Key Wane
{{short description|American songwriter}}
{{BLP sources|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Key Wane
| image =
| caption = Key Wane at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards
| birth_name = Dwane Marshall Weir II
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1990|7|12}}
| birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, United States
| genre = {{flatlist|
| years_active = 2007-present
}}
| label = Finally Famous, For The Win
| occupation = Pianist, songwriter, record producer
| associated_acts = {{flatlist|
}}
}}
Dwane Marshall Weir II (born July 12, 1990) is an American hip hop/R&B producer and songwriter, professionally known as Key Wane. Wane has produced for artists such as Big Sean, Jazmine Sullivan, Beyoncé, Drake, Jhene Aiko, Wale, Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, Juicy J, Ariana Grande, Logic, Ty Dolla Sign and Meek Mill among others.{{Cite web |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/08/key-wane-talks-big-seans-hall-of-fame-making-beware-and-remixing-songs-in-class/ |title=Key Wane Goes from Remixing Songs in Class to Working on Big Sean's 'Hall of Fame' - XXL |access-date=2013-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825074953/http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/08/key-wane-talks-big-seans-hall-of-fame-making-beware-and-remixing-songs-in-class/ |archive-date=2013-08-25 |url-status=dead }} He is best known for producing Drake's "All Me", Beyoncé's "Partition", Jazmine Sullivan's "Let It Burn" & "Insecure", Meek Mill's "Amen", Big Sean's "Guap", "Beware", "IDFWU" and an extensive amount of his albums including Hall of Fame, Dark Sky Paradise, and Twenty 88.
Early life
At the age 11, Wane began playing the piano in the church every first Sunday, initially teaching himself melodies before his mom heard him and got involved in his learning. He told XXL, “She ordered me this Casio keyboard out of a JCPenney catalog. It got mailed to the house, and I just started making beats on it. Then I started taking piano lessons, and the stuff I learned from my piano lessons, I would combine that with beats, and it really was just something that I loved to do, man. I really didn’t go out a lot cause I was always coming up with stuff." In December 2012, Key Wane graduated from Tennessee State University with a degree in Musical Arts and Sciences.
Musical career
In 2002, Wane started making beats in his mother's basement. Wane met rapper Big Sean in the 8th grade through his older brother who told Wane to play beats for Sean. Big Sean was friends with Wane's older brother and cousin at their high school, Cass Technical High School in Detroit. Around the same time Wane started taking record production seriously, and begun sending him beats periodically. During mid-2010 before his junior year of college, Wane first became known after producing "Memories" by Big Sean, from his third mixtape Finally Famous Vol. 3: BIG.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/11/key-wane-tells-the-stories-behind-his-biggest-hits/big-sean-memories |title=Big Sean "Memories" (2010) — Key Wane Tells All: The Stories Behind His Biggest Hits|website=Complex.com|access-date=January 16, 2020}} In 2011, Wane produced and co-wrote Tyga's "Drink the Night Away" featuring The Game and Mario, "Don't Wake Me Up" and "Hypnotized", all of which featured on his mixtape Black Thoughts Vol. 2.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/11/key-wane-tells-the-stories-behind-his-biggest-hits/tyga-f-the-game-and-mario-drink-the-night-away|title=The Game and Mario "Drink The Night Away" (2011) — Key Wane Tells All: The Stories Behind His Biggest Hits |website=Complex.com|access-date=January 16, 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/11/key-wane-tells-the-stories-behind-his-biggest-hits/tyga-hypnotized|date=2011|title= Key Wane Tells All: The Stories Behind His Biggest Hits |website=Complex.com|access-date=January 16, 2020}} In November 2011, Warner/Chappell and Big Sean signed Wane to a co-publishing deal.
