So, while preparing West Coast week, I found myself listening to heavy amounts of Dr. Dre. I felt it would be silly to have a West Coast week and not even have anything showcasing arguably the best producer in hip hop (not something I agree with, but many do) and undoubtedly one of the most influential cats of the genre. After plenty of listening, your boys Freddie C and Deez set out to create a single top 25. We realized it would be too hard to just form one list, so we each made our own list with about 1-3 lines justifying it. Of course, we always love discussion and debate. So set it off…
Deez’s Top 25
25. 50 Cent: “In Da Club”
- This was pretty necessary. Once those strings kick in it’s a wrap.
24. 2pac and Dr. Dre: “California Love”
- Rounds the top 3 of trademark Dr. Dre productions. Roger Troutman was the icing on the cake to this G-funk finale.
23. N.W.A.: “Appetite for Destruction”
- Similar to “100 Miles…” this track had me running along with it. The drum pattern was dope, kind of tribal throughout.
22. The Game and 50 Cent: “How We Do”
- I lost count at how many times I played this track. Game has a remarkable ear for beats, so it’s only fitting that he loaded up The Documentary with heavy Dr. Dre bangers.
21. Eminem: “Kill You”
- “Role Model” was originally in this spot, but “Kill You” deserves a spot here because more so than any other Dre beat, there isn’t much going on. It’s this ability to NOT add, to NOT overdo that made this track so good. Slim isn’t bad on it either.
20. Snoop Dogg: “Imagine”
- The most recent Dre beat on this list, and appropriately so. This beat is one of his most gentle and nostalgic beats. Fitting for the song, but you also can’t help but just reminisce.
19. Snoop Doggy Dogg: “Bitch Please”
- Even though the Slim Shady version is probably the better song, this joint (after some thinking) has the better beat. I feel like moving to Cali after listening to this joint.
18. G-Unit: “Poppin’ Them Thangs”
- It really was a toss up between this or “G’d Up.” The piano loops on both are insane.
17. N.W.A.: “Niggaz 4 Life”
- Another album I wish I could just slam on here, Efil4zaggin front to back provides classic after classic pieces of production. The sample usage is stellar and the end product is a jazz ode mixed with the classic G funk.
16. 50 Cent: “Gunz Come Out”
- The horns are something more appropriately paired up with Pete Rock, but Dre certainly handles his own and throws in a beautifully timed piano for good measure.
15. Snoop Doggy Dogg: “Murda Was the Case”
- Dre beautifully captures a mysterious and bleak atmosphere. All while making it thump.
14. N.W.A.: “100 Miles and Runnin’”
- Don’t you feel like you are running alongside the NWA for this entire track? I do.
13. Ice Cube and Dr. Dre: “Natural Born Killaz”
- Wish we got to hear more from these two. Joints like this are heavy in every form.
12. Snoop Doggy Dogg: “Gin and Juice”
- Smoother than better and perfectly in theme with the track. The chemistry between these two is surreal.
11. D.O.C: “Mind Blowin’”
- If I was able to, I’d throw on the whole No One Can Do It Better album on here.
10. Snoop Doggy Dogg: “What’s My Name”
- If “G Thang” is the beat most associated with Dre, “What’s My Name” would be second. Although it’s very similar, still implored different realms of production.
9. Dr. Dre: “What’s The Difference”
- This joint thumped hard. Very hard. Throw on Slim’s flow on it and this track is a problem.
8. Dr. Dre: “Keep Their Heads Ringin’”
- A mellow beat that walked a fine line between darkness and partying. Rarely do beats like this one come along and still keep hands in the air.
7. D.O.C: “It’s Funky Enough”
- Funk. Funk. Funk. Yeah, I believe it’s funky enough. Still bangs hard now.
6. The Firm: “Phone Tap”
- What’s the dilly? Such a dark track, and really should be used in just about every film.
5. N.W.A.: “Real Niggaz Don’t Die”
- Dre waste no time implementing the dark bass guitar and appropriate liberty bell sound into the quick pace joint that dudes with attitude were known for.
