Behind the boards of some of the most pivotal rap and R&B records of the last decade sits a name you may not know—but you’ve definitely heard: AXL FOLIE. The Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum producer has played an essential role in defining the modern West Coast sound, with credits spanning Kendrick Lamar’s Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, Drake’s Views, and Nipsey Hussle’s Victory Lap.
Now, the quiet architect is readying what might be the most career-defining project of his catalog.
AXL FOLIE (born Axel Morgan) first rose to prominence as one-half of production duo THC, delivering hits like “Collard Greens” (Schoolboy Q ft. Kendrick Lamar), now 4x Platinum. Over the years, his catalog has expanded to include work with A$AP Rocky, Jay Rock, 21 Savage, and Jhené Aiko, as well as recent executive producer duties on breakout R&B albums Electric Dusk and Mutt by Leon Thomas.
That partnership with Thomas—who he’s been collaborating with for over four years—marks a turning point in AXL FOLIE’s evolution. “Leon had the vision from day one,” he said in a recent call. “That changed how I moved. He didn’t just make records—he had a plan. And that brought something different out of me.”
AXL FOLIE’s ability to shape sound at the album level—rather than just as a single-hit producer—has placed him in a rare category. Across Thomas’s records, AXL FOLIE co-produced emotionally rich tracks like “X-Rated” (feat. Benny the Butcher), “Fade to Black,” and “Love Jones” (feat. Ty Dolla $ign), which critics praised for blending soul, psychedelia, and alternative R&B into cinematic soundscapes.
But according to sources close to the producer, the next phase of his career won’t stay quiet.
An upcoming collaborative release is currently in the works, with rumored contributions from Cardi B, Jhené Aiko, James Fauntleroy, and unreleased vocals from the late Nipsey Hussle. “It’s something special,” he teased. “This isn’t just a project with features—it’s something that’s going to mean something.”
For a producer who’s contributed to Grammy-winning records like Jay Rock’s “King’s Dead” and albums that redefined an era (Section.80, Views, Victory Lap), AXL FOLIE remains surprisingly under the radar. But that may be by design.
“He doesn’t chase industry cycles,” says one exec familiar with his work. “He builds, watches, and then executes when it matters. And when he does, people move.”
In an industry where social noise often outweighs substance, AXL FOLIE represents a return to intentionality—quiet consistency, calculated risks, and legacy-minded execution. As genre lines blur and artists seek cohesion over clout, the producers who can bridge eras and sounds—like AXL FOLIE—are the ones in highest demand.
The new project has no official release date yet, but insiders suggest it may surface later this year under a boutique imprint with major distribution. Until then, the legacy quietly builds.
