Here's Vibe Magazine's top 10 producers of 2010. Keep in mind Vibe is a hiphop/R&B magazine so the RedOne and Dr. Luke snubs are understandable.
Anyone can get behind the production boards (or the laptop screen, thanks to programs like Apple's GarageBand), throw a couple of sounds together and make a hit record once. That requires more luck than skill. But what about the knob-twiddlers who've managed to repeat the magic? That's talent. This year, a whole lot of rappers and singers wouldn't have had the giant hit records that they did without the creative genius of a handful of producers who collectively helped soundtrack our lives over the course of the last 12 months. Some are new to the game, others are vets. But in 2010, these guys all helped dictate the sound of music.
10) Best Producers: Drumma Boy
Biggest Hits: Young Jeezy's "Lose My Mind," Lil Jon's "Ms. Chocolate," Waka Flocka Flame's "No Hands"
Why 2011 Could Be Even Better: In an interview with VIBE.com last month, Drumma revealed that he's working on Mary J. Blige's new project and expanding beyond just producing Southern rap classics. But don't worry: If "No Hands" is any indication, he's still got plenty of those up his sleeve, too.
9) Best Producers: will.i.am
Biggest Hits: Usher's "OMG," Black Eyed Peas' "Imma Be," Nicki Minaj's "Check It Out"
Why 2011 Could Be Even Better: The Black Eyed Peas are set to do the halftime show at Super Bowl XLV in February. A word of advice to all the artists out there: Get your beat requests in now. Because we have a funny feeling the price is about to go up.
8) Best Producers: Christopher "Tricky" Stewart
Biggest Hits: Justin Bieber's "Baby," Ciara's "Ride," Mariah Carey's "Up Out My Face"
Why 2011 Could Be Even Better: Outside of his work alongside The-Dream, Tricky's successful work with female R&B acts like Mariah Carey and Beyonce has made him the go-to guy for other female R&B projects by Ciara and Jennifer Lopez. And that's not a bad lane to be in. Not bad at all.
7) Best Producers: Noah "40" Shebib
Biggest Hits: Drake's "Light Up" (alongside Tone Mason), Lil Wayne's "I'm Single" (alongside Omen), Jamie Foxx's "Fall For Your Type" (alongside 9th Wonder)
Why 2011 Could Be Even Better: Without 40, there would be no Drake. It's as simple as that. And as long as Drizzy keeps winning, so will his engineer/producer. Take that to the bank.
6) Best Producers: Lex Luger
Biggest Hits: Rick Ross's "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)," Rick Ross's "MC Hammer," Waka Flocka Flame's "Hard in da Paint"
Why 2011 Could Be Even Better: Luger's biggest beat this year—the Rick Ross street anthem, "B.M.F."—was created in his mother's basement. So, just imagine the kinds of beats he's gonna start churning out once he finds his way around a professional studio. Now that his name is out there on the streets, Lex Luger will be Superman in 2011.
5) Best Producers: Alex da Kid
Biggest Hits: B.o.B's "Airplanes," Eminem's "Love The Way You Lie," T.I.'s "Castle Walls"
Why 2011 Could Be Even Better: If you check Alex da Kid's discography—which also includes Diddy and Dirty Money's "Coming Home"—you'll notice one thing: The guy doesn't produce album cuts. He produces songs that stick in your head and simply won't go away. When you're that good, you've got a long, long, long career ahead of you.
4) Best Producers: Swizz Beatz
Biggest Hits: Drake's "Fancy," Gucci Mane's "Gucci Time," Nicki Minaj's "Roman's Revenge"
Why 2011 Could Be Even Better: From his Aston Martin design to his collaboration with Reebok, you'd think Swizzy would be way too busy to still be in the studio everyday grinding out hits. Yet, the former Ruff Ryders' in-house producer continues to deliver the goods. If he hasn't stopped by now, what makes you think 2011 will be any different?
3) Best Producers: Stargate
Biggest Hits: Rihanna's "Rude Boy," Ne-Yo's "Beautiful Monster," Wiz Khalifa's "Black & Yellow"
Why 2011 Could Be Even Better: We got sick and tired of hearing some of Stargate's beats this year. But only because they were so good that the radio felt the need to play them seventeen times every hour. Bad for our santity; great for Stargate's business. Can't wait to hear what they've got for us next.
2) Best Producers: Boi-1da
Biggest Hits: Drake's "Over," Eminem's "Not Afraid," Drake's "Miss Me"
Why 2011 Could Be Even Better: Aside from the fact that 1da is obviously an integral part of Drake's success, the Toronto producer has also fallen into the good graces of Dr. Dre and the whole Aftermath camp and shown his versatility as a producer by attaching his name to a number of upcoming R&B projects. Impact-wise, we very well could be lumping this guy's name next to Dre, Timbaland and The Neptunes before the end of next year.
1) Best Producers: Kanye West
Biggest Hits: Jay-Z's "Young Forever," Drake's "Find Your Love," most of his album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Why 2011 Could Be Even Better: He's No. 1 on everybody's list. Why would this be any different. Truthfully, though, Ye deserves it. He's had such a great year in 2010 that it's hard to imagine him getting much higher in 2011. But we've doubted the Chicago MC/producer before and, well, let's just say that we've learned our lesson. From here on out, Kanye can do no wrong, alright?
Thoughts?
http://slumz.boxden.com/f87/vibes-te...010-a-1468639/
, though.
<3