4. Lady of Rage: “Afro Puffs”
- If the West Coast had a “Boom Bap” similar to that of the East, it’s shown here.
3. Dr. Dre: “Xxplosive”
- Those drums? That Isaac flip? Lord… And the versatility to achieve perfection from Nate and Kurupt? Brilliant.
2. Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg: “Ain’t Nothing But A G Thang”
- A trademark beat with the most signature sound in West Coast hip hop. The timing and the layering is perfect. This IS Dr. Dre; his blood runs on this track more than any other.
1. Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg: “Deep Cover”
- From the first light spark to the last piano hit, this is undoubtedly one of the most powerful beats in just about every category of Dre’s arsenal.
Honourable Mentions:
- G Unit: “G’d Up”
- The D.O.C: “No One Can Do It Better”
- Dr. Dre: “Let Me Ride”
- The D.O.C: “The D.O.C and the Doctor”
- Dr. Dre: “Fuck You”
- Snoop Doggy Dogg: “Ain’t No Fun”
- Eminem: “Guilty Conscious”
Freddie C’s Top 25
25. Eminem: “Guilty Conscience”
- Rumor has it that Busta Rhymes threw his head through a window on a tour bus after hearing “Guilty Conscience.” Dre’s heavy piano strokes can do that to people.
24. Snoop Doggy Dogg: “Sunshine (It’s You I Adore)”
- An unreleased gem with a dreamy and, ahem, smoky tribute to one of Snoop and Dre’s favorite pastimes.
23. 50 Cent: “Heat”
- The high-water mark of Dr. Dre’s experimentation with sound effect-driven beats.
22. Dr. Dre: “Bad Intentions”
- An underrated track found on The Wash Soundtrack is one of Dre’s better party-starters.
21. G-Unit: “G’d Up”
- Another banger on the keys, the haunting piano suited G-Unit to a T.
20. Snoop Doggy Dogg: “Boss’ Life”
- Along with Snoop’s “Imagine,“ Dr. Dre has impressed on his piano-driven beats recently.
19. N.W.A: “100 Miles and Runnin’”
- Dr. Dre created a feeling that you were running right along side the rest of the N.W.A.
18. 50 Cent: “In Da Club”
- Allegedly an original beat for Detox, you couldn’t go anywhere in 2003 without hearing it.
17. Snoop Doggy Dogg: “Bitch Please”
- Dre’s beat oozes gangsta swagger way before swagger was even popular.
16. Dr. Dre: “Let Me Ride”
- A hip-hop update of the Funkadelic classic “Mothership Connection.” ‘64 Impalas became the new Motherships.
15. Dr. Dre: “Keep Their Heads Ringin’”
- Dr. Dre says he isn’t happy with a beat until he plays it in the truck, so “Keep Their Heads Ringin’” must be the prototype.
14. N.W.A: “Alwayz Into Somethin’”
- Arguably the first G-gunk beat, it was the ending of the N.W.A and the eventual start of Dr. Dre’s solo career.
13. Dr. Dre and Ice Cube: “Natural Born Killaz”
- The start of the since-shelved “Heltah Skeltah” project, one of Dr. Dre’s noisiest, wildest beats went hand-in-hand with one of his and Cube’s more explicit songs to date.
12. Snoop Doggy Dogg: “Murder was the Case”
- The whine of the synthesizer against the bells that tolled for Snoop Dogg created an ominous feel appropriate for Snoop’s deal with the devil.
11. 2pac – “California Love”
- One of the last of the G-funk beats, the unrelenting piano and Roger Troutman made the anthem for California.
10. Snoop Doggy Dogg – “Gin and Juice”
- The only thing smoother than the beat is Snoop’s hair in the “Amerikaz Most Wanted” video.
9. Dr. Dre: “What’s The Difference”
- Not just anybody can make “Parce Que Tu Crois” into a certified neck-breaker.
8. Snoop Doggy Dogg: “What’s My Name”
- A shining example of G-funk at its finest, complete with George Clinton and Funkadelic samples. Sampling “Atomic Dog” for a rapper named Snoop Doggy Dogg was the perfect storm.
