# Mustard (record producer)

Dijon Isaiah McFarlane (born June 5, 1990), known professionally as Mustard (formerly DJ Mustard), is an American record producer and DJ. A frequent collaborator of fellow California-based artists YG and Ty Dolla Sign, he began his career producing singles and albums for both rappers, and has since done so for other prominent acts in hip-hop and R&B. He first saw recognition for his work on Tyga's 2011 single "Rack City".
Mustard's production style has been described as up-tempo and club-oriented, but also rudimentary and melodic. Most of his works begin or end with the producer tag "Mustard on the beat, ho!"—a voice sample of YG (who says it at the end of "I'm Good", one of their early collaborations)—and include heavy use of synthesizers, claps, and frequent, reverberated use of a "hey!" voice clip. He has been credited as influential in the sound of both mainstream and West Coast hip-hop productions during the early-to-mid 2010s, a style he refers to as "ratchet music".
Mustard signed with Republic Records and Roc Nation to release his debut studio album, 10 Summers (2014), which narrowly entered the Billboard 200; his second album, Cold Summer (2016), failed to chart. He then signed with Interscope Records to release his third album, Perfect Ten (2019), which peaked within the top ten of the chart and spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top 40 singles "Ballin'" (featuring Roddy Ricch) and "Pure Water" (with Migos). He produced Kendrick Lamar's 2024 single "Not Like Us", which became his first production to peak atop the Billboard Hot 100, won five Grammy Awards, and foresaw the release of Mustard's fourth album, Faith of a Mustard Seed (2024). He founded the record label 10 Summers Records in 2014, through which he has signed musical acts including British singer Ella Mai, as well as fellow California-based artists Kiana Ledé and RJMrLA.

## Early life

Dijon Isaiah McFarlane was born on June 5, 1990, in Los Angeles, California, to a Jamaican father and an African-American mother. In a 2013 interview with The Fader magazine, he stated that his father was deported to Jamaica when he was young, though they still kept in contact with each other.
When McFarlane was 11 years old, his uncle, Tyrei Lacy, who was both a parental figure and a DJ, let him DJ at a family party. Soon thereafter he was spinning records at parties as a student at Dorsey High. He began DJing more as he got older, and became much more skilled at the craft which led to him DJing at the local clubs. McFarlane was baptized when he was 12 and became interested in Christianity.
He acquired his DJ name from the condiment Dijon mustard because his first name is also Dijon.

