Top 10 Greatest Hip-Hop Producers of All Time
Hip-hop wouldn't be what it is without its producers. These are the people behind the beats, the ones who take raw sounds and turn them into classics. Some changed the game with their signature style, while others built entire movements with their sound. From the early days of sampling and drum machines to today's digital production, hip-hop producers have shaped the culture just as much as the artists who rap over their beats.So who stands above the rest? That's where you come in. This list is all about the greatest hip-hop producers ever, and your vote helps decide who deserves the top spot. Maybe you think the best producer is the one who made the most hits, or maybe it's the one whose influence can still be heard decades later.
Andre Romelle Young (born February 18, 1965), known professionally as Dr. Dre, is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics, and previously co-founded, co-owned, and was the president of Death Row Records. Dr. Dre... read more Without Dre, there wouldn't be G-funk. He's a very important figure in the G-funk style of West Coast hip hop. About a quarter of the artists from the West Coast (and a few on the East Coast) had a track produced by him.
I have seen a lot of comparisons between DJ Premier and Dr. Dre. I would say that Dre is more skillful. His image is much more of DJ Premier, but DJ Premier would definitely be the best when it comes to boom bap.
I mean, he has the greatest track record of all time... Straight Outta Compton, Eazy-Duz-It, The Chronic, Doggystyle, All Eyez on Me, Slim Shady LP, MMLP, Get Rich or Die Tryin'... I mean, I could go on for days. Don't get me wrong, Premier is amazing, and his record is arguably as good, but Dre revolutionized the game altogether. And this is coming from Nas's number one fan.
Anybody who knows a little bit about Hip Hop (and I mean real Hip Hop) would know that Premo is definitely the king of producers. He shaped the style of the birthplace of Hip Hop. Dr. Dre may be good for big party hits like Still D.R.E., The Next Episode, etc., but when it comes to quality instrumentals, that real hardcore and underground stuff, Premo is number one.
He produced for the best MCs out there. Not saying Dre sucks. He is in my top 5 list, but Preem is unquestionably the best. Dre is more famous because he also raps and does big hits and because of his entourage (Snoop, Em, 50, etc.).
Long live hip hop. Peace from Naples, Italy.
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA, is an American rapper, record producer, musician, actor, filmmaker and author. A prominent figure in hip hop, RZA is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. RZA tops Dre and Primo overall. I say that because RZA has several classic albums to his name, not just hits, and each of those albums is still relevant to this day. Dre has no classic albums. Anyone who says Straight Outta Compton, The Chronic, or Snoop's first has poor taste in rap, in my opinion.
Those albums have hits, but with many similar-sounding beats and boring content. Of his big hits like In the Club, he didn't produce the entire album, just a few singles. On the production side, many of his beats sound similar and are irrelevant. Period. Dre is overrated! His body of work artistically does not stack up to the likes of Primo, Dilla, or Pete Rock, much less RZA. Artistically speaking, the comparison is a joke.
Ye (born Kanye Omari West; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and fashion designer. He is regarded as one of the most influential, as well as controversial, artists of the 21st century... read more I'm not a huge fan of Kanye. I think he's a jerk. He's whiny, bratty, is a diva, and throws a fit whenever he loses an award. I really hate Taylor Swift's music, but the way he treated her at that awards show was unacceptable.
But there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he is one of the greatest music producers of all time. I mean, he did a great job with Find Your Love. Drake was grateful, I'm sure. Also, the interlude for All of the Lights is incredibly beautiful, something you wouldn't get from Kanye's bad attitude. And the music for the actual track was great. He is a great producer, one of the reasons a lot of artists get as far as they are.
Madlib is the best. He has lots of groups and a great variety of hip-hop music (including jazz, bossa nova, reggae...). Maybe Dre is more famous, but he is not the best. And I don't know how RJD2, Pete Rock, Oh No, Guru, Peanut Butter Wolf, and many more aren't in the top 10.
RZA and Premo get the top spot for me, but Madlib is truly masterful and deserves a higher spot. Kanye is great, so is Pete Rock, and so is Dilla, obviously, but Madlib knows how to make some sick beats.
Madlib takes vintage sounds and makes the most left-field beats sound like liquid bliss poured into your ears. Recommended dose: multiple times per day.
Dilla is number one, not because he's better than Preemo or Dre, but because he influenced everybody. He never had the big shine as he remained humble in the underground. However, if you go back and listen to what he did, it's just magical. Every production done for ATCQ, Pharcyde, Common, Erykah Badu, Busta Rhymes, Doom, etc., is an instant classic.
His own albums, collaborations, and remixes are filled with the dopest beats. If you go back in time, you can always tell the beats done by Dre and Preemo as they sound alike. You can't with JayDee's as he was versatile like that.
Oh, and there's a totally new 'genre' in music because of him and Madlib. Go check out the beat scene that's rapidly growing all over the world with dudes like Flying Lotus, Onra, Ohbliv, etc., getting their shine.
