Ozan Yildirim (; born 11 January 1992), professionally known as OZ, is a Swiss record producer and songwriter of Turkish descent. He has produced for many hip hop artists, including Drake, Future and Travis Scott, including on the number-one hits "Sicko Mode" (2018), "Highest in the Room" (2019) and "Life Is Good" (2020). He has received nominations for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Song for "Sicko Mode" and "Gold Roses".
Early life Yildirim grew up in Wattwil, Switzerland, as a son to Turkish parents. He developed an early passion for music, trying himself as a remixer and DJ under the stage name DJ Ladykiller. At 13 years old, he won an international DJ competition, beating out 63 competitors of all ages and winning a prize money of 300 Euros.
His family moved to the small and rural village of Gibswil in the Canton of Zürich, when Yildirim was 15 years old. According to him, there, he was the only foreigner in school and experienced a great deal of xenophobia, leading him to isolate himself and focus on his music.
After school, he completed an apprenticeship in retail and began working as a salesman for washing machines in the Swiss electronics store chain Fust.
Career He started producing beats in 2005, and later uploaded them on the internet. His career as a hip hop producer began in 2012, after being contacted by Austrian rapper Nazar and subsequently signing a deal with his label Wolfpack Entertainment. A collaboration began and OZ produced large parts of Nazar's albums Narkose (2012) and Fakker Lifestyle (2013).Nazar nimmt Produzenten O.Z unter Vertrag (in German) on 16bars.de, accessed on 13 November 2016
Starting in 2014, OZ began receiving placements on tracks by US rappers. He would contact rappers via social media and e-mail and send them selections of his beats. According to OZ, he contacted American record producer The Beat Bully on Twitter and paid him 250 Swiss francs for rapper Meek Mill's e-mail address. In a similar manner, he managed to find out rapper Travis Scott's email address online. Both times, a placement was the result: in the case of Meek Mill, OZ ended up producing the songs "Been That" (featuring Rick Ross) and "Cold Hearted" (featuring Puff Daddy) on the rapper's 2015 album Dreams Worth More Than Money and in the case of Travis Scott, he produced the song "Backyard" on his 2014 mixtape Days Before Rodeo.
At the same time, OZ became more known within German hip hop, producing top-tier artists such as Bushido or Ufo361 and befriending rapper Shindy. He has produced multiple songs on all of Shindy's albums since then and in 2020 recorded the track "Morning Sun" with Shindy, where OZ can also be heard singing.
In 2018, OZ produced his first number-one single by supplying the second part of the beat to the song "Sicko Mode" by Travis Scott.
In 2020, he produced both "Popstar" and "Greece" by DJ Khaled featuring Drake. Although uncredited, he also supplied the original lyrics and vocal melody to the latter song.
He also solely produced Drake's number-one hit "Toosie Slide".
His recording studio is located in Wald, Zürich.
Production discography
Charted songs +TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum US USR&B/HH AUS CAN IRE NZ UK "How Many Times"20156823—————I Changed a Lot "Random"9431—————When It's Dark Out "U With Me?"20164420—47——72Views "Offended"7029—100———DC4 "Saved"2017——92————American Teen "Dubai Shit"8335—63———Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho "Contra"20186028—71——84Bobby Tarantino II "Champion"8643—47———Reckless "Sicko Mode"11631179Astroworld "Love Scars 3"7337—————A Love Letter to You 3 "1400 / 999 Freestyle"5524—76——— "Freaky"2019———41——94Love Me Now? Reloaded "24/7"5425————66Championships "Omertà"351469844—33The Best in the World Pack "Gold Roses"3916913376—42Port of Miami 2 "Peta"7231—72———Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial "Highest in the Room"1131322JackBoys "Life Is Good"2020221135133High Off Life "Toosie Slide"1132111Dark Lane Demo Tapes "Time Flies"3017—22——— "Losses"5126—49——— "Greece"8635321—8Khaled Khaled "Popstar"33101141711 "Girls Want Girls"202122283112Certified Lover Boy "Love All"1091220———