7. N.W.A: “Real Niggaz Don’t Die”
- Utilizing several of the most sampled songs in hip-hop history, Dr. Dre crafted a song that is equal parts hypnotic and defiant.
6. The D.O.C: “It’s Funky Enough”
- “Ya’ll ready for this?” 20 years after its release, this funk-heavy jam still pops up on radio playlists and video games.
5. The Firm: “Phone Tap”
- As big a flop as the album was, the concept of a whole song done as if recorded on a phone tap over a Godfather-esque instrumental was genius.
4. Lady of Rage: “Afro Puffs”
- This subwoofer-blower was a dark precursor to Dr. Dre’s “Heltah Skeltah” phase which included “Natural Born Killaz” and the Aftermath compilation.
3. Dr. Dre: “Xxplosive”
- A simple couple of twangs of the guitar made this modern-day “Ain’t No Fun” into a classic in its own right.
2. Dr. Dre – “Deep Cover”
- The haunting bassline and the lone piano stroke created a foreboding atmosphere befitting of the movie and subject matter.
1. Dr. Dre: “Ain’t Nothing But A G Thang”
- The quintessential G-funk beat that put the West Coast on top for four glorious years. When you think Dr. Dre, you think of this beat.
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This is a big deal. And no… Still D.R.E isn’t on the list, we know that. Scott Storch was all over that one though. So… yeah
This is a big deal! Link included.
Don’t forget:
Mary J Blige: Family Affair
Eminem – The Real Slim Shady
Eve – Let Me Blow Your Mind
If I can’t, X, Break Ya Neck, Doggy Dogg World, Lost One and so many others!!
Damn I remember back in the days when I used to buy a hip hop album only because Dre had productions credited on it, like Young Buck’ buck the world and much others but I learned to appreciate the rest of the songs.
LOV’ DRE
LET ME BLOW YOUR MIND!! oh man, I wanted to put that on my 25 list, badly. that’s near the top of my honorable mentions, which I failed to submit. Mostly because I’d put at least 25 honorable mentions
whooooa! this is going to plague my mind all weekend!
Dre’s top productions… hmm… that’s a good one.
really though, this is dope as fuck!
honestly, I’d have put ‘Kill You’ higher up the list… but that’s only cause I was a Marshall Mathers maniac at the time when it dropped, and I literally did a flip on my bed when I heard the beat for the first time. Big up to ‘Afro Puffs’, for real.
and I can’t front… one of my all time favorite Dre beats is ‘Nas Is Coming’… (yes we know the chorus is crap, ha ha) That shit is EPIC!
man… you guys got me thinking hard now
reeespect on the great work!
Mindbender
Yo shout to Deez and Freddie C killed this list. Big ups to both y’all
Addi… NAS IS COMING???!?!?! nooooooooooooooooooooo
Kill You, that beat never hit me that hard as a great beat until I really started analyzing for this list. Such a tremendous dope dope beat.
Dr. Dre didnt produce “Bad Intentions”, it was a cat named Mo’Hogany (dre even says this at the end of the song).
erm, sorry guy’s but i think you overlooked Above The Law’s 1st album, tracks like untouchable and another execution would be in there for me……and what about been there, done that?
Ima serious Andre Young fan so im gon nit pick jus a tad bit. “Bad Intentions” was prod. by Mohagony, not Dre. A lot of people get that confused tho. I’m stuck on stupid that “Bitches Aint Shit” aint on here. Boyz N Da Hood couldve easily cracked da top 25, The Formula, Dopeman. OMG!!! yall left out Fuck The Police, just the controversey that followed that song alone validates its importance of being top 25 status. “Puffin On Blunts & Drinkin Tangueray” is one. I like the “Afro Puffs” but i would’ve chose da video version over the “Above The Rim” version. I respect some of the picks, but overall it was a lil 2 recent and mainstream 4 me. I definitely appreciate the hard work yall put in on here, yall true hip-hop heads, i jus wished yall wouldve dug a lil bit deeper so da casual Dre fans would have a better understanding of why he’s considered argubaly da G.P.O.A.T.
yea, the kill you track was an interpolation of Jacques Loussier’s “Pulsion” joint. I thought it was actually sampled.
