40 (record producer)

40
40 in 2019
Background information
Birth name	Noah James Shebib
Born	(1983-03-31) March 31, 1983 (age 41) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Hip hop R&B downtempo
Occupations	Record producer songwriter record executive actor
Years active	1996–present
Labels	OVO Sound Warner Bros.
Parents	Donald Shebib (father) Tedde Moore (mother)

Noah James Shebib (born March 31, 1983), better known as 40, is a Canadian record producer, songwriter, record executive, and former child actor from Toronto, Ontario. He is best known for his production work for fellow Toronto native Drake, with extensive involvement on the entirety of Drake's discography since 2008. Shebib's production style, often described as downtempo and ambient, has become synonymous with Drake's sound. His other production credits include Lil Wayne, Alicia Keys, Beyoncé, Action Bronson, and Jamie Foxx.

Shebib and Drake are two of the three co-founders of the OVO Sound label, which was launched as an imprint of Warner Records in 2012. Shebib has won two Grammy Awards from 18 nominations.

Early life

Noah James Shebib is the son of Lebanese Canadian^[1] film director Donald Shebib and actress Tedde Moore, who is known for appearing in the 1983 film A Christmas Story; she was pregnant with him during the production of that film.^[2] On his mother's side, he is the grandson of actor and educator Mavor Moore, the great-grandson of Canadian theatre figure Dora Mavor Moore, and the great-great-grandson of Scottish-born economist James Mavor.^[3] His father is of partial Irish descent.^[4] He has three older sisters, Zoe, Suzanna, and Chaunce.^[5] As a child he attended school at Royal St. George's College and Humberside Collegiate Institute.

Acting career

Shebib began as a child actor, playing roles in television shows and films. His first role was in the 1996 "Go Eat Worms" episode of the Goosebumps television series. He also played a consistent role on the Gemini Award-winning television series, Wind at My Back. His best-known role came in his teen years, when he was featured as one of the lead males in the critically acclaimed The Virgin Suicides. He also had smaller roles in The Last Don and Perfect Pie; the latter was his last movie before he retired from acting.^[6][7]

Music career

Early in Noah's career, before he started crafting beats, he DJ'd under the name DJ Chilly and performed alongside MC Elite (Everett MacLean). Shebib eventually made the shift from DJ to music producer, working with local Toronto artists like Empire, Knamelis, Stolenowners, and Christopher Morales, and Saukrates. He earned the nickname "40 Days & 40 Nights" (which was later reduced to "40") early on in his career, as he would work in the studio throughout the night, with no sleep.^[8]

He began working with then Degrassi star Aubrey Graham (Drake) in 2005. He was shown producing with Drake on Degrassi Unscripted. When Shebib first started working with Drake, he was originally just a recording and mixing engineer, providing no songwriting or production input at all.^[9] However, after the third day of work, Shebib decided to build an exclusive relationship with Drake, proclaiming that they were "going to take over the world together."^[8]

Shebib's big break came in 2009, when he executive produced Drake's mixtape So Far Gone with Toronto-based producer, Boi-1da. He recorded and mixed every song off the mixtape, and also produced a few notable tracks such as "The Calm", "Houstatlantavegas", "Bria's Interlude" and "Successful", all of which ended up defining Drake's sound going forward.^[10] He also worked on Drake's debut album Thank Me Later, and second album Take Care.^[11] On the latter, Shebib co produced almost every song, alongside his usual duties of recording and mixing the entire album.^[12] Shebib also produced the song "I'm Single" from Lil Wayne's "No Ceilings" mixtape, "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" for Alicia Keys and "Demonstrate" for JoJo.

Shebib, along with Drake and Oliver El-Khatib, founded the OVO record label in 2012. Music produced under the imprint is uploaded to the label's blog site for streaming, before the album is officially released.^[13] One example is the single "Marvins Room", which was first posted to the blog site five days after its conception, before it was even slated to be a single off the album.^[9] Recently Shebib has helped produce Drake's newer material, co producing the lead single "Started from the Bottom", among other records.^[14]

Shebib also worked on Drake's third album, Nothing Was the Same,^[15][16] his fourth studio album Views, and Scorpion.

