Decap's Drums That Knock Turn Up in Kendrick, Rodrigo Hits

Decap, a producer and sound designer, built the drum sounds behind tracks credited to Kendrick Lamar, Olivia Rodrigo and Charli XCX, according to a Sept. 26 interview published by The Verge. The outlet's profile presents him as an example of the behind-the-scenes talent whose work shapes chart-topping songs while carrying little public name recognition.

The interview, conducted by Verge weekend editor Terrence O'Brien, is part of the publication's recurring Weekend Questionnaire series, which has previously featured other figures from the tech and creative worlds.

Who is Decap?

The Verge identifies Decap as a producer and sound designer rather than a performing artist, distinguishing his role from the musicians whose songs use his work. The profile does not list Decap's full name, location, or how long he has worked in production, limiting what can be reported about his background beyond the credits cited in the piece.

What is "Drums That Knock"?

"Drums That Knock" is the name The Verge uses for Decap's catalog of drum sounds, describing it as present across "some of the biggest hits of the last 10 years." The site frames the drum sounds as a body of work that has circulated widely among producers and artists, even as Decap himself remains outside the public eye compared to the vocalists who use his tracks.

Which artists have used Decap's drum sounds?

The Verge names Kendrick Lamar, Olivia Rodrigo and Charli XCX as artists whose songs carry Decap's production work, along with unspecified "many other artists." The report does not list specific song titles, release years, or chart positions tied to those credits, so the scope of the catalog beyond those three names is not detailed in the published interview.

Why doesn't Decap have mainstream name recognition?

O'Brien addressed that gap directly in the piece, writing that Decap "doesn't have the name recognition of Kendrick Lamar, Olivia Rodrigo, or Charli XCX" despite his production fingerprints appearing across their work and that of other performers.

"I don't think I'm going to hurt anyone's feelings by pointing out that Decap doesn't have the name recognition of Kendrick Lamar, Olivia Rodrigo, or Charli XCX. But his fingerprints are all over tracks from them, as well as many other artists." — Terrence O'Brien, weekend editor, The Verge

That framing sets up the interview's premise: producers and sound designers routinely shape the sonic identity of hit songs without the audience-facing recognition given to the artists who perform them.

What is The Verge's Weekend Questionnaire series?

The Decap piece runs as part of The Verge's Weekend Questionnaire, a recurring feature format the outlet uses to profile figures connected to technology, music and creative production. The full interview, including additional detail on Decap's process and career, is available at The Verge.