - "Stateville" Featuring The Legendary Traxster And Dun D


Do or Die - Pimpin' Ain't Dead - "Don't Give No F*ck (No Love 2K3"


Do or Die - Pimpin' Ain't Dead - "Bomb on Contact"


Do or Die - Pimpin' Ain't Dead - "Not 4 U" Featuring Johnny P.


Do or Die - Pimpin' Ain't Dead - "Who I Fuck Wit"


Do or Die - Pimpin' Ain't Dead - "Cold World"


2002


Do or Die - Back 2 the Game - "Ain't No Punk"


Do or Die - Back 2 the Game - "I Got A Problem" Featuring Yung Buk


Do or Die - Back 2 the Game - "3 A.M." Featuring Johnny P.


Do or Die - Back 2 the Game - "Secret Indictment"


Do or Die - Back 2 the Game - "Dead Homies" Featuring Johnny P.


Do or Die - Back 2 the Game - "That's My Car"


Do or Die - Back 2 the Game - "Menage A Trois" Featuring Johnny P.


2001


Snypaz - Livin' in the Scope - "Searchin"


1999


Mystikal - The Corruptor (soundtrack) - "I Ain't Playin"


1998


Do or Die - Caught Up (soundtrack) - "All in the Club" Featuring Danny Boy And Johnny P


Do or Die - Headz or Tailz - "Lil Sum Sum"


Do or Die - Headz or Tailz - "Nobody's Home" Featuring Johnny P. and Danny Boy


Do or Die - Headz or Tailz - "All in the Club" Featuring Danny Boy


Do or Die - Headz or Tailz - "Can I" Featuring Beyond Content


Do or Die - Headz or Tailz - "Gangsta Shit" Featuring Shock The World


Do or Die - Headz or Tailz - "Bustin Back (Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Diss)" Featuring Lil Chilla Of Snypaz


Do or Die - Headz or Tailz - "Who Am I" Featuring Scarface


Do or Die - Headz or Tailz - "Caine House"


Twista & the Speedknot Mobstaz - Mobstability - "Intro"


Twista & the Speedknot Mobstaz - Mobstability - "Crook County (Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Diss)" Featuring Newsense


Twista & the Speedknot Mobstaz - Mobstability - "Mob Up"


Twista & the Speedknot Mobstaz - Mobstability - "Front Porch" Featuring Danny Boy


Twista & the Speedknot Mobstaz - Mobstability - "In Your World" Featuring Christopher Williams


Twista & the Speedknot Mobstaz - Mobstability - "Legit Ballers"


Twista & the Speedknot Mobstaz - Mobstability - "Mobstability"


Twista & the Speedknot Mobstaz - Mobstability - "Party Hoes"


Twista & the Speedknot Mobstaz - Mobstability - "Warm Embrace"


Twista & the Speedknot Mobstaz - Mobstability - "Smoke Wit You" Featuring Baby Boy


Twista & the Speedknot Mobstaz - Mobstability - "Loyalty" Featuring Shock The World


Twista & the Speedknot Mobstaz - Mobstability - "Motive 4 Murder"


Twista & the Speedknot Mobstaz - Mobstability - "Dreams"


Twista & the Speedknot Mobstaz - Mobstability - "Rock Y'all Spot"


Twista & the Speedknot Mobstaz - Dr. Dolittle Soundtrack - "In Your World"


Latanya - The Big Hit Soundtrack - "What U On"


1997


Mystikal - Dangerous Ground (soundtrack) - "Mr. Shit Talker"


Twista - Adrenaline Rush - "Intro"


Twista - Adrenaline Rush - "Adrenaline Rush" Featuring Yung Buk of Psycho Drama


Twista - Adrenaline Rush - "Death Before Dishonor"


Twista - Adrenaline Rush - "It Feels So Good" Featuring Ms. Kane aka Eryka Kane


Twista - Adrenaline Rush - "Overdose"


Twista - Adrenaline Rush - "Mobster's Anthem" Featuring Liffy Stokes, Mayz


Twista - Adrenaline Rush - "Get Her In Tha Mood" (skit)


Twista - Adrenaline Rush - "Emotions" Featuring Johnny P


Twista - Adrenaline Rush - "Unsolved Mystery"


Twista - Adrenaline Rush - "Korrupt World" Featuring B-Hype


Twista - Adrenaline Rush - "Get It Wet" Featuring Ms Kane aka Eryka Kane


Twista - Adrenaline Rush - "No Remorse" Featuring Liffy Stokes, B-Hype, Turtle Banks, Mayz & Master Link of Qualo


Twista - Adrenaline Rush - "Emotions" (Remix)


Mystikal - Unpredictable - "Still Smokin"


Mic Geronimo - Vendetta - "Vendetta"


1996


Do or Die - Picture This - "Alpha and Omega"


Do or Die - Picture This - "Shut 'Em Down"


Do or Die - Picture This - "Po Pimp" Featuring Twista And Johnny P.


Do or Die - Picture This - "Playa Like Me and You" Featuring Johnny P.


Do or Die - Picture This - "Promise"


Do or Die - Picture This - "6 Million"


Do or Die - Picture This - "Search Warrant"


Do or Die - Picture This - "Anotha One Dead And Gone"

Official website

Fake Shore Drive Interview

iStandard iSitdown w/ The Legendary Traxster