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When top hip-hop producer Murda Beatz crafted his first track nine years ago, he gave it to Toronto rapper Hardbody, who suggested that he drop a tag — a quick audio snippet that acts like a producer’s signature, à la DJ Khaled’s incessant “We the best!” — on it.

“He was telling me, you gotta tag your beats so people don’t steal them,” explains the Canadian producer.

In the years since, his tags have changed — variations include “Mu-mu-mu-murda” and “Murda on the beat so it’s not nice” on high-profile hits from 6ix9ine, Chance the Rapper and Ariana Grande — as has the intention behind employing them.

“In the beginning, I was doing it to protect myself,” he says. “But then I found out that the branding is helping me.”

Today, dropping tags at the start of a song has become a