Production style

Shebib has been instrumental in creating Drake's music, and together their "atmospheric, brooding sound has shaped the landscape of hip hop moving forward."^[9] Shebib's production is described as "sparse, ambient, slow-jam-like tracks dominated by brooding synths, minimalist piano or guitar parts, stripped-down, often muffled drums, and cinematic atmospheric treatments."^[9] An example is the song "Marvins Room", where Shebib mixed the record so that it is "very dark and quiet and muddy and with the vocals cutting through like a razor" and is notorious for being heavy on the low end.^[9]

Personal life

In 2005, at the age of 22, Shebib was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.^[8][2] His personal story is prominently featured on the National Multiple Sclerosis Society website, where he outlines his experiences with the disease, hoping that by creating awareness and "improving connections and knowledge about MS, we can end the disease". His mother was also diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. During the last weeks of his father's life, he and Zella Wolofsky were his dad's primary caregivers. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws (LLD) from York University on October 12, 2022.

Discography

Main article: Noah "40" Shebib production discography

Singles produced

List of singles as either producer, co-producer, songwriter or mixing engineer, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released, performing artists and album name

Title	Year	Peak chart positions										Certifications	Album
		US	US R&B	US Rap	AUS	CAN	GER	IRL	NZ	SWI	UK
"Successful" (Drake featuring Trey Songz)	2009	17	3	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	RIAA: Platinum	So Far Gone and Ready
"I'm Single" (Lil Wayne)	2010	82	38	23	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		I Am Not a Human Being
"Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" (Alicia Keys)		21	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	RIAA: 2× Platinum	The Element of Freedom
"Miss Me" (Drake featuring Lil Wayne)		15	3	2	—	73	—	—	—	—	—	RIAA: Platinum	Thank Me Later
"Fancy" (Drake featuring T.I. & Swizz Beatz)		25	4	1	—	54	—	—	—	—	—	RIAA: Platinum
"Fall for Your Type" (Jamie Foxx featuring Drake)		50	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Over" (Drake)		14	2	1	—	17	—	—	—	—	—	RIAA: 3× Platinum[17]	Best Night of My Life
"I'm on One" (DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne)	2011	10	1	1	—	67	—	—	—	—	78	RIAA: Gold	We the Best Forever
"Headlines" (Drake)		13	1	1	—	18	—	—	—	—	57	BPI: Gold MC: Platinum RIAA: 4× Platinum	Take Care
"Still Got It" (Tyga featuring Drake)		89	70	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Careless World: Rise of the Last King
"Take Care" (Drake featuring Rihanna)	2012	7	26	2	9	15	—	18	7	50	9	ARIA: 3× Platinum BPI: 2× Platinum MC: 2× Platinum RIANZ: Platinum RIAA: 5× Platinum	Take Care
"Enough Said" (Aaliyah featuring Drake)		—	55	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		—
"Demonstrate" (JoJo)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Fuckin' Problems (Explicit) " (ASAP Rocky featuring Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar)		8	2	2	78	65	86	—	—	65	50	ARIA: 3× Platinum BVMI: Gold BPI: Platinum RIAA: 6× Platinum	LONG.LIVE.A$AP
"No Lie " (2 Chainz featuring Drake)		24	1	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	RIAA:3× Platinum	Based on a T.R.U. Story
"Started from the Bottom" (Drake)	2013	6	2	2	93	36	—	—	—	—	25	ARIA: Gold BPI: Gold MC: Platinum RIAA: 6× Platinum	Nothing Was the Same
"No New Friends" (DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Rick Ross, & Lil Wayne)		37	9	8	—	—	—	—	—	—	106	RIAA: Gold	Suffering from Success
