We aren’t done with our lists of 2008 yet! Still got more to drop this week. Since this site is geared mostly towards producers, you know we couldn’t leave this Top 10 out. Here’s are our picks for the top producers of the year…
10. Jake One
- White Van Music proved that Jake could make an album of his own. Albeit, it wasn’t as spectacular as could’ve been, but it certainly delivered when it was necessary. He has a respectable collection of other freelance work including joints on Caltroit, T.O.S, Not For Sale, and Million Dollar Backpack. Jake will undoubtedly continue to be a force in hip hop.
Our Exclusive Interview with Jake One
9. Alchemist
- His work with Prodigy on H.N.I.C Part II probably wouldn’t of been enough to get him on here, but throw on a huge spot on The Carter 3 and his work on the Layover EP and he’s a shoe in. Alchemist has delivered in 2008 and will continue to deliver in 2009, consistently (as always).
Producer Spotlight on The Alchemist
8. 9th Wonder
- I’d love to apply the quality over quantity product here, but I can’t. It’s too hard. 9th put out a ton of material this year, so he was due for a few joints to hit hard. Sweet Lord was, in typical Murs & 9th fashion, great, while The Formula had a few knockers. He contributed, arguably, the best 3 beats on Murs For President and arguably, delivered one of the best beats of the year with Badu’s “Honey.” He showed an interesting side with his remix of “Success” on the Viva La Hova mixtape, and delivered another beauty on the DJ KO album. He should always have plenty of material out there; he’s got heat when he wants to bare down and deliver the goods.
Producer Spotlight on 9th Wonder
7. Khrysis
- 2007 was the year of Khrysis. Everybody placed him ahead of 9th Wonder and expected nothing but big things from him. He cooled off a bit in 2008, but still had plenty of steam to remain on this list. His beats in 2008 have clearly been of the premium brand. Both beats on D.I.R.T are arguably the best on the album (and call for a Sean P/Khrysis album), as well as his joint on the Torae and plenty of J League affiliates. Who could forget about his gem, “For Whom The Bell Tolls.”
6. Illmind
- A strong first quarter highlighted by his four unreal joints on the Akrobatik LP already made Illmind a mainstay for this list. The list of work he’s done may not be as lengthy as someone like 9th Wonder, but its quality is top notch. His work on D.I.R.T and even on the Diamond D album was spectacular. Even though he’s more underground based, he’s a heavy hitter. People will eventually come knocking by the hundreds to get a piece of Illmind if he keeps making hits like he did in 2008.
5. Nottz
- He’s had a busy year, but it’s paid off. Gathering up big name credits with Game and Snoop, he also managed to consistent hit the underground with Termanology and Murs. He even dabbled in the not so underground with Kardinall and Bishop, while giving two bangers to Scarface for his farewell album. Come to think of it, Nottz was all over the place in 2008, so you have undoubtedly heard something from him.
Our Exclusive Interview with Nottz
4. Nicolay
- Aside from the number one producer on this list, no one here has evolved their music quite like Nicolay did. He did two great projects: Time:Line with Kay, and Leave It All Behind with Phonte. It is in these two pieces that we see the musical expansion of Nic. Using a huge variety of sounds, instruments and techniques; Nicolay has clearly elevated his game. He didn’t forget about the gritty, raw hip hop though. “EMC (What It’s Stand For)” is a contender for beat of the year (I don’t think I’ll be doing that list) and his joint with J-Live is the most perfect closing beat for an album of that caliber. He’ll continue to grow…that’s the scary part.
Producer Spotlight on Nicolay | Nicolay Production Podcast
3. DJ Premier
- It’s a little unfair to have premier here, but he’s pretty much a perennial candidate on this list every year. It’s just a matter of where he will land. 2008 has been a strong year for the legend, but a quietly strong and busy year. Handling a majority of production for the Big Shug album and dealing a lot with Blaq Poet, Preemo still found time to drop bombs on us like “That White” and “Society is Brainwashed.” His joint with Kool G Rap was long overdue and “M.V.P” with Ludacris is easily the album’s standout. He reconnected with KRS One to re-up “Criminal Minded” (for that whole Smirnoff campaign) and dropped another stand out on the remarkable Reks album. The catalog keeps growing for him, as he added two more remixes to his resume (Maroon 5, Mark Ronson).
Producer Spotlight on DJ Premier | Exclusive Preemo Mixes: Vol 1 – Vol 2 – Vol 3
2. Statik Selektah
- He could be considered somewhat of a Premier-disciple. The similarities are there and Statik shows flashes of Premier in him, more so than other producers of this modern era. With his debut album in 2007, he left his mark on hip hop, but with Stick 2 the Script, Statik has officially been written in with a permanent marker. The sophomore LP is one of 2008’s best and gives some of the most consistent production of 2008. He also handled just about everything on Reks’ Grey Hairs. He has a few free lance tracks here and there, including the lone bright spot on the dreadful Foxy Brown release. He’ll stay on the mixtape scene as a DJ, but he certainly has all the credibility and skill needed to over see an album as a producer.
