RESPECT THIS FRESH: HIP HOP's 10 MOST UNDERRATED PRODUCERS

Nowadays, being a producer is almost looked upon as being a rapper.  It's easier to make it in that genre and if you're good at your work, people will respect what you do; can't say the same for everybody who wants to be a rapper.  Production skills fly under the radar and it's an occupation that requires time, patience and smarts.  People don't realize the work that's put in, so the producer's name doesn't get the love that an artist would generally get for covering the song. 

Here is a list that I put together showing some of the most underrated producers in the hip hop world today.  

Not the hottest...not worth the most...not with the biggest resume...

But the most UNDERRATED! So think before you express your thoughts : P

Let's go...(no specific order!)

J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League

Many people don’t appreciate the work that the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League has done for the game.  They are one of the few production groups that create music that sort of gives artists that ‘live’ feel to it.  With an assortment of instruments that they use for their beats, it sort of makes you feel as though the artist is performing live at a show with their own band.  But it’s not….it’s only the talented team behind the boards.  Popular artists that the League has worked with includes Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, The Game, Juelz Santana, Gucci Mane, and the list goes on…and on, and on.  When you hear that ‘Justice League’ at the beginning of tracks, just know that you’re getting ready to hear a banger.

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Black Milk

It’s a shame that most people aren’t familiar with Black Milk, but he’s been behind the productions of many big hits.  Coming from Detroit city, Black Milk brings a Midwest style of production to the rap game.  I know you’re probably wondering as to how you can differentiate Midwest productions to others’, but being where I’m from (Detroit) it’s not hard to tell at all.  Black Milk has been working on music for his own album lately, but he’s been associated with artists like Slum Village, Lloyd Banks, Bishop Lamont and others.  Don’t sleep though, I’m positive that he will be heard of and more artists will start coming at him for work.

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Chuck Inglish

The Cool Kids has gained a lot of popularity the past few years, and you can thank Chuck Inglish for a good portion of the popularity.  Chuck is new to the game, but his music sounds like the old retro beats that made rap such a big deal in the 80’s.  And if you’ve seen the duo dress, their clothing style is pretty comparable to the music that Chuck produces.  The simple percussion that he uses is what usually stands out in his music because it’s always a catchy beat with limited melodies and tunes.  You can always vibe out to the music that Mr. Inglish throws down on the boards.  Although he’s yet to break out by working with the big time artists, he is highly slept on and I expect him to be responsible for plenty of hits that you’ll hear in the future.

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The Olympicks

This team is another production group from Motown that is just now starting to take off with their music.   I think of them as a less instrumental version of the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League because the music they make sounds similar, except they are very good at switching up their styles.  You can always tell the difference between a production from The Olympicks and others out there, yet they still know how to produce different styles in beats to the point where you can’t get complain at them for sounding the same all the time.  That is a problem that many of the younger producers have nowadays; they try to establish themselves with the same sound, but they don’t realize that it won’t attract artists if you keep it too consistent. The Olympicks are responsible for breaking out hits for Big Sean, Lil’ Wayne, Birdman, Rick Ross and more.

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Bei Maejor

Not many are aware of the work that Bei Maejor puts in the game…and it is a LOT!  What makes Maejor different from many producers is his ability to create music with just about any instrument on his music board.  Most of us should be aware of the video he put out where he made a single beat from JUST a refrigerator, a bag of pretzels, some kids toys and Guitar Hero drums.  That shows that he has creativity out of the roof and that is something that will make a producer successful.  He also is a heavy in the R&B game, which differentiates him from most.  Maejor is another Detroit producer and he has worked with plenty of names outside of the city, including Outkast, Trey Songz, Bun B, Ne-Yo , Plies and plenty of others.

 

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Boi-1da

This is one of the more underappreciated artists out of the bunch, considering that he’s worked with some of the biggest names that are killing the game today.  I’m sure he’s just sitting back and living good off of the checks that he’s been written by these hit makers.  What makes Boi-1da different from others is that he won’t resort to samples in order to produce a good track.  He generally goes with a heavy use of horns with an easy beat to incorporate with them.  Boi-1da is behind a lot of big names in the game such as Eminem, Drake, The Clipse, (the old) G-Unit, Kardinal Offishall and more.

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Ski Beatz

Ski Beatz is another one underappreciated artist due to the fact that he makes soulful music that uses a variety of brass, keyboard and percussion.  Not to say that it sounds exactly alike, but his productions reminds me New Orleans music.  I just feel like he has some of the best music to vibe out to and chill.  The new crop of artists that are coming out nowadays go to Ski Beatz for their production credits.  Ski has been at this for over a decade and his resume is stacked with the biggest names in the game.  He was responsible for the sounds of Camp-Lo and he also played a heavy role in Jay-Z’s come up in the late 90’s.  Nowadays, he’s working with Dame Dash under the DD172 camp and is still stacked with projects that you should be hearing soon.

 

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Drumma Boy

Underrated? Yes indeed…

Although we’ve heard so much from Drumma already in the game, he still is an underrated beat maker and has yet to get the light that he deserves.  Drumma makes what I like to call, Trunk Music.  His beats are meant for riding to, very loudly with subs in the back of the car. The reason why I feel he is underrated is because he is usually populating the mixtape game with his beats, but he is definitely good enough to be an industry producer and work outside of that department.  Sure he’s been behind a few radio hits here and then, but when people think about the top producers in the game, Drumma Boy doesn’t seem to make the cut for a lot of people.  I don’t know whether or not they just forget about his work or what, but he definitely doesn’t get the credit that he deserves.  His style of music is a new wave to the ‘southern’ sound and is a huge breath of fresh air from those simple dance beats that seem to get more play than Drumma.  Crying shame. 

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9th Wonder

The former producer from Little Brother is a heavy and respected favorite in the rap game these days.  He hopped into the scene almost a decade ago and has done nothing but bring consistency to the table with his productions.  He's now gone solo (via a departure from Little Brother) but many have heard what he can do on the boards. He actually studies the work and puts a lot of dedication into his work, which makes him highly underrated with his music. This shows that he uses knowledge in music, instead of just sitting down and trying to toss something together.  9th uses samples that creates a smooth and soulful sound in his music which makes him one of the more unique producers, because you can differentiate his samples from others who use samples in their work. His resume includes co-signs from artists like Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Wale, MURS, Drake, Ludacris, Erykah Badu and other big names.  

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Jim Jonsin

It's amazing that Jim Jonsin's name hasn't rung in peoples' ear until recently from working with B.o.B.  But Jonsin is responsible for plenty of hits that has been on the radio and even has won Grammy awards.  Hits such as 'Whatever You Like', 'Kiss Me Thru The Phone', 'There Goes My Baby', 'Lollipop', 'Erase Me', and more belong to Jonsin.  His music alters from 808 sounds to Moog bass and club bangers.  You hear his records in the clubs a lot, but not as much as you hear his name.  The thing that seperates Jim Jonsin from other producers is the magnitude of the names of artists that he works with.  T.I., Eminem, Lil' Wayne, Usher, The Game and others; he works with these people on a regular basis.  You will be hearing Jonsin's work more and more as time progresses; he will be heavy into the new King Uncaged album from T.I., Kid CuDi's Man on the Moon II and other efforts.