## Career

In an interview with Sway's Universe, DJ Mustard described his business relationship with West coast rapper YG. Since YG's second mixtape The Real 4Fingaz, he has produced on all of his mixtapes. "I started making beats for YG; he was one [of] the first people to do my beats. I started with him, so for us to do a mixtape was easy. We created this dancing sound. I feel like we owed it to the streets and we're not stopping." DJ Mustard has produced singles by YG such as "Bitches Ain't Shit" featuring rappers Tyga and Nipsey Hussle, and "You Broke" also featuring Nipsey Hussle. On August 3, 2010, DJ Mustard released an unofficial compilation album with various artists through the label Thump Records that was called Let's Jerk named after the street dance called jerking in Los Angeles.
During late 2011, DJ Mustard produced Tyga's third single "Rack City" from his second album Careless World: Rise of the Last King. The song was released in December 2011, and peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and number 2 on the Hot Rap Songs chart. It was also certified 2× platinum by the RIAA. According to Mustard, the beat for the song was originally for YG. YG told Mustard that Tyga needed a beat, so he sent the beat to Tyga. DJ Mustard's career was given a huge blast from the song. He also produced two tracks from Tyga's mixtape Well Done 3, the third installment of his Well Done series and his song "Hit Em Up" featuring rapper Jadakiss from his third album Hotel California, released on April 9, 2013.
During 2012, DJ Mustard produced Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz's song "I'm Different" that was released as the third single from his major debut album Based on a T.R.U. Story on November 8. The song charted at number 6 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and was certified gold by the RIAA, selling over 500,000 copies digitally. Also later in 2012, DJ Mustard produced the song R.I.P. by Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy that was released as the lead single from his twelfth mixtape It's Tha World on February 5, 2013. The song features 2 Chainz, making this the second time he has rapped over Mustard's beats since "I'm Different". The song charted at number 17 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Mustard has also produced tracks on rapper Bow Wow's seventh album Underrated such as "We In Da Club" which was released as the second single from that album. However, as stated by Bow Wow in 2012, the album has been indefinitely been delayed and he is no longer focusing on it.
On June 3, 2013, DJ Mustard released his official debut mixtape Ketchup. The mixtape contained guest appearances from artists such as Lil Snupe, YG, Ty$, Joe Moses, Kid Ink, Nipsey Hussle, Casey Veggies, Ca$h Out, Clyde Carson, Dorrough, Dom Kennedy, and Lil Jon. Later in June, Mustard produced Atlanta rapper B.o.B's song HeadBand featuring 2 Chainz, which was released as the second single from his third studio album Underground Luxury. The song has charted at number 21 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. On September 17, DJ Mustard produced West coast rapper Kid Ink's song "Show Me" featuring Chris Brown, released as the first single from his upcoming second studio album My Own Lane. The single peaked at number 1 on the U.S. Rhythmic Billboard Chart. On September 17, 2013, DJ Mustard produced YG's mega-anthem "My Nigga" for his debut studio album "My Krazy Life", which peaked at number 5 on the U.S. Rhythmic Billboard chart. On November 18, 2013, DJ Mustard announced that he had signed to Jay-Z's Roc Nation as an artist, and revealed plans to release his own studio album. On December 18, 2013, he was named the runner-up for producer of the year by HipHopDX. On March 11, 2014, DJ Mustard produced Kid Ink's "Main Chick" also featuring Chris Brown for his second studio album My Own Lane. It peaked at number 3 on the U.S. Rhythmic Billboard chart.
In 2016, worked with Trea Fittz on his debut album, released October 11. He released "Don't Hurt Me" with Jeremih and Nicki Minaj on his album Cold Summer. The album included long-time collaborators YG and Ty Dolla Sign. The album also included Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, K Camp, and more. It was released on September 30, 2016.
On June 28, 2019, Mustard's third album, Perfect Ten was released, and spawned the Grammy-nominated single, "Ballin'.
In 2024, he contributed to the production of the Kendrick Lamar diss track, "Not Like Us", released as part of the Drake–Kendrick Lamar feud. He also co-produced two tracks on Lamar's 2024 album GNX, those being "hey now" and "TV Off". Lamar's screaming of Mustard's name on "TV Off" became an internet meme. He appeared during Lamar's performance of the song at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show.

## Production style

Mustard's production style has been described as an up-tempo, radio-friendly, club-oriented, catchy hip-hop style which he calls "ratchet music". Mustard's body of work has been recognized by critics as sonically cohesive and recognizable in that many of his tracks have recurring, identifiable motifs. Most apparent is his producer signature "Mustard on that beat, ho!" which prefaces the beat drop in many of his songs. This signature is often strategically placed to span the third and fourth counts of the measure preceding the song's drop to make it more catchy. On a compositional level, however, Mustard's motifs also include: an ambient chant of "Hey!" on the off-beats in the background of his music; the emphasized, minimalist bass synth opening to many songs (most notably on "My Nigga", "R.I.P.", and "Rack City"), 808 kicks and the use of crisp hand-claps and snap-snares.
Mustard uses the music production software Reason, first using 5, 6 and currently using 6.5. In an interview with The Fader magazine, he stated: "With this ratchet music, I'm trying to create my own sound. I want to make this to where it can't leave, this is something that everybody's gonna get used to. Like how everybody got used to Lil Jon or Luke. I don't want it to be something that comes and goes, I want it to be something that's here forever like a real culture."
As a result of the recognizably and commonality between many of Mustard's chart-topping singles, a number of artists who employ production similar to DJ Mustard's have been criticized for lack of originality and plagiarism. In a July 2014 interview with Tim Westwood, the rapper YG, whose album My Krazy Life was mostly produced by Mustard, stated that Iggy Azalea's song "Fancy" "jocked" Mustard's style. Like many of Mustard's songs, the song includes a minimalist G-funk style synth and samples a layered "Hey" voice chant. He has been compared to rap producers like Dr Dre and many old rappers from the golden age of hip hop.