My thing with Bad Intentions is I’ve seen Mahogany and Dre listed as co-producers, so I included it. Yeah he shouts out Mahogany, but I figure it’s Mahogany who put down the original instrumental, etc, and then Dre puts his touches on it to take it from a good beat to a GREAT beat. That’s the process he’s used for years, and some people discredit him for that. But in my eyes, you can either have a good beat and leave it as it were (the Mahogany version), OR you can have an absolute slapper after Dr. Dre messes with it and puts his name on it. So that’s my rationale for Bad Intentions
Puffin on Blunts was on my original list. But I think the real highlight on that song was Kurupt’s verse. I’m not sure which beat from Above the Law I’d put on here. Grand Finale, maybe? Boyz N tha Hood, I could see.
Also, not a big fan of the beats from the Aftermath compilation. Been There Done That, ehh. I liked East Coast/West Coast Killa more. Also, since I’m partial to co-production, Puppet Master anyone?
although in defense of Been There Done That, that live version is pretty awesome.
And ya’ll lucky I didn’t put up any World Class Wrecking Cru stuff up here. Outside of “Surgery” and maybe another track, I can’t listen to his WCWC stuff lol
Nice, will def DL
One track that comes to mind is The Game – Start From Scratch (though Storch was involved I guess)
That beat is phenomenal
Kurupt did kill it on Puffin On Blunts Rage murdered that track 2. She received a quotable 4 that verse, back when “The Source”was more respectable, waayyyy more respectable. Kurupt shined a lil more cuz he had the longer verse, he jus fuckin zoned out on there on the freestyle tip. That was one of his better traits, back when he was in his prime.
Ant – I love your knowledge on Dre man. About Puffin on Blunts, am I crazy for thinking Kurupt dissed Above the Law when he said he “don’t drink no fuckin V.S.O.P.”? or am I just reading too much into it?
Ant Fly,
Of course we dug deep. It’s not about it being mainstream or too recent, the best beats were the best beats and they made this list. Fuck The Police isn’t on here because it wasn’t that great of a beat, and certainly wouldn’t be on here for it’s controversy factor. The fact of the matter is that producers develop over time, it only makes sense that some of their better beats come out after they get 1-2 albums under their belt. Above the Law’s album was simply just… kinda grim, kinda dull production wise. It wasn’t making me rewind.
Yeah, B’z ain’t Shit was considered. Puffin on Blunts was more lyrical if anything. I think it takes a very critical ear to realize like joints like Kill You and G’d Up are some of Dre’s best work. We can’t ignore these just because they are recent and mainstream.
Sid, Start From Scratch has Dre ALL over it.
But it does call into question what qualifies as production. I mean, not every producer has a Co-producer listed as much as Dre like this. Unless you are P Diddy, and we all know what he does.
It’s a little hazy. But I believe that guys like Daz D, Mel Man, Storch, etc had a big part in making his more recent beats
Thoughts on my explanation of Bad Intentions, about 8 posts up? The co-production/ghost production thing usually pops up when Dre is mentioned
I’d add the remix of Bilal’s Fast Lane to the list, that’s a track I’ve never got tired of hearing….
Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg – On The Blvd. (Prod. by Dr. Dre & Jelly Roll)
That Track Was Bangin’.
“I drink da muthafuckin O.G./O.E.” U kno what, i neva thought about it that way, but u definitely could b on 2 sumthin. I believe A.T.L. was still signed 2 Ruthless i.e. Eazy. Plus back then Snoop and Tha Dogg Pound was goin in on any & evrybody that was affiliated wit Eazy. Check “What Would U Do” when Daz & Kurupt were throwin hella shots at B.G. Knockout and his partner, Plus DJ Yella. (” I see a few bitch ass niggaz layin low on da East Coast, Yella”) So u might b right on that one, nice catch.
