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Are These Amazing Hip-Hop Producers The Greatest Ever? Pt. 1
Far too often, the artists who are equally responsible for some of your favorite songs go unrecognized in hip-hop music. The rappers and singers receive the accolades and headlines but those behind the boards are either left behind the board and the scene or reserved for the liner notes in CD jackets (I’m sure you still buy those.) Fortunately, the cream often rises to the top and the below hip-hop producers are so incredibly talented and versatile that they’ve all gone on the become superstars in their own right. Lets take a look at some the Masters of the MPC and Sultans of the SP 1200. These are the best hip-hop producers of all time.
Timbaland a.k.a Timbo – Timabland may be one of the most if not the most dynamic producer ever to touch a keyboard. Hailing from Virginia, Timothy Mosely has managed to weave in and out of hip-hop, R&B, EDM, and every other genre you could possibly imagine. Tim originally burst on the scene with an equally dynamic artist (Missy Elliot) and once we were privileged to experience the beautiful music they made together, we then got to fully bask in the genius of the syncopation king (and in my opinion, the father of the Trap Music sound.) With the ability to make a hit using only a paper clip and a wet napkin, the MacGyver of hip-hop production has shown no signs of letting up and we are eternally grateful.
Notables; Big Pimpin’ / Supa Dupa Fly
DJ Premier a.k.a Preemo – There was a point in time when if you were listening to hip-hop music, you were probably grooving to the production stylings of either Q-Tip, Large Professor or DJ Premier. One half of Gang Starr, Preemo has been the architect for some of the biggest names and the most classic joints ever produced. From Biggie (Kick in the door) to Jay-Z (D’ Evils, Friend or foe) to Nas (Nas is like) Preemo has produced for the Mount Rushmore of hip hop. It’s no wonder he is in strong consideration for the Mount Rushmore of hip-hop production.
Notables; Unbelievable/ Dwyck / I Got a Story to Tell
DJ Marley Marl – Queensbridge native Marley Marl is a hip Hop God! There’s really no other way to put it. Easily considered one of the production fore fathers, Marley has laid the groundwork for some of the biggest hip hop classics ever recorded. The Architect of The Bridge and composer of The Symphony, this Juice Crew maestro produced for your favorite’s rapper favorite rapper (Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Biz Markie,etc…) Master of hard hitting snares and break beats, Marely remains unparalleled in production style.
Noteables; The Bridge / Symphony
Kanye West aka Yeezy – If you haven’t heard it directly from Kanye himself at this point, allow us to restate his obvious; Kanye West is a genius! Yeezy originally emerged on the hip hop scene with a soul sample heavy style similar to Just Blaze and a few of the sample kings of the era (Pete Rock, Rza, etc…) Ye eventually progressed his style and the genre overall with what can now be considered EDM / hip-hop / Dance fusion. However you feel about the person, you cant deny the music.
Notables; Jesus Walks / Takeover
Dr. Dre – From NWA to Snoop to Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre has been cranking out monster hits for 30 plus years. With a production sound heavily immersed in G-funk, backed by catchy melodies and simple but earth shaking drums, Dre’s minimalist approach has always managed to provide the perfect palette for emcees. You would swear his tracks were mixed in concert halls on Mars given the airy nature of his final mixes. With prior production collaborations from the likes of Mel Man, Scott Storch, and The Dogg Pound, Dre has created more classic hip-hop albums than any living producer to date.
Notebles; Straight Outta Compton / Nothing But A G Thang
Tune in next time when we wrap up the remaining 10 (Rick Rubin, Pete Rock, Just Blaze, Rza, J. Dilla)
Almost every year for the past 6 years and on the same day, I’ve posted the same pic of me in the hospital during my temporary and untimely demise in 2015. A few weeks after I was back to “normal”, I asked Eric “Why’d you take the pics?” And he said, “I knew you would want to write about it if you lived.” Eric was right. Eric was often right and Eric always had my best interest at heart. I am going to miss my friend.
You ever meet someone and become friends immediately?! Well this was not the case with Eric. Before he was my manager at Morgan Stanley, I would often see this 6’4″, giant white guy walk up to the only black woman at work, say something then walk away without any hint of human emotion. Naturally I thought he was a jerk until I asked her “Yo, is that dude bothering you?” She laughed and proceeded to tell me he was a great person, which I ultimately got to experience first hand. Little did I know this Italian from Staten Island was more Brooklyn than most Brooklynites.
Eric was not with the shits!! If there were ever someone who lived their life in direct, honest and no uncertain terms, that would be Eric. He would ask me questions at work like “Why are the other consultants making more money than you?” I knew the answer to that question and so did he. Eric then proceeded to increase my salary by 15K. After arguing with all our managers that “You need to hire Alfred!”, they eventually did 1 year prior to the 2015 incident. In the hospital, one of my friends asked me, “What if you didn’t have health insurance when this happened?” I would be in debt for the rest of my life is the obvious answer. I still am in debt for the rest of my life but at least, it is to those who made sure I had a more enjoyable life and for that, I will gladly repay.
My mom loved to tell me the story of how she met Eric. After they told her I was going to be in the ICU for some time, she told the doctor “Well I’m not going anywhere.” She then hears a voice from that back of the room that says “Well I’m not going anywhere either!” That was Eric and in true form, he was at that hospital every single day until I was discharged.
Eric passed away in December 2021 of stage 4 cancer. After feeling faint on his way to my bbq, he went to get checked out and was diagnosed. During the past 5 years, Eric lost his mom, twin brother and dad. I can’t even begin to imagine what that must have felt like but I’m glad that pain he was feeling is no more.
From being my manager to my business partner, writer, book editor, artistic director, and most importantly, my friend, I am going to miss you MC Krispy E a.k.a “Enrique Pollazo!” And although you told me Enrique means Henry in Spanish and not Eric, it was too late!
Sidebar. The day I was discharged, while everyone was deciding what was best for me, no one had remembered that I would need clothes in order to leave the hospital. Eric shows up (unasked) with all the clothes I had on the day I coded, laundered and ready to go. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve friends like this but i need to keep doing it! Sidebar complete.
Rest in Peace Eric. “Be Good.”
I had the distinct pleasure of participating in a panel discussion on writing your first book, presented by the Harlem chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Alongside Jim St. Germain, Author – A Stone of Hope: A Memoir and Dr. Keneshia Nicole Grant, Author – The Great Migration and the Democratic Party: Black Voters and the Realignment of American Politics in the 20th Century. We opined on pain points, benefits and strategies regarding our inaugural voyages into authorship. Feel free to watch for your self and I hope this provides some insight to all those looking to make the same voyage. Enjoy!