"Hold On, We're Going Home" (Drake featuring Majid Jordan)		4	1	—	8	6	52	18	9	55	4	ARIA: 2× Platinum BPI: 2× Platinum MC: Platinum RIAA: 6× Platinum RMNZ: Gold	Nothing Was the Same
"All Me" (Drake featuring 2 Chainz & Big Sean)		20	6	4	—	90	—	—	—	—	86	RIAA: 2× Platinum
"Trophies" (Young Money featuring Drake)	2014	50	13	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Young Money: Rise of an Empire
"Actin Crazy" (Action Bronson)	2015	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Mr. Wonderful
"My Love" (Majid Jordan featuring Drake)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Majid Jordan
"Summer Sixteen" (Drake)	2016	6	1	1	25	12	97	71	46	63	23	BPI: Silver RIAA: Platinum	—
"Come and See Me" (PartyNextDoor featuring Drake)		55	21	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	BPI: Silver RIAA: 3× Platinum	P3
"One Dance" (Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla		1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	ARIA: 6× Platinum BPI: 5× Platinum IFPI: 3× Platinum MC: Diamond RIAA: 8× Platinum RMNZ: 2× Platinum	Views
"Work" (Rihanna featuring Drake)		1	1	—	5	1	—	5	2	9	2	ARIA: 2× Platinum[18] BPI: 2× Platinum[19] BVMI: Platinum[20] MC: Gold[21] RIAA: 8× Platinum[22] RMNZ: Platinum[23] SNEP: Diamond[24]	Anti
"Glow" (Drake feat. Kanye West)	2017	54	30	—	—	37	—	65	9	—	55		More Life
"Signs"		36	14	—	32	12	—	59	27	36	26	MC: 2× Platinum[21] ARIA: Gold[25] BPI: Gold[19] RIAA: Platinum[17] SNEP: Gold[24]	Non-album single
"Nice for What" (Drake)	2018	1	1	1	1	1	9	2	1	7	1	ARIA: 3× Platinum BPI: 2× Platinum IFPI: Gold MC: 4× Platinum RIAA: 5× Platinum RMNZ: Platinum	Scorpion
"God's Plan"		1	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	1	1	MC: 8× Platinum[21] ARIA: 5× Platinum[26] BPI: 3× Platinum[19] BVMI: Gold[20] RIAA: 11× Platinum[17] RMNZ: 2× Platinum[27] SNEP: Diamond[24]
"Don't Matter to Me" (with Michael Jackson)		9	8	—	3	4	—	3	6	5	3	MC: Gold[21] ARIA: Gold[28] BPI: Gold[19]
"In My Feelings"		1	1	1	2	1	—	2	1	2	1	MC: 5× Platinum[21] ARIA: 3× Platinum[28] BPI: Platinum[19] RIAA: 5× Platinum[17] RMNZ: Platinum[29] SNEP: Platinum[24]
"No Guidance" (Chris Brown featuring Drake)		5	2	—	7	7	—	19	17	29	6	MC: 3× Platinum[21] ARIA: 3× Platinum[30] BPI: Platinum[19] RIAA: 8× Platinum[31] RMNZ: Platinum[32]	Indigo
"Money in the Grave" (featuring Rick Ross)	2019	7	3	2	7	5	—	113	18	7	32	ARIA: Gold[33] BPI: Silver[19] RMNZ: Gold[34] SNEP: Gold[24]	The Best in the World Pack
"Toosie Slide"	2020	1	1	1	3	2	—	1	1	2	1	MC: 4× Platinum[21] ARIA: Platinum[35] BPI: Platinum[19] RMNZ: Platinum[36] SNEP: Gold[24]	Dark Lane Demo Tapes
"Laugh Now Cry Later" (featuring Lil Durk)		2	2	1	1	3	—	5	3	4	3	MC: 4× Platinum[21] BPI: Gold[19] RMNZ: Gold[37]	Certified Lover Boy
"What's Next"	2021	1	1	1	7	1	36	7	12	14	4	MC: Platinum[38] RIAA: Platinum[39]	Scary Hours 2
"Wants and Needs" (featuring Lil Baby)		2	2	2	15	2	58	8	20	24	10	RIAA: Gold[40]
"Lemon Pepper Freestyle" (featuring Rick Ross)		3	3	3	26	3	—	11	-	-	6
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2011	Thank Me Later	Best Rap Album	Nominated
2012	Loud	Album of the Year	Nominated
2013	Take Care	Best Rap Album	Won
	"The Motto"	Best Rap Song	Nominated
2014	"Started from the Bottom"		Nominated
	"Fuckin' Problems (Explicit)"		Nominated
	Nothing Was the Same	Best Rap Album	Nominated
2015	"0 to 100 / The Catch Up"	Best Rap Song	Nominated
	Beyoncé	Album of the Year	Nominated
2016	If You're Reading This It's Too Late	Best Rap Album	Nominated
2017	Views	Album of the Year	Nominated
	"Work" (with Rihanna)	Record of the Year	Nominated
	"Come and See Me"	Best R&B Song	Nominated
2019	Scorpion	Album of the Year	Nominated
	"God's Plan"	Record of the Year	Nominated
		Song of the Year	Nominated
		Best Rap Song	Won
2020	"No Guidance" (with Chris Brown)	Best R&B Song	Nominated

