The boldest claim on the about-to-blow trap anthem “Panda” isn’t made by G.O.O.D. Music’s new signee Desiigner. The brash proclamation comes early, via a robotic voice that sounds like Siri with swag: “You are now listening to the hottest producer with the hottest beats on the ’Net.”

That producer is Menace. The 22-year-old beat maker is living out his boast now that “Panda” has become a last-minute addition to Kanye West’s much-tinkered The Life of Pablo. Yeezy co-opted the song for “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 2,” complete with Desiigner’s memorable hook.

Manchester native Menace (born Adnan Khan) hasn’t met Kanye or Desiigner yet, but he remembers posting the “Panda” beat on YouTube in 2014 and selling it to the Brooklyn rapper for a cool $200. Desiigner posted his finished song online in late 2015, and has since racked up more than 3 million plays (and counting!).

Genius hopped on the phone with Menace to talk about creating “Panda,” the origins of his dark sound and being chosen by Kanye.

Genius: How did one of your beats travel across the Atlantic to Brooklyn rapper Desiigner and become “Panda”?

Menace: Normally people purchase my beats on my website. I remember someone buying the beat—I didn’t know who it was until someone retweeted me on Twitter saying this track that I did was fire. I listened to “Panda,” that’s when I found out this was something.

Tell me about the beat’s creation process.

My production reflects The Joker and DC Comics—those type of characters. I make it really gritty sounding. On my YouTube page, I normally place Joker on my videos because my music reflects that type of character.

So you were inspired by The Joker?

Yeah. I see a lot of myself [in him]. He’s dark and gritty and my production is dark, gritty, taking-over-the-world type of production. I can make R&B, club, dance, hip-hop, but this is my signature sound. Like Scott Storch is known for the synth bands, the Arabic strings. I want to be known for this type of sound. Gritty and gory.

How long did it take to make the “Panda” instrumental?

From the start to mixing and mastering it took about two hours to make this beat.



That was Desiigner.

Were you thinking of a trap beat from Atlanta or Chicago when you made “Panda”?

No. When I posted on YouTube, I wrote: “Meek Mill—Ace Hood Type Beat.” So it came out totally different than [I thought].

“Panda” doesn’t sound like something a Brooklyn artist would make.

I grew up with New York hip-hop—I used to listen to Big Pun, Nas, Big L, Notorious B.I.G. People are afraid to step out of the box. Desiigner stepped out of the box and obviously that paid off because he got signed to G.O.O.D. Music. This is what I want other people to do. Not to follow the trend. Do something different.

Kanye put “Panda” on “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 2.” Have you heard his version?

Yeah. It’s very well done. They didn’t change a lot, apart from the flip in the beginning. A lot of people were saying, “Why is Metro Boomin credited on your beat?” It splits. Metro Boomin does “Pt. 1”—his track finished at the beginning of my track and slowly drifts into mine, so it blends. I’m credited.

Did Kanye’s camp reach out to you?

My manager was taking care of it. It was a last-minute thing—like a couple of days ago. We hadn’t really talked about it. I gave G.O.O.D. Music all the tracked outs—the individual sounds of the beat. It took two to three days. Kanye West made it his vision that he wanted it on his album.

Is there anything you would’ve done differently with “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 2”?

It should have been a bit longer. If they made it three or four minutes long, it’d be better. Kanye could’ve used less Auto-Tune. He’d sound much better. When he goes to the high notes, you could really hear it. But it’s dope regardless.

Whose voice is that doing your producer drop on “Panda”?

It was a custom tag that I bought online two or three years ago. It perfectly blends in.

What were you doing before you got into music?

I was focused on my studies. When I was young, my career path was to become a doctor. But music was part of my blood. I’ve been producing since I was 12. About 10 years. The last two or three years I started taking it serious. My dad used to load synthesizers in the ’90s—he still does. Whenever I finish a beat he gives input. “Oh, your kicks are a bit too high.” It helps.

What producer has influenced you most?

The main influence on my production is Cardiak. You probably hear the resemblance in a bit of the drums. I used to listen to his beat tape on Datpiff. I studied his music. Not biting his style, but I was using a bit of that influence in my music.

What does it mean to you now that you’re on a Kanye West album?

This is the big break I was waiting for, my stepping stone. I’m in the house right now and obviously there are rooms there, but I have still to come into the rooms. Now the real work starts. But Desiigner—he’s dope. We’re thinking about doing another track very soon when he releases his full album. I’d love to work with him again. How Metro is to Future, London is to Young Thug, and Menace is to Desiigner.