Stick 2 The Script Album Review
1. Black Milk
- This was sincerely a no-brainer. Handling a large amount from the first quarter release of his release with Bishop Lamont, Caltroit, and The Set Up with Fat Ray, we were only seeing the tip of the iceberg. Then they came, one after the others: Elzhi’s The Preface and Black Milk’s Tronic. It was deadly. He connected with legend, godfather, master, Gza for “7 Pounds” and hooked up Guilty Simpson with 3 ridiculous tracks for Ode to the Ghetto. Ranging from acts like Torae to Kidz in the Hall to DJ KO to Buff1, Black was all over the map. His production is as tight as ever and he seems to be a student of the game, constantly willing to do whatever it takes to elevate his sound. He took notice with his emceeing and took an even greater notice with his production. A year that he will never forget and probably the year that made everyone know the name of Black Milk for good.
Tronic Album Review | The Preface Album Review
Honorable Mentions
- DJ Toomp
- Kanye West
- Charles Hamilton
- Scott Storch
- Polow Da Don
- Ant
- Focus
- M-Phazes
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{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
Black Milk had a monster year in 2008. Best producer without a doubt. I would put Nicolay more higher since he’s not a beat maker anymore, he’s a real and talented musical producer. By the way, where the f*** is Wonder Years? One Year, 9th wonder… one year… i don’t want to expect a lot of wonder years to listen to this album…
Damu the Fudgemunk is definitely one of my fav producers over the past year!
http://wonkabeats.blogspot.com/
Myspace.com/damuthefudgemunk
I love this beat!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzW6s_4Mn2c
black milk had so much of a monster year that people know he’s a shoe in for number one….
It’s essentially the “So yeah, who was the best producer of 08…besides black milk of course”
I dint kniw why you would, but I was so affraid that you had Kanye West in there – I admit, that his album should have remained an instrumental album and that he still got skills on the board, but take the autotuner from that man… Nuce to see both Statik Selektah and Khrysis on their – I dig their style… Nice list..
What about madlib? Vast Aire’s single for mighty joe, the dilla tributes, the robbery remix on the ode to the ghetto, the madvillany remixes, Badu’s album , talib on king of the wig flip.
madlib did a ton of material..
but not material I don’t think was rather outstanding
Can’t argue with the list.
I forgot about Illmind and Khrysis especially the work they did on DIRT. Khrysis did kill that “For Whom The Bell Tolls” joint.
Black Milk was outstanding this year. After more listens of the Tronic and going back and listening to Popular Demand I appreciated the growth in his music (production/rhyming). That growth didn’t grab me after the first couple of listens of Tronic. Listening to music on the computer and ear buds…just doesn’t do it for me. I need a copy of the cd to play it in the car. That’s sooooo early 00’s, but…
I thought 808’s was great musically.
What about Tip?
Alchemist, i will force my wifey to have your kids man, i fucking love your beats.
er…maybe too much.
Nice list once again, DeeZ! Black definitely murdered it this year, easily shoes in for #1. Jake should have been a little higher in my opinion, but you already know I’m biased. Statik definitely stepped up this year and put in a ton of quality work. What about DJ Khalil though?! He was killing it this year (Nas “Let’s Go Esco”, Jim Jones “Love Me No More”, Pacific Division “Taste”, need I go on)!
Khalil didn’t do that much work… and the work he did do wasn’t as strong as someone like Khrysis, who although he didn’t do a hell of a lot (no more than a dozen tracks)… all of them were great
Khalil’s best work this year was on The Confessional
please replace Illmind with either Kanye Toomp or ANT.thx
yeah, I’ll get right on that
i’m dying to replace one of the year’s hottest act’s with someone who probably degraded his game, and another who really hasn’t done enough quality work (and pretty much jacked an NWA beat in the process.
I gave them honourable mentions
Heatrocks from Khalil:
Nas – Let’s Go Esco
Pacific Division – Taste
Jim Jones – Love Me No More
Bishop Lamont – City Lights
Bishop Lamont – Can’t Figure It Out
Self-Scientific f/ The Game – Everywhere I Go
Caltroit – On Top Now / Inconvenient Truth
Murs – Road Is My Religion
Bishop Lamont – Send A Ni**a Home
Khrysis had some joints but he ain’t fuckin’ with the beats above.