In early 2010, Wane produced "Amen" for Meek Mill after running into him while in New York. Meek Mill picked it up and released it as the lead single from his debut album Dreams and Nightmares. Many Christian hip hop artists and religious leaders commented negatively on the song.{{cite web|url=http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/07/18/meek-mill-apologizes-pastor-stops-amen-boycott/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720214601/http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/07/18/meek-mill-apologizes-pastor-stops-amen-boycott |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 20, 2012 |title=Hip-Hop News |website=Rapfix.mtv.com|access-date=January 16, 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/07/listen-meek-mill-debates-with-philadelphia-pastor-who-rallied-for-amen-boycott|title= Listen: Meek Mill Debates With Philadelphia Pastor Who Rallied For "Amen" Boycott |website=Complex.com|access-date=January 16, 2020}} However the song peaked at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite web|url=http://acharts.us/song/71652|title=Amen by Meek Mill and Drake - Music Charts|website=Acharts.us|access-date=January 16, 2020}} After his significant contributions over the years, XXL named Wane one of hip-hops most must-watch producers.{{Cite web |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2012/10/key-wane-talks-producing-big-seans-guap-detroits-reception-and-hall-of-fame/ |title=KeY Wane Talks Producing Big Sean's "Guap," Detroit's Reception and Hall of Fame - XXL |access-date=2013-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104092153/http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2012/10/key-wane-talks-producing-big-seans-guap-detroits-reception-and-hall-of-fame/ |archive-date=2013-11-04 |url-status=dead }} Wane was also included in XXL's Freshman Producer Class of 2013.{{Cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/2013/05/istandard-producers-weigh-in-on-xxls-2013-freshman-producers-list/10/|title=iStandard Producers Weigh In On XXL's 2013 Freshman Producers List - XXL|website=XXL Mag|date=May 2013 |access-date=2016-08-01}}
In December 2012, Wane confirmed working with Drake, Jhene Aiko, Big Sean and Beyoncé on their upcoming albums. On August 1, 2013 Drake released a song titled "All Me" produced and co-written by Wane, featuring 2 Chainz and Big Sean, from his upcoming third studio album Nothing Was the Same.{{cite web|url=http://news.revolt.tv/producer-key-wane-speaks-on-making-drakes-all-me/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806102841/http://news.revolt.tv/producer-key-wane-speaks-on-making-drakes-all-me/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 6, 2013 |title=Producer Key Wane Speaks On Making Drake's "All Me"|access-date=January 16, 2020}} He had originally produced the instrumental for himself, but after the record had sat for a couple months, Wane sent the instrumental to Drake, who immediately picked up the beat.{{cite web|url=http://www.vibe.com/article/interview-key-wane-explains-how-all-me-landed-drakes-hands |title=Interview: Key Wane Explains How 'All Me' Landed In Drake's Hands|website=Vibe.com|date=5 August 2013 |access-date=January 16, 2020}} Along with No ID, Wane produced the majority of Big Sean's second studio album Hall of Fame (2013), including the highest-charting singles of the album, "Guap" and "Beware" featuring Jhene Aiko and Lil Wayne. He contributed production to six songs in total.