I love hip hop music and I take it seriously, I guess. My love for hip hop is serious. But he just dropped a challenge on short notice, and I can't just let anyone put me on the spot. My 10 top producers and why? That's killer. But I'll save the book for later, my response is going to be long enough. On to the rest of the list.
10 Dr. Dre - I have to be honest. Dre gets knocked down because I've been waiting for Detox for YEARS and no reasonable person should have to wait this long for an album that either will never come out or will come out and SUCK massively. That's what my inner-hater is telling me right now. I just thought you should know. However, Andre Young has been supplying heat since I was like 4. 20+ years of fire. Like the Chronic LP. Classic.
09 Deric "D-dot" Angelettie - This one is short, the reason you still like Bad Boy. I love Diddy, but this dude was the music genius behind Bad Boy, and if you still like Bad Boy, he's the actual producer of all the songs you love. He has done beats for Outkast, Salt N Pepa, Mase, the Lox. The list goes on. And if you didn't know by now, he's also the Madd Rapper. T-t-t-t-tell em why you mad son! I know why. He gets no respect, and hopefully, Diddy at least kept him paid while he was supposedly [sigh] stealing money from the rest of his employees.
08 RZA - Um, Wu-Tang Clan...36 Chambers....and a style that you couldn't imitate if you tried. One of my pre-requisites for being on this list is having a unique style. While everyone on this list can be imitated and trust, people have tried, NO one on Earth can bite this Wu Abbott's style. Point blank period and I defy anyone to prove me wrong.
07 DJ Quik - While Dre might be the most famous West Coast producer, DJ Quik is the ultimate West Coast sound provider. Chances are, you love this man's work. Just like number one, he doesn't really live in front of the cameras, but he's crafted heat all the same. The man flat out gets busy.
06 Hi-Tek - One half of Reflection Eternal, Tekzilla provided a return to boom bap during the shiny suit era of hip hop. His style is unique, but keeps the main elements of true school hip hop alive. The creator of the Rawkus era sound, he has already crafted classics, such as Mos Def's Black on Both Sides and a glut of Black Star production. His Hi-Teknology album series also showcases the fire that this man produces.
Here's a sample. The man produces some serious knock, so turn it up!
05 Large Professor - Since some of you aren't quite aware, all you get is a list. Then you judge if he deserves to be on here....Eric B & Rakim. Biz Markie's 'All Samples Cleared'. Pete Rock & CL Smooth's 'Mecca and the Soul Brother'. Nas's 'Illmatic' and 'Stillmatic'. Diamond D's 'Stunts, Blunts & Hip-hop'. Kool G Rap. Big Daddy Kane. A Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders. Rob Swift. The Beastie Boys. Roxanne Shante. Gang Starr. Main Source.
Get the drift? If hip hop does ever die[and it won't], this guy is probably in the will.
04 Erick Sermon - E-Double gets on my list because he's the creator of the Def Squad sound. After holding down classic EPMD production, he moved on to form the group with Keith Murray and Redman. Sermon crafted classics joints like "Whateva Man," "The Most Beautifulist Thing In This World," "4,3,2,1," and my personal favorite, Redman's "Tonight's Da Night." All straight FIRE. I know the boards will be buzzing after this one.
03 9th Wonder - If you don't know who this is by now, then you are missing the link from '94 until now. 9th Wonderful Tunes was the producer portion of Little Brother and is the architect of two underground classics with them. "The Listening" album is a throwback to A Tribe Called Quest's "Midnight Marauders," drawing comparisons with the legendary group, with most of that credit is due to the soul resurrecting sounds of 9th Wonder. And when I listen to his music, the beats leave me nodding yes and no at the same time.
02a Pete Rock - Just his remixes alone puts him in the hall of fame. Soul Brotha Number One has been in the game for eons, making nothing but dopeness and classics. I had a hard time putting PR third, rather than first, because when it comes to dynamic melodies, even number one can't hang with the Chocolate Boy Wonder. So he's tied with the other number two because I just can't decide.
02b DJ Premier - It almost hurts my feelings not to put him number one. And I would. I probably should, because he's my favorite producer when it comes to my favorite type of hip hop. This Houston native is the King of the New York sound. He has set the bar for pure ruggedness, that grimy, project sound. One half of Gang Starr, this man has created classics such as "Ex Girl to Next Girl, "You Know My Steez," plus he's the number one sought after remix producer, at least when it comes to hip hop. He's held down Guru, M.O.P., to Christina Aguilera and Limp Bizkit. And probably top 5 beat of all time....is another blog. Premier is the greatest living producer.
Don't ask me to choose between the two, it has hard enough to choose number one. You wanna know who wins? Judge for yourself. Check this.
01 J Dilla - Your favorite producer's favorite producer. He's the best ever. Point blank period. He came up with fire while dying of Lupus. It's a shame to lose a legend. It's a travesty to lose Dilla. Beyond legend status, he holds the title of God Producer, a spin off of God emcee. And now he holds court with Lord. If heaven is what I think it's like, it has music legends wall to wall, but now it finally has the King of Production. No one flipped samples like this man. No one had a clever understanding of melodies, beat measures, distortions
Stick this in your ear hole and love ever single minute of it, because he did this while dying. And he did it for you. Do not download any of his work. Go buy it. It's worth your money, I promise. While these all aren't my FAVORITE Dilla beats, I love every single one. And I might eventually give you my favorite Dilla beats. Check the page for full track list.
Here's a list of producers I just didn't have room for, but definitely belong here: Beatminerz, Evil Dee, Madlib, Rick Rubin, Organized Noize [I really wanted to include them], Battlecat [West Coast boogie at its' finest], Just Blaze and Lord Finesse [DITC].
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