On Friday, May 15, when Canadian rapper Drake released a stunning three albums simultaneously — Iceman, Maid of Honour, and Habibti) — Montego Bay-based beat-maker, producer, and rapper Mxssivh was listed as a producer on two tracks.

He contributed to the track New Bestie, which is featured on the album Maid of Honour. That track references dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel in a line from the lyrics.

He also worked on the track Ran to Atlanta by Drake featuring Future and Molly Santana, which is featured on the album Iceman.

Being a part of an international project is nothing new for beat-maker and producer Mxssivh.

In 2019, the then 18-year-old produced two songs, Cinderella and Waterfall, which were included on Russian trap rap artiste Kizaru’s triple platinum album Karmageddon. He also produced Carousel, a track included on Kizaru’s double platinum selling EP Say No Mo.

In an exclusive interview with the Jamaica Observer on Friday, Mxssivh, whose real name is Justin Junagadala, shared how he got involved in Drake’s projects.

“I actually was working with people very close to him. I flew out to Canada for the Vybz Kartel show and I met with a couple people. I then went to Miami and worked with my other boys who work with the Drake’s OVO label very closely and we got to this point.

“I feel blessed to be a part of this. I’ve been working on this project for the last few years, and I was shocked to see it turn into three albums,” said Mxssivh.

Asked what this achievement signifies to his talent, Mxssivh said: “It shows my versatility. The fact that I was able to show my talent in trap music and not solely dancehall in which people know me from.”

Mxssivh got involved in music as a teenager.

“I always had love for music from I was a kid. I couldn’t sleep without listening to music and I was playing piano as a little kid. I started listening to trap music and EDM (electronic dance music) and found a liking for the beats more, and the rest is history,” he recalled.

Mxssivh hails from the community of West Gate community in St James. He attended Heinz Simonitch and Hillel Academy.

As a youngster, he said people described him as an introvert.

Mxssivh, who also mixes and masters his own productions, explained what separates him from the pack.

“My sound is different from everybody else when it comes to the beats and the actual songs. I feel you have to be original and not follow anybody else. If you want to make it you have to be willing to try whatever. Zone out and go into a whole other world. Creativity is what matters now,” he said.

He has worked with artistes including Rude Jerms, Squash, Valiant, Stalk Ashley, Trippie Redd, Skillibeng and others.

“A lot of doors have opened, and it has become easier for me to contact artistes. It makes it easier for them to take me serious about what I do,” he shared.

The artiste credits his mother for his early interest in music.

“My mom has a really strong passion for music, and she played drums in marching bands. When I was six years old she made me play the piano, and that’s where my love for music grew,” he explained. “I was an antisocial kid, that’s why I ended up doing music. I didn’t have that many friends and I was always listening to music and making beats.”

Aside from being a beat-maker-producer, Mxssivh is also a recording artiste and records under the name Bvsed Justin.

“Man, I got my official producer album on the way with all the top artistes locally and a few internationally as well as my first official album as an artiste myself. Also got a few big projects I’m working on right now, stay tuned, the show isn’t over,” he disclosed.