{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/big-sean-on-kanye-threesomes-and-his-classic-new-lp-20130809 |title=Big Sean on Kanye West, Threesomes, and His 'Classic' New LP 'Hall of Fame'|date=9 August 2013|publisher=Rolling Stone|access-date=January 16, 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://theboombox.com/big-sean-key-wayne/ |title=Big Sean Says New Single Will Be Produced by Key Wane, Touts Him 'Greatest Producer'|website=Theboombox.com|date=16 May 2012 |access-date=January 16, 2020}} Key Wane co-produced Big Sean's "IDFWU" as well. In December 2014, Wane was nominated for his first Grammy for his production contribution on the Grammy nominated "Beyonce" for Album of the Year.{{Cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/files/pages/57thpresslist12042014-with_aoy.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024170935/https://www.grammy.com/files/pages/57thpresslist12042014-with_aoy.pdf |archive-date=2016-10-24 |url-status=dead }} In December 2015, Wane was nominated the following year at the Grammy's for his production on Jazmine Sullivan's "Let It Burn" for Best R&B Song of the Year.{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees |title=Grammys |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207032519/http://www.grammy.com/nominees |archive-date=2014-12-07 }}
Production style
Key Wane's production has been described as "soulful instrumental music".{{Cite web |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/2013/05/istandard-producers-weigh-in-on-xxls-2013-freshman-producers-list/10/ |title=IStandard Producers Weigh in on XXL's 2013 Freshman Producers List - Page 10 of 16 - XXL |access-date=2013-11-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325224243/http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/2013/05/istandard-producers-weigh-in-on-xxls-2013-freshman-producers-list/10/ |archive-date=2014-03-25 |url-status=dead }} His production is based around a melodic piano driven sound and a kickdrum.{{Cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2012/05/production-credit-key-wane-talks-amen-signing-production-deal-with-big-sean/|title=Production Credit: KeY Wane Talks "Amen," Signing Publishing Deal with Big Sean and Upcoming Work - XXL|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202111147/http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2012/05/production-credit-key-wane-talks-amen-signing-production-deal-with-big-sean/|archive-date=2014-02-02|access-date=2013-08-16}}
Awards and nominations
= Grammy nominations =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Nominee/Work !Award !Result |
| 2015
|"BEYONCÉ" |Album Of The Year |Nominated |
| 2016
|"Let It Burn" (Prod. Key Wane) |Best R&B Song Of The Year |Nominated |
= BET Hip Hop Awards =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Nominee/Work !Award !Result |
| rowspan="2" |2015
| rowspan="2" |"IDFWU" (Prod. DJ Mustard, Key Wane, Kanye West & DJ Dahi) |Best Club Banger |Won |
| Best Track Of The Year
|Nominated |
{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/6729419/BET-hip-hop-awards-2015-winners |title=BET Hip Hop Awards Winners 2015 List: Kendrick Lamar & Big Sean Win Big |publisher=Billboard|access-date=January 16, 2020}}
= Certifications =
| class="wikitable"
!Title !Year !Certifications !Album |
| "Amen"
(Prod. Key Wane) | rowspan="2" |2012 | |
| "Guap"
(Big Sean) (Prod. Key Wane Co-Prod. Young Chop) |
| rowspan="2" |Hall of Fame |
| "Beware" (Big Sean featuring Lil Wayne & Jhene Aiko) (Prod. Key Wane Co-Prod. Mike Dean) | rowspan="2" |2013 |
|
| "All Me" (Drake featuring Big Sean & 2 Chainz) (Prod. Key Wane) | |
| "Partition" (Beyoncé) (Prod. Beyoncé Knowles, Boots, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon, Key Wane & Mike Dean) | rowspan="2" |2014 | |
| "IDFWU"
(Prod. DJ Mustard, Key Wane, Kanye West & DJ Dahi) | | rowspan="3" |Dark Sky Paradise |
| "I Know"
(Big Sean featuring Jhené Aiko) (Prod. DJ Mustard & Key Wane) |2015 |
|
| "Play No Games"
