In the 1980s, Dean started doing collaborations with numerous
Texan artists, including
Selena, for whom Dean served as musical director and producer. He began his career in
hip-hop while producing two albums as a part of the
Houston-based group, Def Squad, along with group member Norris Burse (Champ) and Kenny Bomer (KB) under the Mr. Henry/ Ichiban labels. Dean first became widely known for pioneering the
Dirty South sound in the 1990s, particularly in work for artists from
Rap-A-Lot Records. Dean has most notably worked alongside
Scarface of the
Geto Boys,
Do or Die,
Tha Dogg Pound,
Yukmouth of the
Luniz,
C-Bo,
Nate Dogg,
Tech N9ne,
UGK,
Z-Ro,
Devin the Dude,
Outlawz, and
2Pac. performing in 2013 Dean went on to mix, produce, and master widely throughout American hip-hop. He has become known for producing work with
Kanye West. After initially contributing to the mixing of West's albums
The College Dropout and
Late Registration, Dean contributed as producer on West's albums
Graduation,
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,
Yeezus,
The Life of Pablo,
Ye, and
Donda. He also co-produced with West on his collaboration album with
Jay-Z,
Watch the Throne. Dean was an additional producer on "
Mercy" In May 2017, Dean announced he was launching a record label by the name of M.W.A. When asked what made him decide that now would be the best time to unveil his new record label, Dean responded: "Just a lot of new young artists that's been asking to get down with me and have me work on their projects and help them get deals. I figured I'd start a label and sign some new acts. Seems like a good time to start it. I got a studio out here [in Los Angeles] and I'm able to meet a lot of new artists." On May 20, 2021,
Lana Del Rey's single "Wildflower Wildfire" was released, which was produced by Dean. In an interview with
Anthony Fantano before the song's release, Dean said that he was "planning on working with [Del Rey] a lot". Since 2022, Dean has had several further collaborations with
the Weeknd, who Dean has worked with on the Weeknd's 2014 promotional single "
King of the Fall". In 2015, Dean collaborated with the Weeknd on "
Tell Your Friends" from the album
Beauty Behind the Madness, on which he co-produced and played guitar, as well as his single "Where You Belong" for the
Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack. Dean contributed live arrangements to the Weeknd's co-headlining performances with
Swedish House Mafia at the 2022
Coachella festival. Dean has since been an opening act on the Weeknd's
After Hours til Dawn Tour, during which his arrangements have been included in the Weeknd's shows. Dean also created a remix for the Weeknd's song "Starry Eyes" from his album
Dawn FM, which Dean has performed live in his opening sets on the tour; he has become a touring musician for The Weeknd since the European and Latin American legs of the tour and onward. He plays synthesizers and saxophone. Dean contributed the musical arrangements for the "After Hours Nightmare"
Halloween Horror Nights haunted houses at
Universal Studios Florida and
Hollywood. In 2023, Dean contributed live arrangements to
Metro Boomin's performances at Coachella, during which the Weeknd appeared as a special guest; Dean also appeared as a guest musician during
070 Shake's performance during the second weekend of the festival. He co-wrote and produced the Weeknd's single "
Double Fantasy" (featuring
Future), "
Popular" (featuring
Playboi Carti and
Madonna), "The Lure (Main Theme," "Family" (featuring
Suzanna Son), "Devil's Paradise," "A Lesser Man," "Take Me Back," "
One of the Girls" (featuring
Jennie and
Lily-Rose Depp), "
Jealous Guy," "Fill the Void," "Like a God," "False Idols," "Dollhouse" (featuring Lily-Rose Depp)", and "
My Sweet Lord" for the soundtrack of the Weeknd's
HBO series
The Idol, which Dean is part of the starring cast of, and premiered on June 4. Dean released his fourth mixtape,
4:23, which the Weeknd co-produced, on April 29. Since 2024, Dean has co-written and produced "
Young Metro," "
We Still Don't Trust You," "All to Myself," and "Always Be My Fault" by Future and Metro Boomin featuring the Weeknd from the respective albums ''
We Don't Trust You and We Still Don't Trust You,'' on which Dean is also credited with producing "Beat It." On the Weeknd's 2025 album
Hurry Up Tomorrow, Dean co-wrote and produced the tracks "
Wake Me Up," "
Cry for Me," "
São Paulo" (featuring
Anitta), "Until We're Skin in Bones," "
Baptized in Fear," "Opening Night," "
Reflections Laughing" (featuring Travis Scott and
Florence and the Machine), "
Enjoy the Show," "Given Up on Me," "I Can't Wait to Get There," "
Timeless" (featuring Playboi Carti), "Niagara Falls," "Take Me Back to LA," and "Big Sleep" (featuring
Giorgio Moroder). ==Discography==