References

1. "Noah '40' Shebib: Recording Drake's 'Headlines'". Soundonsound.com. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
2. Noah "40" Shebib: The rap on MS Archived May 28, 2017, at the Wayback Machine "National MS Society". Accessed on August 14, 2013.
3. August 10, CBC Radio ·. "OVO producer Noah '40' Shebib and his sister Suzanna empower youth through hip hop - CBC Radio". Cbc.ca. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
4. "Interview: Noah "40" Shebib Talks Drake, "Take Care," and The History of Toronto Hip-Hop". Complex.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
5. Scott, Cece M. (November 8, 2018). "Tedde Morre strongly rooted In Canadian theatre". Active Life. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
6. Noah's acting career "IMDB". Accessed on April 7, 2010.
7. The Acting Career of Drake's Producer Noah "40" Shebib "Complex". Accessed on August 14, 2013
8. Tinker, Ben (April 17, 2012). "The beat goes on for music producer diagnosed with multiple sclerosis". Thechart.blogs.cnn.com. Archived from the original on August 23, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
9. Noah '40' Shebib: Recording Drake's 'Headlines' "Sound On Sound". Accessed on August 14, 2013.
10. Noah "40" Shebib interview on Take Care by Drake. "GQ". Accessed on August 14, 2013.
11. Noah Shebib Credits. "AllMusic". August 14, 2013.
12. Drake - Take Care Album Credits "Hip Hop n More". Accessed on August 14, 2013.
13. OVO Blog "October's Very Own". Accessed on August 14, 2013.
14. TBTENTGROUP (February 7, 2013). "Noah "40" Shebib talks "Started from the Bottom" and Drake's new album with Hollywood Reporter". Hip-hopvibe.com. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
15. The Drake Dream Team. "The Hollywood Reporter". Accessed on August 14, 2013.
16. Drake's New Album. "The Huffington Post". Accessed on August 14, 2013.
17. "American certifications – Drake". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
18. Ryan, Gavin (June 18, 2016). "ARIA Singles: Drake Returns to No 1". Noise11. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
19. "BRIT Certified - Drake" (Enter "Drake" into the "Keywords" box, then select "Search".). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
20. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank". Retrieved July 5, 2018.
21. "Canadian certifications – Drake". Music Canada. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
22. "American single certifications – Rihanna – Work". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
23. "New Zealand single certifications – Rihanna feat. Drake – Work". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
24. "Gold & Platinum". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
25. "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2017 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
26. "ARIA Chart Watch #499". auspOp. November 17, 2018. Archived from the original on November 17, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
27. "New Zealand single certifications – Drake – God's Plan". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
28. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. September 17, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
29. "New Zealand single certifications – Drake – In My Feelings". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
30. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. October 14, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
31. "American single certifications – Chris Brown – No Guidance". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
32. "New Zealand single certifications – Chris Brown feat. Drake – No Guidance". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
33. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
34. "New Zealand single certifications – Drake feat. Rick Ross – Money in the Grave". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
35. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
36. "New Zealand single certifications – Drake – Toosie Slide". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
37. "New Zealand single certifications – Drake feat. Lil Duck – Laugh New Cry Later". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
38. "Gold/Platinum Music Canada". Music Canada. June 22, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
39. "DRAKE'S 'WHAT'S NEXT' JETS TO PLATINUM STATUS IN UNDER 2 MONTHS". Chart Data. June 22, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
40. "Drake and Lil Baby's "Wants & Needs" Is Eligible for Gold Certification in Less Than One Month". Chart Data. June 22, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.