(Big Sean featuring Chris Brown & Ty Dolla Sign) (Prod. Key Wane & Jay John Henry) |2016 |
|
| "Jump Out The Window"
(Big Sean) (Prod. Key Wane & Camper) |2017 |
|
| "Insecure"
(Jazmine Sullivan & Bryson Tiller ) (Prod. Key Wane) |2017 | |
Discography
{{Empty section|date=March 2021}}
Production discography
= Singles produced =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:30em;" | Title ! scope="col" colspan="4" | Chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US R&B/HH ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US Rap ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | UK R&B |
|---|
| rowspan="2" |2012
|"Amen" (Prod. Key Wane) |57 |5 |4 |— |
| "Guap"
(Big Sean) (Prod. Key Wane Co-Prod. Young Chop) |71 |21 |17 |— |
| rowspan="2" |2013
|"All Me" (Prod. Key Wane) |20 |6 |4 |33 |
| "Beware" (Big Sean featuring Lil Wayne & Jhene Aiko) (Prod. Key Wane Co-Prod. Mike Dean) |38 |10 |7 |_ |
| rowspan="2" |2014
(Prod. Beyoncé Knowles, Boots, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon, Key Wane & Mike Dean) |23 |9 |— |15 |
| "IDFWU"
(Prod. DJ Mustard, Key Wane, Kanye West & DJ Dahi) |11 |1 |— |67 |
| rowspan="2" |2015
|"Let It Burn" (Prod. Key Wane) |— |22 |— |— |
| "Play No Games"
(Big Sean featuring Chris Brown & Ty Dolla Sign) (Prod. Key Wane & Jay John Henry) |84 |28 |— |— |
| rowspan="2" |2016
|"On The Way" (Twenty88) (Prod. Key Wane) |— |— |— |— |
| "Déjà Vu"
(Twenty88) (Prod. Key Wane & Cam O'bi) |— |21 |— |— |
| rowspan="2" |2017
(Big Sean) (Prod. Key Wane & Camper) |76 | | | |
| "Insecure"
(Jazmine Sullivan & Bryson Tiller) (Prod. Key Wane) | |19 | | |HBO: Insecure Soundtrack |
= Key Wane's production =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Artist !Song !Project |
| 2009
|Big Sean |"4 My People" |XXL's 10 Freshman For '10 Mixtape |
| rowspan="3" |2010
| rowspan="3" |Big Sean |My Closet | rowspan="3" |Finally Famous Vol. 3: BIG |
| "Almost Wrote You a Love Song" (co. produced by No ID){{Cite web |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/11/key-wane-tells-the-stories-behind-his-biggest-hits/ |title=Key Wane Tells the Stories Behind His Biggest Hits | Complex |website=Complex Networks |access-date=2013-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022173015/http://www.complex.com/music/2012/11/key-wane-tells-the-stories-behind-his-biggest-hits/ |archive-date=2013-10-22 |url-status=dead }} |
| Memories |
| rowspan="6" |2011
| rowspan="3" |Tyga |Don't Wake Me Up | rowspan="3" |Black Thoughts Vol. 2 |
| Hypnotized |
| Drink The Night Away |
| Mickey Factz
|N/A |
| Big Sean
|Intro |Finally Famous |
| Chevy Woods
|Down |The Cookout |
| rowspan="16" |2012
|Tyga |"Potty Mouth" (featuring Busta Rhymes; addition production by Jess Jackson) |
| Rockie Fresh
|Driving 88 |
| King Chip
|Tell Ya Friends |
| Meek Mill
|"Amen" (featuring Drake; co-produced by Jahlil Beats) |
| Chevy Woods
|"Ace N Mitch" |Gang Land |
| Roscoe Dash
|"MoWet" (featuring French Montana) |2.0 |
| rowspan="6" |Big Sean
|"Higher" | rowspan="6" |Detroit |
| "24 Karats of Gold" (featuring J. Cole) |
| "Woke Up" (co-produced by BP & Young Chop) |
| "I'm Gonna Be" (featuring Jhené Aiko) |
| "RWT" (co-produced by Southside) |
| "Guap" (co-produced by Young Chop; additional production by DJ Camper & Rob Kinelski) |
| Alley Boy
|"I'm That" |War Cry |
| Lil Wayne
|"Awkward" (co-produced by Jahlil Beats){{cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/lil-wayne-awkward-prod-by-jahlil-beats-and-key-wane-new-song.1099364.html |title=Lil Wayne - Awkward (Prod. By Jahlil Beats & Key Wane)|website=Hotnewhiphop.com|date=December 2012|access-date=January 16, 2020}} |The Appreciation Vol. 5: Holiday Edition |
| Wale
|"Money Changes" |
| Young Jeezy
|"Knob Broke" (co-produced by Jahlil Beats) |
| rowspan="12" |2013
