Frank Dukes

In the 2000s, Dukes sold his first beat for $250 to a local Canadian hip hop recording artist from Toronto named General Too Smooth.[9] In 2008, Dukes had the first paid placement for a major artist at the time, a beat for American rapper Lloyd Banks. Banks paid Dukes $5,000 for a beat, which would later show up on Banks' third studio album H.F.M. 2 (The Hunger for More 2) as the song "Sooner or Later (Die 1 Day)" featuring American rapper Raekwon.

Creative relationships and album producer

At the end of the 2000s, Dukes connected with Wu-Tang member Ghostface Killah, producing three tracks for his 2010 album Apollo Kids. This led to a series of Wu-Tang-related collaborations over the following five years, including producing more than half the tracks for the RZA-produced The Man with the Iron Fists album in 2012. During the same period, Dukes met the Canadian hip hop/jazz group BADBADNOTGOOD at their first live show in 2011. Dukes and the group became close collaborators, even sharing a studio for many years;[10] the band members play on many of the samples Dukes produced during the decade and, in turn, Dukes produced their first original album III, released in 2014. Dukes' work with Ghostface and BBNG culminated in their shared 2015 record, Sour Soul.[11]

Kingsway Music Library and sample composition

During the first half of the decade, Dukes began writing music that he could use and manipulate as samples in his own work, much like the traditional record sampling he took part in as a hip hop producer. Inspired in part by his experiences working with the Menehan Street Band, a contemporary funk and soul ensemble that employ vintage recording techniques (and achieve the 1960s/1970s sound and style so often sought after in hip hop samples),[12] Dukes began recording his compositions similarly, using vintage and analog equipment. Observing the sample clearance issues Eminem had with his song "Like Toy Soldiers, as well as his own experiences while working with 50 Cent and Ghostface,[12] Dukes had the idea of using his body of work as samples for other record producers to use and began sharing his work with the likes of Vinylz and Boi-1da; beginning in 2013, he packaged a portion of his compositions into various volumes for a collection titled Kingsway Music Library which he sells with the clearance of his samples guaranteed.[4][8][13]

This sample production work created acclaim for Dukes in 2014 when a composition he wrote with musician Chester Hansen of BBNG was given to Boi-1da and flipped into the Drake single "0 to 100."[14] As a credited producer, Dukes was awarded a Grammy nomination.[12] From this point forward, he was inspired to grow Kingsway Music Library into an established platform for original music for sampling. He continues to distribute a limited amount of his music this way and invites up-and-coming musicians to collaborate or contribute whole volumes to his platform. As of 2020, Dukes has released thirteen volumes of music through Kingsway.

His compositions, including those designated for Kingsway Music, have led to him working with record producers such as Boi-1da, Metro Boomin, Vinylz, DJ Dahi, Tae Beast and more, landing him prominent placements for Kanye West, Drake, Eminem, Travis Scott, Danny Brown, Jeremih, Tory Lanez and Rihanna, among others.[15]

Hitmaker

In the second half of the 2010s, Dukes began working more often with artists in the studio. He met singer met Camila Cabello in November 2016, beginning what would be her debut album.[16] In total, Dukes was a credited producer on over 250-300 tracks during the decade.

Singles charting in the US Billboard Hot 100 Top 10

• Rihanna – "Needed Me" (2016)
• Drake – "Fake Love" (2017)
• Post Malone – "Congratulations" (featuring Quavo) (2017)[18]
• The Weeknd – "Call Out My Name" (2018)
• Camila Cabello – "Havana" (featuring Young Thug) (2018); peaked at #1
• Camila Cabello – "Never Be The Same" (2018)
• Post Malone – "Better Now" (2018)[18]
• Jonas Brothers – "Sucker" (2019); peaked at #1
• Post Malone – "Wow" (2019)[18]
• Post Malone – "Circles" (2019); peaked at #1[18]
• Shawn Mendes – "Monster" (feat. Justin Bieber) (2020)

Albums produced (executive producer)

• BADBADNOTGOOD – III (2014)
• BADBADNOTGOOD & Ghostface Killah – Sour Soul (2015)
• Camila Cabello – Camila (2018); peaked at #1 (US Billboard 200)
• The Weeknd – My Dear Melancholy (2018); peaked at #1 (US Billboard 200)
• Matty (of BADBADNOTGOOD) – Déjàvu (2018)

As creator of the Kingsway Music sample library, Dukes has curated over 40 volumes of music.[19]

Since 2013, he has composed the following volumes of original music (credits adapted from The Drum Broker),[20]

• Kingsway Music Library, Vol. 1 (2013)
• Kingsway Music Library, Vol. 2 (2013)
• Kingsway Music Library, Vol. 3 (2014)
• Kingsway Music Library, Vol. 4 (2014)
• Kingsway Music Library, Vol. 5 (2015)
• Kingsway Music Library, Vol. 6 (2015)
• Kingsway Music Library, Vol. 7 (2015)
• Kingsway Music Library – Colors (2017) (released as LP)
• Kingsway Music Library, Vol. 8 (2018)
• Kingsway Music Library, Vol. 9 (2018)
• Kingsway Music Library, Vol. 10 (2019)
• Kingsway Music Library – Parkscapes (2019)
• Kingsway Music Library – Parkscapes Vol. 2 (2020)

ASCAP hosts a series of annual awards which honor achievement in American songwriting, composition, and publishing. Dukes has received honors at ASCAP's Pop Music, Latin, and Rhythm & Soul Awards ceremonies.

BMI hosts a series of annual awards which honor achievements by songwriters, composers, and publishers, based on tracks performance time. Dukes has received honors at ASCAP's Pop, R&B/Hip-Hop, and London Awards ceremonies.

Dukes' work has been included in the Grammy Award nominations every year since 2015. From 22 nominations, he has won three awards with three pending; both of his wins are for singular production credits on an awarded album. The following works are for his role as producer unless otherwise noted.

^{^[a]} Grammy Certificate-eligible contributions as per award category specifications on contribution playing time.[36][37]

The Juno Awards are Canada's most popular music industry awards. As per Juno regulations, performing producers and songwriters do not receive honors for their nominated work. As such, Dukes has one nomination.

Dukes has received two nominations and one award at the Latin Grammy Awards. Both are for his work with Rosalía.

The Secret Genius Awards were honors awarded by Spotify in 2017 and 2018 to the most influential Songwriters, Producers and Engineers.

The SOCAN Awards are Canadian music industry awards, honoring achievement of its members in songwriting, composing, and publishing. Dukes has thrice been awarded Songwriter of the Year.