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Producer Mike Dean and co-writer Sean Solymar talk to HipHopDX about the making of Kanye West's 'Jail' featuring JAY-Z.

Producer Mike Dean + Co-Writer Sean Solymar Talk Grammy Win For Kanye West + JAY-Z Jail Collab Published on:Apr 21, 2022, 2:03 PM by 0 Exclusive Veteran producer Mike Deanhas seven Grammy Award trophies lining his shelves. The lucky No. 7 was awarded on April 3 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas for Kanye Wests 2021 Donda single Jail featuring JAY-Z but Dean wasnt on deck to receive it in person. At this point, hes collecting them like he collects bongs. While Dean seems to brush it off as a non-event (although he still says its cool to win one), co-writer Sean Solymar is noticeably appreciative of the honor. Obviously its a lifetime goal of mine for sure, the 26-year-old Los Angeles native tells HipHopDX in a recent Zoom interview. It didnt feel like it really happened until a few days afterwards. Its still definitely an accomplishment. A post shared by @seansolymar While they may be in different stages of their careers, both Mike Deanand Sean Solymar are equally as serious about their craft. Posted up at Deans West Coast studio, Dean is in the middle of mixing Megan Thee Stallions upcoming single Letter To My Ex the same one she previewed at Coachella last week and only periodically looks up at the camera. Theyve also just spent the last few months mixing half the tracks on Pusha Ts impending album, Its Almost Dry, which is expected to drop on Friday (April 22). Like Harvey Keitel in the 1994 film Pulp Fiction, whos tasked with cleaning up the mess John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson made after accidentally blowing poor Marvins brains out in the back of their car, Mike Dean is the album closer. He did it with Donda and Donda 2 and will undoubtedly do it again. Im the guy you call when your records coming out in two days, Dean says matter-of-factly, to which Solymar replies, Yeah, because hes the only one that can get it fucking done. And thats exactly what Dean did when he flew to the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Atlanta last year when Kanye needed to revise Donda. Solymar was along for the ride and witnessed first-hand the craziness that ensued trying to finish it. Im pretty used to the pressing, last-minute changes to songs, he says. But I think its more of an excitement, because there was talk of Jay being on the song . And then when you finally like get to hear his verse, youre like, Oh shit.' Dean jumps in, I remember we were walking through the arena the day before the release, I think we were walking through the venue with Kanye, and the big clock on the wall said 4:44. He was like, Oh, I should call JAY-Z. Thats what had happened. I didnt witness , I witnessed what triggered it. Read more