|"Life Is Good" |
| rowspan="6" |Big Sean
|"Higher" | rowspan="6" |Hall of Fame |
| "10 2 10" (add. production) |
| "Beware" (featuring Jhené Aiko & Lil Wayne) {{small|(co-produced with Mike Dean)}} |
| "It's Time" (featuring Young Jeezy & Payroll) |
| "World Ablaze" (co. produced with No ID) |
| "Guap" (co-produced by Young Chop; additional production by DJ Camper & Rob Kinelski) |
| Drake
|"All Me" (featuring 2 Chainz & Big Sean) {{small|(additional production by Noah "40" Shebib)}} |
| Meek Mill
|"Dope Dealer" (featuring Nicki Minaj & Rick Ross) |
| rowspan="2" |Beyoncé Knowles
|"Yoncé" / "Partition" (co-produced by Timbaland, Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon, Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé Knowles) | rowspan="2" |Beyoncé |
| "Mine" (co-produced &written by Noah "40" Shebib, Drake, Beyoncé, Majid Jordan, Sidney "Omen" Brown and Key Wane) |
| Diggy Simmons
|"Mama Said" {{small|(featuring B.o.B and Key Wane)}} |TBA |
| rowspan="6" |2014
| rowspan="2" |Big Sean |"1st Quarter Freestyle" {{small|(co-produced by Travi$ Scott)}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7sB6J7azKM |title=Big Sean - 1st Quarter Freestyle |date=29 January 2014 |publisher=YouTube|access-date=January 16, 2020}} | rowspan="2" |non-album singles |
| "4th Quarter"{{Cite web |url=https://soundcloud.com/bigsean-1/4th-quarter-prod-key-wane |title=4th Quarter (Prod. Key Wane) by Big Sean - Hear the world's sounds |access-date=2014-09-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923153138/https://soundcloud.com/bigsean-1/4th-quarter-prod-key-wane |archive-date=2014-09-23 |url-status=dead }} |
| Ariana Grande
|"Best Mistake" (featuring Big Sean) |
| rowspan="3" |Jhené Aiko
|"My Afternoon Dream" | rowspan="3" |Souled Out |
| "Eternal Sunshine" |
| "Mirrors" |
| rowspan="13" |2015
| rowspan="5" |Jazmine Sullivan |"Dumb" (featuring Meek Mill) {{small|(co-produced with Salaam Remi)}} | rowspan="5" |Reality Show |
| "Mascara" |
| "Silver Lining" |
| "Let It Burn" |
| "Veins" |
| rowspan="5" |Big Sean
|"I Don't Fuck with You" (featuring E-40) {{small|(add. production)}} | rowspan="5" |Dark Sky Paradise |
| "Play No Games" (featuring Chris Brown and Ty Dolla $ign) {{small|(co-produced with Jay Henry)}} |
| "I Know" (featuring Jhené Aiko) {{small|(co-produced with DJ Mustard)}} |
| "Deep" (featuring Lil Wayne) {{small|(co-produced with DJ Mustard)}} |
| "Platinum & Wood" |
| rowspan="2" |Jordin Sparks
|"Work From Home" (featuring B.o.B) | rowspan="2" |Right Here, Right Now |
| "100 Years" |
| Ne-Yo
|"Run" |
| rowspan="6" |2016
| rowspan="3" |Twenty88 |"Déjà Vu" | rowspan="3" |Twenty88 |
| "On The Way" |
| "London Bridge" |
| French Montana
|"Holy Moly" |
| Dreezy
|"Bad Bitch" |
| DJ Khaled
|"Tourist" (featuring Travis Scott & Lil Wayne) |
| rowspan="4" |2017
|"Sing To Me" (featuring Namiko Love) |Trip |
| Gucci Mane
|"Changed" (featuring Big Sean) |
| Jazmine Sullivan
|"Insecure" (featuring Bryson Tiller) |HBO: Insecure Soundtrack |
| Big Sean |
| rowspan="2" |2018
| rowspan="2" |Royce Da 5'9 |"Woke" | rowspan="2" |Book Of Ryan |
| "1st Of The Month" (featuring T-Pain & Chavis Chandler) |
| rowspan="2"| 2020
| rowspan="2"| Jazmine Sullivan | "Bodies (Intro)" | rowspan="2"|Heaux Tales |
| "Put It Down" |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wane, Key}}
Category:African-American pianists
Category:African-American record producers
Category:American hip-hop record producers
Category:Midwest hip-hop musicians
Category:Musicians from Detroit
Category:Songwriters from Michigan
Category:University of Tennessee alumni
Category:American male pianists
Category:21st-century American pianists
Category:21st-century American male musicians
Category:African-American songwriters