Nicholas Craven

Nicholas Craven
Craven performing at S.O.B.’s, New York City, 2023
Background information
Birth name	Nicholas Craven
Born	Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
Origin	Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Genres	Hip-hop
Occupation	Record producer
Years active	2014-present
Labels	Nicholas Craven Productions

Nicholas Craven is a Canadian record producer from Montreal, Quebec. He has worked with artists such as Roc Marciano, Billy Woods, Your Old Droog, and Navy Blue. ^{[1] [2]} He is also known for his work with Griselda artists such as Boldy James, Benny The Butcher, as well as their former associates, Conway The Machine, and Mach-Hommy. ^[3]

Early life

Craven was born and raised in Gatineau, a Western Quebec city near Ottawa, Ontario, which provided exposure to hip-hop at a young age. At first, Craven was "making punk rock music and listening mainly to Jimi Hendrix." When he was 13, he learned how to produce and sample from his friend's older brother. ^[4] During his adolescence, Craven would attend local shows, collect vinyl records, and learn more about rappers such as MF DOOM and Raekwon, sparking his love in hip-hop and producing. ^{[2] [5]}

Musical style

With the inspiration of raw lyricism and soulful beats from artists such as J Dilla and A Tribe Called Quest, Craven adopted a melodious production style that rarely relied on drums. ^[1] His musical style, which includes sample chops, is regarded as "fealty to the gritty sound of New York Hip-Hop." ^{[2] [5]}

Discography

Studio Albums

• Craven N (December 11, 2017)
• Craven N 2 (December 27, 2019)
• Craven N 3 (February 18, 2022)

Collaborative Projects

• Trout & Brussels Sprouts(with Jimmie D) (Oct 1, 2016)
• Light Work(with Jimmie D) (Apr 26, 2017)
• Good Man(with Jimmie D) (Dec 1, 2017)
• Dump Olympics Vol. 1(with Tha God Fahim)
• Rockhead Paradise(with Jimmie D) (Aug 31, 2018)
• Valenti & Rizzuto(with Eto) (Nov 11, 2018)
• Habitants(with Vincent Pryce)
• Tha Myth Who Never Quit(with Tha God Fahim)
• Director's Cut(with Ransom) (March 9, 2020)
• Director's Cut Scene 2(with Ransom) (April 24, 2020)
• Director's Cut Scene 3(with Ransom) (August 14, 2020)
• Deleted Scenes(with Ransom) (November 13, 2020)
• Crime Scenes(with Ransom) (December 18, 2020)
• Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King(with Tha God Fahim)
• Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King, Vol. 2(with Tha God Fahim)
• Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King, Vol. 3(with Tha God Fahim)
• Dump Gawd: Triz Nate(with Mach-Hommy)
• Latin Quarter, pt. 1(with Akhenaton)
• Latin Quarter, pt. 2(with Akhenaton)
• Hoop Dreams 2(with J. Arrr)
• Fair Exchange No Robbery(with Boldy James)
• Shot Clock King 4(with Tha God Fahim)
• Shadow Moses(with Mike Shabb)
• Director's Cut 4(with Ransom) (July 4, 2023)
• Deleted Scenes 2(with Ransom)
• Penalty of Leadership(with Boldy James) (January 12, 2024)
• Tha Myth Who Never Quit 2(with Tha God Fahim)
• Tha Myth Who Never Quit 3(with Tha God Fahim)
• Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap(with Tha God Fahim)
• Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 2(with Tha God Fahim)
• Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 3(with Tha God Fahim)
• Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 4(with Tha God Fahim)

References

1. "Nicholas Craven on the Melodic Emotion That Defines His Beats". FLOOD. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
2. "The Unlikely Rise of Montreal Hip-Hop Producer Nicholas Craven". Bandcamp Daily. 2020-03-24. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
3. "Nicholas Craven". Genius. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
4. Raw, Son (2024-10-17). "Nicholas Craven Is Reshaping Rap From the Depths of Montreal". Ultrabuffet. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
5. "Nicholas Craven". Vinyl Me, Please. Retrieved 2025-01-20.