6 Songs That Totally Sound Like They're Produced By DJ Mustard But Actually Aren't

DJ Mustard doesn't just have the most popular sound of the moment, he's got the most imitated too.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

DJ Mustard's reign over hip-hop radio has sustained a lot longer than many expected. And despite the supposed limitations of his style—"It all sounds the same," cried legions of hip-hop fans who spent the early 2000s consuming slabs of basically-identical DJ Premier bangers—very few artists have managed to compete with his work on a major stage.

That's not to say that fake Mustards aren't everywhere, because they are. Just Google "Mustard YG type beat." But for the most part, almost no other producers biting his style have managed a major placement.

Of course, there are a few artists who've managed to slip hit records through the cracks, which we're here to celebrate. Because fuck it: as Too $hort—whose "19,999" could end up joining this list in a few months—says, get in where you fit in. With Mustard's album 10 Summers dropping tomorrow, we take a look at some songs that sound a lot like something he'd produce. 

An important note: because a few producers in the Bay Area were rocking with a similar Mustard style pre-Mustard, we've largely decided to exclude any cuts by the League of Starz or HBK gang members. There are two exceptions, which will be explained below.

Written by David Drake (@somanyshrimp)

 

Iggy Azalea f/ Charli XCX “Fancy”

Not Available Interstitial

Producer: The Invisible Men

The king of fake-Mustard beats, and indisputably the song of the summer, “Fancy” was produced by the Invisible Men. This name is extraordinarily ironic because they are a white trio from the UK and a writer by the name of Ralph Ellison once—err, let's stay focused on the topic at hand.

Originally released sans hook girl Charli XCX as “Leave It” at the end of 2013, the song's big synthesizer tones and thumping finger snap beats directly recall Mustard's “My Nigga” from last year. The Invisible Men are a trio, and the were once in a band called Orson. Nonetheless, the song slaps, and if a DJ dropped it in the midst of a set of Mustard originals, there's a 100% chance you'll get caught singing “from L.A. to Tokyo” even if you've never left Medina County, Ohio.

Migos “Fight Night”

Not Available Interstitial

Producer: Stack Boy Twan

The Migos were classed early on as one-hit-wonders, even though their big mainstream breakthrough was already their second regional hit—their first, “Bando,” didn't even utilized the Migos flow (a registered trademark of the Migos corporation). But “Fight Night” recently surpassed “Versace” to become the group's biggest-ever hit, which, as Complex contributor Al Shipley pointed out, means they've broken the curse of other Drake collaborators like Meek Mill, A$AP Rocky, French Montana, and 2 Chainz: Drake is no longer featured on their biggest single.

It probably also helps that in its Mustard-ness, “Fight Night” resembles very little of their other material, standing out immediately on their recent mixtape No Label II. Not that it's stopped “Handsome and Wealthy” and “Freak No More” from also making noise on the charts. Fake Mustard beats now have more chart power than a Drake feature, and are apparently very much their Feng Shui.

Adrian Marcel f/ Sage The Gemini “2AM”

Not Available Interstitial

Producer: Chrishan

Adrian Marcel's unexpected hit “2 AM” is a smooth Mustard-esque record that managed to do something innovative in the realm of ratchet R&B. Its chorus is all a euphoric headrush, but it builds tension in those verses with a sparser-than-normal beat. Mustard has never been afraid of space, but he typically relies on a big melodic riff at the center—think “Show Me,” which gaffes Robin S.'s “Show Me Love” melody. Not that “2AM”'s verses avoids melody entirely—there's a slight melodic figure, which Marcel's voice dances around. But it primarily just teases the chorus's tingling release, which feels all the more dreamlike for the long buildup.

Lil Debbie “Slot Machine”

Not Available Interstitial

Producer:

During the Kreayshawn/V-Nasty era, Lil Debbie didn't seem like the White Girl Mob member most likely to succeed. Nonetheless, here we are, three years later, talking about Lil Debbie's recording career. Signed to Dim Mak records—that's Steve Aoki's label—Debbie's recent “Slot Machine” is nearing a million views on YouTube, and while some might argue there's something extra-musical going on there, it's hard to deny its got some catchy qualities. It probably fairs better in a DJ set of Mustard records than on its own. It's also a funny song because much as the beat—producer unknown!—is fake Mustard, her bars feel like fake Tyga. Its amateurish vibe is either destroying hip-hop from the inside, or kinda charming, depending on your point of view.

Yo Gotti f/ Jeezy & YG “Act Right”

Not Available Interstitial

Producer: P-Lo

“Act Right” is, first of all, a ferocious record. It's also produced by P-Lo, an underrated and incredibly talented producer who is a member of HBK Gang, comes from the Bay Area, and has been rocking with what is now called DJ Mustard's style since before it had that name. Nonetheless, this record gets thrown on this list because the lineup on the record—YG and Jeezy—is awfully reminiscent of the record that opened the door for its existence, “My Nigga.” With a Mac Dre shirt and a video shot in the Bay, though, Yo Gotti represents for the sound's nascent beginnings. More producers trying to fork over cash for a Mustard beat should hit P-Lo—not only is he a talented beatmaker, but his rates are probably a little lower, at least for the time being.

Chris Brown f/ Lil Wayne & Tyga “Loyal”

Not Available Interstitial

Producer: Nic Nac

Nic Nac is an established and successful California producer; he's worked with Bobby Brackins, Sean Kingston, Bay Area stars like Lil Rue, and even produced “I Hit It First” for Ray J. Listening closely, “Loyal” doesn't sound all that much like Mustard, although the tempo is right. Part of it is that frequent Mustard collaborator Ty Dolla $ign wrote the song, which draws attention to the parallels. But enough people have remarked on the similarities for its inclusion here.

A good reminder that Mustard didn't create the West Coast sound—just popularized it more successfully than anyone—anyone except Nic Nac, arguably, whose “Loyal” beat has charted higher on the Billboard Hot 100 than any song by DJ Mustard.

Latest in Music