On a summer school night in Toronto, 16-year-old producer Arham Paul, known as ap.melodies, received an unexpected call that would alter his trajectory as a music producer. His friend, a beatmaker who had been selected to collaborate on Drake's new project, urgently needed assistance in crafting an '80s-style intro for a song.

“We are not sleeping tonight,” Paul recalled enthusiastically during an interview. Instead of preparing for school the next day, he spent countless hours working on the track alongside Miami-based producer Sebas Lopez. “I was shocked because I didn't expect him to call me to work on a Drake track,” Paul added, emphasizing his surprise at being chosen for such an opportunity.

This collaboration eventually resulted in “Classic,” one of two tracks Paul contributed to in Drake's surprise album trilogy that was released last week. For Paul, who attends Bill Hogarth Secondary School and grew up in Markham, Ontario, this sudden ascent from a basement producer to a collaborator with a major artist like Drake is a reality he is still coming to terms with.

“Everyone's all like, ‘How did you do this? The whole school is just hyped,’” Paul shared, noting that even his principal asked him about his involvement with the album.

Paul's contributions to “Classic,” along with “Q&A” from another project named “Maid of Honour,” highlight the evolving landscape of music production. Drake's latest releases feature established collaborators like Noah '40' Shebib and Boi-1da, but also incorporate a fresh wave of younger, internet-savvy producers such as Paul, London’s b4u, and Edmonton’s rl.

Paul described Drake's willingness to experiment with new producers as a significant evolution, allowing the rapper to diversify his sound by blending various genres. “I feel like he wants to target a new sound... he’s trying a bunch of new stuff but mixing it with his original rap stuff,” Paul said, recognizing the importance of new influences in shaping Drake's music.

Despite the fact that official production credits have not yet been updated on streaming platforms, Paul's name has circulated among online communities, as fans have eagerly dissected the sprawling release. Paul revealed that he first learned about the album’s release roughly two weeks beforehand, which led to a flurry of activity regarding contracts and legal materials.

Having grown up surrounded by music thanks to his father Rehan, who played the piano, Paul's journey into production began at the tender age of eight when he accidentally discovered GarageBand on his sister's laptop. “I just randomly opened it and started messing around with it, and it just clicked,” Paul explained, illustrating how an unexpected encounter ignited his passion for music production.

Pursuing inspirations from his environment, including school and various musical genres, Paul developed a distinct style that intertwines soulful melodies with hard-hitting beats. Sharing snippets of his beats on social media helped him establish connections within the industry, leading to his first notable placement with New Jersey's rapper PlaqueBoyMax on the track “Oasis,” which gained traction within online communities.

Drake's request for the '80s intro came when Lopez reached out to Paul, knowing of his experimentation with retro sounds and synth-heavy textures. To achieve the desired feel for the track, Paul immersed himself in older R&B records, particularly those from artists like Jodeci, despite not being heavily exposed to that era growing up.

On “Q&A,” Paul contributed to blending Brazilian funk with the rap sub-genre of sexy drill, after Drake contacted Dallas producer Stack!e to aim for a track that encapsulates “summer ratchet vibes.” Paul creatively altered a MIDI file provided by Stack!e and added more textures, which culminated in Drake vocally mirroring parts of the melodies he crafted. “Drake messaged my homie and was like, ‘This is a smash hit,’” Paul expressed, reflecting his disbelief and excitement over the collaboration.

When the music was formally released, Paul celebrated with his family, who surprised him with cake as they watched the livestream of Drake before the album dropped. “When I clicked on the song and heard Drake’s voice on the beat, it felt like one of my biggest goals that I’ve accomplished,” he shared, highlighting the pride and joy felt by him and his family.

Following this exposure, Paul received outreach from industry figures, including notable producers RiotUSA and CuBeatz. He aspires to collaborate with artists like Travis Scott, Don Toliver, and SZA in the future. Despite this newfound attention, Paul maintains a grounded perspective, recognizing that while opportunities have expanded, he remains the same teenager he was before, albeit with a broader horizon ahead of him.