GuiltyBeatz opens up on unexpected Beyoncé collaboration
Celebrated Ghanaian producer and sound engineer GuiltyBeatz has opened up about the unexpected turn of events that led to his collaboration with global music icon Beyoncé on her 2019 album ‘The Lion King: The Gift.’
Speaking in a podcast interview shared on X, GuiltyBeatz detailed the surreal journey from a casual studio session to a career-defining opportunity with one of the world’s biggest artists.
The producer recounted returning to Ghana from a trip abroad when he was invited to a session with a group of other producers.
Despite being jet-lagged and uninspired, he showed up, unaware of the major moment ahead.
“I had just landed in Ghana from a trip. I was a bit jet-lagged but had a session scheduled with a few other producers. We were just vibing in the studio when Beyoncé’s team suddenly showed up,” he shared.
With no prior knowledge of what was coming, the producers were asked to play their beats in a conference-style setting. GuiltyBeatz recalled the pressure vividly.
“They were passing the aux cables around and saying, ‘you play, you play.’ No, she wasn’t around, so I was like, what kind of pressure is this?” he revealed.
When it was his turn, he played a beat he had originally produced for Ghanaian rapper Pappy Kojo, the instrumental for Thomas Pompoyɛyaw.
“It’s a very local, highlife-inspired beat, very authentic to the Ghanaian sound. But to my surprise, they were feeling it! They liked the energy, the bounce, everything. That was the beat that caught their attention,” the celebrated sound engineer explained.
The very next day, GuiltyBeatz received confirmation that he had been chosen to collaborate with Beyoncé. To his amazement, the singer visited his studio in person with her entire team.
“We locked in and started working right away. It was surreal. She was down-to-earth, focused, and really open to experimenting with African rhythms,” he stated.
His work ultimately featured on ‘The Lion King: The Gift,’ a Grammy-nominated project that celebrated African artistry. GuiltyBeatz contributed to several tracks, including ‘Already,’ featuring Shatta Wale, and ‘Keys to the Kingdom.’
Reflecting on the milestone, GuiltyBeatz shared a powerful takeaway: “It taught me that sometimes, all you have to do is show up and stay true to your sound. You never know who is listening.”