I’ll put the two heltah skeltah tracks head to head with City Lights and On Top Now (which I feel are the best beats on that list)
For Whom The Bell Tolls kind of just.. lays the smack down too
“Let’s Go Esco” and “Taste” >>>> any Khrysis beat last year, including “For Whom The Bell Tolls”
lol
KEEZ.. we can do this all day man…
I’ll take that as you agreeing with me, jus playin’ lol!
“i’m dying to replace one of the year’s “hottest” act’s with someone who probably degraded his game”
1.”Hottest”- Illmind was hotter than Kanye!?!
2.The tracks Illmind did on D.I.R.T weren’t tight.One was real tired and the other was a flip of Beethoven “Fur Elise” (a la Nas “I Can”)
3.”Degrading” – let me guess your talking about Kanye. If the 808’s thing was not your cup of tea I’ll give you that. But you can’t deny “Swagger Like Us” takes a dookie on anything Illmind has done his whole car— uh I mean last year.
look. i’m not saying Illmind is horrible.I think he got beats no doubt. honorable mention tho.
dj khalil should’ve been on that list…period…dude is on some next level shit…
Dope list. I think 9th should be in front of Khrysis and Illmind. Statik Selektah has been bringing the heat. Black Milk should be number 1.
The two tracks Khrysis did on Heltah Skeltah’s album are what keeps it in rotation for me. I can’t get enough of D.I.R.T.(Another Boot Camp Clik Yeah Song)(#6).
NICE LIST. I THINK BOTH 9TH AND JAKE ONE SHOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER ON THE LIST. THEY BOTH DID THEIR THING THIS YEAR!!! AND AGAIN, CAN WE PLEASE GET A JAKE ONE PRODUCER SPOTLIGHT?!?!?!?
Black milk is a beast, the first song of tronic is maybe the beat of the year… Still think that Khalil is something like a new doc dre, the way he drops smashing epic beats. (The beat ” on top now” on Calitroit is hot as hell). By the way, am i the only one who thinks calitroit was one of the best releases in 2008 ?
1
I got Black Milk on my number 1 too! Very nice list!
mmm woulda liked to see Ye on the list and Nic at least #2 or 3!
nice work giving Khrysis the props he so much deserves
Don Cannon is my number 1 producer to look out for in 09!! I know Kanye and Just Blaze will be heard from especially on BP3 Neptunes always come with a banger!
DJ Khalil?
You mean Khaled? who released ‘ Listenin ‘, that god awful piece of shite?
no..
khalil
Yo dc if u don’t know khalil from self scientific u need to do some homework right on bro’ ! the man is fire
smh @ people still confusing khalil with fat ass khaled
Just daily anti arab racism bro ! lol
Damn……no LabTechs???? Crazy
*sarcastic tone*
oh man. not the labtechs, how could i forget the labtechs
While I’m not as crazy about the LabTechs as my good friend Eric there, just because they weren’t all over the latest album dropped on every blog doesn’t mean they weren’t worth at least a mention (honorable)….The 14KT album was easily one of the better instrumental albums of the year then their work on Now On and Buff1 (again, I know they weren’t albums that were plastered all over the internet) were both tight work.
And I’ll quote Masta Ace to express my feelings on Nottz “change your producer’s name to Speed Nottz”…
I can’t really see Statik Selektah at #2. I mean, really? But that’s the beauty of lists, it sparks some fun debates. While I’m at it, I’m as big a Primo fan as anyone, but I don’t see him at #3, maybe 8 or 9…yeah picky picky.
On a good note, I do agree with Black Milk being number one! haha
I’ll stop ripping the list, but no doubt there should have been some mention Blue Sky Black Death in there somewhere…
I love lists….
Premier put out some tremendous work this year. Society is Brainwashed, That White, and Shake This were amongst some of the best beats of the year no?
Statik, 2 tremendously produced albums… thats almost 40 songs right there… The scary part is.. not one skippable beat
dj premier number One.
Dj Premier is number One.
no love for just blaze?? not even honorable mention
list me his work of 2008 and we’ll see.
oh thats right… 3 tracks that didn’t make the final cut of LAX, a co-produced track with a tacky and silly sample use and yeaaaaaaaaaah.
Really good list, but I don’t understand why 9th wonder is so far down. With all the work he did in 2008, I think he has shown the most growth, period: creativity/engineering, energy, & soul. Don’t forget, all the artist that work with him flow with their gift better because they are flying in to work with him. In my opinion, there’s not another beat maker out with his swagger, and I definitely think he should fall some where in the top five.
Dj Kahlil and Nottz was the only producer in 2008 that was on major and indie top albums that came with the heat last year to me, i think they should be number 1 and 2 or or tie…
1. Dj Khalil
2. Nottz
3. Dj Toomp
4. Dj Premier
5. 9th Wonder
6. Blackmilk
7. Jake One
8. Alchemist
9. Nicolay
10. Illmind