## Personal life

Mustard started dating Chanel Thierry in 2009 and they were married on October 10, 2020. They have two sons and a daughter. They separated in 2022 and divorced in 2023. He filed for sole custody of their children in 2024, after which she accused him of attempting to "destroy [her] name" in an effort to avoid paying child support.
In July 2024, Mustard welcomed his fourth child, a daughter, with girlfriend Brittany Stroud.

## Discography
### Studio albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
| Title | Album details | US | US R&B/HH | US Rap | AUS | CAN | NOR | NZ | Certifications |
| 10 Summers | Released: August 11, 2014 Label: Pu$haz Ink, Roc Nation, Republic Format: CD, digital download, streaming | 143 | 20 | 14 | — | — | — | — | |
| Cold Summer | Released: September 16, 2016 Label: Pu$haz Ink, Roc Nation, Republic Format: CD, digital download, streaming | — | 24 | 14 | — | — | — | — | |
| Perfect Ten | Released: June 28, 2019 Label: 10 Summers, Interscope Format: CD (Limited), digital download, streaming | 8 | 5 | 3 | 62 | 8 | 25 | 39 | RIAA: Platinum |
| Faith of a Mustard Seed | Released: July 26, 2024 Label: 10 Summers, BMG Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 50 | 11 | 10 | — | — | — | — |
| Perfect Eleven | Released: TBA Label: 10 Summers, BMG Formats: Digital download, streaming | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. ||||||||||

### Mixtapes

List of mixtapes, with selected details :
| Title | Album details |
| Ketchup | Released: June 3, 2013 Label: Self-released Formats: Digital download |
| 10 Summers: The Mixtape Vol.1 (with 10 Summers) | Released: July 23, 2015 Label: 10 Summers Formats: Digital download |

### Singles
#### As lead artist

List of songs, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
| Title | Year | US | US R&B/HH | US Rap | AUS | BEL (FL) | CAN | IRE | NZ Hot | UK | WW | Certifications | Album |
| "Money" (featuring TeeCee4800) | 2013 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "Throw It Up" (with Tyga) | 2013 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Well Done IV |
| "This D" (with TeeFLii) | 2013 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Annieruo'tay |
| "Vato" (featuring YG, Jeezy and Que) | 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "Down on Me" (featuring Ty Dolla Sign and 2 Chainz) | 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | 10 Summers |
| "Why'd You Call" (featuring Ty Dolla Sign and ILoveMakonnen) | 2015 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "In My Room" (with Yellow Claw featuring Ty Dolla Sign and Tyga) | 2015 | — | — | — | — | 99 | — | — | — | — | — | RIAA: Gold | Blood for Mercy |
| "Whole Lotta Lovin" (with Travis Scott) | 2016 | — | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RIAA: Gold | Non-album single |
| "Don't Hurt Me" (featuring Nicki Minaj and Jeremih) | 2016 | — | — | — | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | RIAA: Gold RMNZ: Gold | Cold Summer |
| "Want Her" (featuring Quavo and YG) | 2017 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RIAA: Gold RMNZ: Gold | Cold Summer |
| "Anywhere" (with Nick Jonas) | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album singles |
| "Dangerous World" (featuring Travis Scott and YG) | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album singles |
| "Pure Water" (with Migos) | 2019 | 23 | 10 | 8 | 45 | — | 20 | 56 | — | 62 | — | RIAA: 5× Platinum BPI: Gold RMNZ: 2× Platinum | Perfect Ten |
| "100 Bands" (featuring Quavo, 21 Savage, YG and Meek Mill) | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | — | — | RIAA: Gold | Perfect Ten |
| "Ballin'" (with Roddy Ricch) | 2019 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 72 | — | 34 | 42 | — | 37 | — | RIAA: 7× Platinum ARIA: Platinum BPI: Platinum MC: Platinum RMNZ: 3× Platinum | Perfect Ten |
| "Parking Lot" (with Travis Scott) | 2024 | 57 | 17 | 15 | — | — | 49 | — | 5 | 83 | 74 | | Faith of a Mustard Seed |
| "Pray for Me" | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Faith of a Mustard Seed |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. ||||||||||||||