A real Dilla fan respects Donuts' wishes to never be compared or said to be better than Pete Rock.
Pete Rock is the best beatmaker of all time. Petestrumentals is the greatest beat tape of all time. He is my biggest inspiration along with Dilla.
How is that idiot Kanye West higher than this legend?
Havoc mastered the gritty East Coast sound that haunts the graffiti-filled streets of New York City. His ability to find a sample and manipulate it to sound like something that came from the weed-scented project hallways is unmatched, as demonstrated with Survival of the Fittest.
Don't believe me? Go listen to the original sample of Survival of the Fittest and see how he transformed it into the masterpiece it became. Mobb Deep makes stick-up kid theme music. But his resume doesn't stop there, with classic tracks such as Shook Ones, Quiet Storm, and Hell on Earth, complemented by Prodigy's lyricism and laid-back flow. It leaves no doubt as to who is one of the greatest producers of all time!
Oh, and long live Prodigy! Mobb Deep for life!
He deserves top 10. What he did with Rakim is amazing.
Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, is an American rapper, actor and music producer born on October 17, 1972 in St. Joseph, Missouri. Eminem has sold over 300 million records making him the bestselling hip-hop artist of all time. In addition to his solo career, he is a member of D12 and (with Royce... read more Made a lot of music, but mostly for himself. Anyway, even if he made it for himself, he used and amazingly mixed different instruments, samples, scratches, and genres such as hardcore hip-hop, alternative hip-hop, classic rock, guitar rock, alternative rock, pop, funk, reggae, psychedelic rock, etc. He worked with different types of producers and musicians.
He made hip-hop music more expressive. He mixed female vocals, his vocals, chorus, kids' chorus, etc. The form of Eminem's music is so unique, so he influenced a lot of artists' music (like Kanye, Kid Cudi, or Tyler, the Creator) and literally made his own special hip-hop genre known as "Eminem's music," because nobody sounds like him.
The Newcomers
Justin Scott, better known by his stage name Big K.R.I.T., is an American rapper and record producer from Meridian, Mississippi.
Frederick Jay "Rick" Rubin is an American record producer and former co-president of Columbia Records. He is very well known for producing Beastie Boys in the 80s, but not only hip hop, but Slayer and Eminem too.
I don't think he's the best producer in the game, but I'm voting for him because he deserves top 10 status for his contribution to underground hip hop. Run the Jewels haven't put out a weak track. Every piece of production is fire. Also, his work with Company Flow was amazing and took experimental hip hop to a whole new level.
It's embarrassing to see Eminem fanboys voting Em as the best producer ever. Respect to El Producto.
Run The Jewels is easily the best rap group still in the game, thanks to the phenomenal producing job El-P does for the group.
Midnight Marauders, Low End Theory, Illmatic, We Got It from Here, etc. Only 0.6%? He's up there with Premo, Dre, and Dilla.
He contributed to the North Carolina independent hip-hop scene with Jamla. Much respect.
He is the best hip-hop producer today.
Daniel Dumile (July 13, 1971 - October 31, 2020), also known as MF DOOM, was a British-born hip hop recording artist who spent most of his life in the United States. He died on October 31, 2020, however, his death wasn't revealed until December 31. If you've listened to Doom, then you should understand the genius of the supervillain.
Incredible work! His beats are true art. Beautiful, dark, deep. It's impossible to do it better than Stoupe.
His beats are a work of art on their own.
He's the best, hands down. Godfather of Chicago music, with many hits under his belt. He secretly does so much for hip-hop. People go to him for advice on a beat, and he has a hit for almost everyone in Roc Nation. Remember D.O.A? Yes, that's him.
What? He should be second, maybe even first. Just take a listen to Common's early songs like I Used to Love H.E.R. and Resurrection. God damn, I think he is the best producer ever.
Timothy Zachery "Tim" Mosley, known professionally as Timbaland, is an American record producer, singer, songwriter, rapper and DJ. Better than Dre. Timbaland's beats are original, well put together, and progressive. Arguably the best hip-hop producer of all time next to Kanye West. Dre is overrated, in my opinion. His beats are simple and boring, while Timbaland's beats are exciting to listen to.
Timbaland revolutionized hip-hop music. The best, just my opinion though. To be honest, I'm kinda mad Diddy isn't on this list. He isn't Timbaland or Dre, but he was a dope producer.
The Way I Are, Love 2 Love Ya, Clock Strikes, 808, Miscommunication, Carry Out... Don't tell me that these beats don't hit hard.
Sean John Combs, also known by his stage names Puff Daddy, Puffy, P. Diddy, Diddy, Love, and Brother Love, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, entrepreneur, and convicted felon... read more This guy has made numerous hits. He literally created B.I.G. and many other artists. He should be at number 5 after Dre, RZA, Timbaland, and Kanye.
The Notorious B.I.G. made his best beats. P. Diddy's (Puff Daddy's) beats are sick. How is he not even in the top 10?
There is not one label greater than Bad Boy. Period. The New York drip Diddy blessed us with, we didn't deserve!