Production credits
2013 Nazar - OZ Interlude
2014 Fabolous – "Ball Drop" (feat. French Montana) from The Young OG Project Travis Scott – "Backyard" from Days Before Rodeo The Game – "Really" (feat. Yo Gotti, 2 Chainz, Soulja Boy & T.I.) from Blood Moon: Year of the Wolf Summer Cem – "Nike Airs" from HAK
2015 DJ Khaled – "How Many Times" from I Changed a Lot Meek Mill – "Been That" (feat. Rick Ross), and "Cold Hearted" (feat. Puff Daddy) from Dreams Worth More Than Money G-Eazy – "Random" from When It's Dark Out Chinx – "Hey Fool" (feat. Nipsey Hussle & Zack) from Welcome to JFK Logic – "I Am the Greatest" from The Incredible True Story Jeremih – "Giv No Fuks" (feat. Migos) from Late Nights: The Album
2016
K.Michelle – "Ain't You" from More Issues Than Vogue
Drake – "U With Me?" from Views Ali Bumaye – "Best Friends" (feat. Bushido) and "Missgestalten" from Rumble in the Jungle
Meek Mill – "Offended" (feat. Young Thug & 21 Savage) and "Outro" (feat. Lil Snupe & French Montana) from DC4 Dreezy – "See What You On" from No Hard Feelings Travis Scott – "the ends" and "outside" from Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight Shindy – Dreams [full album] Gucci Mane – "Drove U Crazy" (feat. Bryson Tiller) from The Return of East Atlanta Santa 6lack – "Rules" from Free 6lack
2017 Khalid – "Saved," "Let's Go," and "Keep Me," from American Teen Travis Scott & Quavo / Huncho Jack – "Dubai Shit" (feat. Offset) from Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho Bushido – "Moonwalk" DRAM – "I Had a Dream," "Crumbs" (feat. Playboi Carti), and "Eyeyieyie," from Big Baby DRAM G-Eazy – "Shake It Up" (feat. 24hrs, MadeinTYO and E-40)
2018 Nav – "Champions" (feat. Travis Scott) from Reckless Logic – "Contra" and "Wizard of OZ" , from Bobby Tarantino 2 Trippie Redd - "UKA UKA," "BANG!," "Shake It Up," "Gore," and "Missing My Idols," from Life's a Trip 6lack – "Cutting Ties" Smokepurpp & Murda Beatz – "Big Dope" from Bless Yo Trap RIN (Rapper) – "Avirex," "Burberry/SuperParisLight," "Oldboy," "XTC," and "Outro" from Planet Megatron Lil Baby – "Bank" (feat. Moneybagg Yo) from Harder Than Ever Travis Scott – "Sicko Mode" from Astroworld Tory Lanez – "FeRRis WhEEL" (feat. Trippie Redd) from Love Me Now? Trippie Redd – "Can't Love," "Love Scars 3," "A.L.L.T.Y. 3" (feat. Baby Goth), "Emani Interlude" (feat. Emani22), "Wicked", "Loyalty Before Royalty," and "1400 / 999 Freestyle" (feat. Juice WRLD) from A Love Letter to You 3 Meek Mill – "24/7" (feat. Ella Mai) from Championships
2019 Shindy – "DODI" Zacari – "Midas Touch" Tory Lanez – "Freaky" Shindy – Drama Nav – "To My Grave" from Bad Habits Drake – "Omertà" from The Best in the World Pack Dreamville – "Got Me" (featuring Ari Lennox, Omen, Ty Dolla Sign and Dreezy) from Revenge of the Dreamers III Rick Ross – "Gold Roses" (featuring Drake) from Port of Miami 2 Trippie Redd — "Throw It Away", "Be Yourself", and "Lil Wayne", from ! Travis Scott – "Highest in the Room" Young M.A. – "Bipolar" Killumantii - "Kill Em" Tinashe - "Story of Us" from Songs for You
2020 Future - "Life Is Good" Drake - "Toosie Slide" Shindy - "What's Luv" and "Sony Pictures" UFO361 - "Bad Girls, Good Vibes" Drake - "Time Flies" from Dark Lane Demo Tapes Drake - "Losses" from Dark Lane Demo Tapes DJ Khaled - "Greece" (featuring Drake) DJ Khaled - "Popstar" (featuring Drake) Gunna - "Relentless" (featuring Lil Uzi Vert) from Wunna (Deluxe)
2021 Drake – "Girls Want Girls" (feat. Lil Baby) , "Love All" (feat. Jay-Z), "Fair Trade" (feat. Travis Scott) , and "No Friends in the Industry" from Certified Lover Boy Travis Scott – "Escape Plan" (single)
2022 Drake & 21 Savage – "Middle of the Ocean" and "3AM on Glenwood" from Her Loss Jack Harlow – from Come Home the Kids Miss You
2023 Drake – "Fear of Heights" and "First Person Shooter" (feat. J. Cole) from For All the Dogs Jack Harlow - "Lovin on Me" (Single)
2025 Drake – "National Treasures" and "What Did I Miss?" from Iceman Drake – "Which One" (feat. Central Cee) from Maid of Honour
References