#### As featured artist

List of songs, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
| Title | Year | US | US R&B/HH | US Rap | AUS | BEL (FL) | CAN | IRE | NZ Hot | UK | Certifications | Album |
| "Feelin' Myself" (will.i.am featuring Miley Cyrus, French Montana, Wiz Khalifa and DJ Mustard) | 2013 | 96 | 26 | 15 | 34 | — | — | 3 | 16 | 2 | BPI: Platinum RMNZ: Platinum | #willpower |
| "Left, Right" (YG featuring DJ Mustard) | 2013 | — | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RIAA: Gold | My Krazy Life |
| "Or Nah" (Ty Dolla Sign featuring The Weeknd,Wiz Khalifa and DJ Mustard) | 2014 | 48 | 12 | — | — | 48 | 78 | — | — | — | RIAA: 6× Platinum BPI: Platinum MC: 2× Platinum RMNZ: 3× Platinum | Beach House EP |
| "Heartless" (Polo G featuring Mustard) | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RIAA: 2× Platinum BPI: Silver MC: 2× Platinum RMNZ: Gold | The Goat |
| "High Fashion" (Roddy Ricch featuring Mustard) | 2020 | 20 | 12 | 7 | 48 | — | 30 | 48 | 25 | 45 | RIAA: 4× Platinum ARIA: Gold BPI: Gold MC: Platinum RMNZ: Platinum | Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial |
| "By Yourself" (Ty Dolla Sign featuring Jhené Aiko and Mustard) | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 30 | — | | Featuring Ty Dolla Sign |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |||||||||||||

#### Promotional singles

Song, showing year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Album |
| "One Bad Decision" (featuring Ella Mai and Roddy Ricch) | 2024 | Faith of a Mustard Seed |

### Other charted songs

List of other charted songs, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
| Title | Year | US | US R&B/HH | CAN | NZ Hot | Certifications | Album |
| "On God" (with YG and Tyga featuring ASAP Ferg and ASAP Rocky) | 2019 | — | — | — | 30 | | Perfect Ten |
| "Baguettes in the Face" (featuring Nav, Playboi Carti, and A Boogie wit da Hoodie) | 2019 | 81 | 33 | 47 | 18 | RIAA: Platinum BPI: Silver RMNZ: Platinum | Perfect Ten |
| "Still Chose You" (The Kid Laroi featuring Mustard) | 2021 | 100 | 38 | 65 | 30 | | F*ck Love 3: Over You |

## Accolades

| Organization | Year | Category | Nominated work(s) | Result |
| Grammy Awards | 2019 | Song of the Year | "Boo'd Up" | Nominated |
| Grammy Awards | 2019 | Best R&B Song | "Boo'd Up" | Won |
| Grammy Awards | 2020 | Best Rap/Sung Collaboration | "Ballin'" | Nominated |
| Grammy Awards | 2025 | Record of the Year | "Not Like Us" | Won |
| Grammy Awards | 2025 | Producer of the Year, Non-Classical | Himself | Nominated |
| iHeartRadio Music Awards | 2021 | Hip-Hop Song of the Year | "High Fashion" | Nominated |
| Soul Train Music Awards | 2016 | The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award | "Needed Me" | Nominated |