I went digging in my crates, and this is what I found, for the sake of mentioning. “Chin Check”-N.W.A. 1999, “Puffin’ On Blunts And Drankin’ Tanqueray”-Dr. Dre 1992, “East Coast/West Coast Killas”(Album Version)-Group Therapy 1996, “Fast Lane” ft. Dr. Dre & Jadakiss-Bilal 2000, “Zoom”(Bulworth The Soundtrack)-Dr. Dre & LL Cool J 1998, “When It Rains It Pours”(Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ Soundtrack)-50 Cent 2005, “Hustlers” ft. The Game & Marsha Ambrosius-Nas 2006, “What” ft. Truth Hurts-Eve 2002, “Westside Story” ft. 50 Cent-The Game 2004, “Boss’ Life” ft. Nate Dogg-Snoop Dogg 2007, “Get You Some” ft. Q-Tip & Marsha from Floetry-Busta Rhymes 2006, “Encore” ft. Dr. Dre & 50 Cent-Eminem 2004, “The Set Up”-Obie Trice 2003, “Oh!” ft. Busta Rhymes-Obie Trice 2003, “Shit Hits The Fan” ft. Eminem & Dr. Dre-Obie Trice 2003, “G’d Up”-G Unit 2003, and last, whatever beats he did on “Truthfully Speaking”-Truth Hurts.
John Cauner – all good beats. When It Rains It Pours is a personal fav of mine. and I see you on G’d Up, it’s #21 on my list
well, it’s definatly not easy for a huge producer like Dre
DEEZ said it str8 out……the whole D.O.C album would be up there….lol….Im with you on that one bro….and that funky enough joint…..shhhiiieet!!!!…..you put that anywhere…and its still gets people moving….These list are good….good job
Sean Deez, mainstream or recent might have been the wrong choice of words when i was describing the list, but the point i was tryin 2 make was that, IMO, there were lesser known joints that couldve replaced a few that were on there. Like “Say What U Say” & “My Dads Gone Crazy” from The Eminem Show. The drum pattern on da latter track is crazy. What about “Losin Ur Mind” from Xhibit’s Man vs. Machine, another crazy joint. I love every song on either list but i jus felt that some songs like California Love (depending on what version u were refering to), Been There Done That and a few others could’ve fell back 2 make room 4 slightly better tracks. I respect ur opinion tho, hopefully u understand mine.
The California Love I used was not the album version, I went with the better-known version with the video, radio play, etc. That one holds a special place in my heart, I think I mentioned in another article that when I first heard California Love, I was convinced it was the greatest piece of music ever made.
what about regulate?
that beat went hard in my opinion
Freddie C, i’ll def ride wit da video version. I remember the1st day that video debut on MTV. They played both versions in that video, but after the Mad Max version went off n the party version came on i went fuckin nuts!!! After the 1st day, they only played the radio version all the time, man i was pissed.
Ish, Regulate was produced by Warren himself, who probably had a hand in a lot of what Dre did as well..
“Fast lane” was/is dope. “Nas Is Coming” was a dope track. Love both watchers.
By far the best producer ever, Anything he touches Platinum. I personally think “Bitch I’m Back” by Slim Thug-produce by Dr. Dre is a dope beat to smoke a bowl to or maybe even cruise to it , just cuz i never saw that collab coming, or “Outstanding” by Lil Wayne-produced by Dr. Dre is good…again maybe just cuz of the collab (Not a Lil Wayne fan). Good tracks but not his best, just thought i would mention it cuz im sure not a lot of people knew of that. or maybe u did.
Does anybody know if “Where’s Your Money”by Busta ft. ODB was produced by dr. dre?, i know he had something to do with that.
Another rare track produced by dre, “The Last Three Minutes”by-Chris Botti-produced by Dre, Chris botti is a great jazz muscian…i don’t know if he was known to much. Defineatly good music when you hear Dre on a different genre, seems to always keep that crazy ass drum pattern.
Props to Isbjerg for the hook up on the cover art for the download. Couldn’t get it in the file….just right click and save image as.
Both of the list are tight..but what happened to Next Episode, Hello and Zoom dem 3 right there u can alwayz rock out 2, well that my 2 cents.
Deez,
You did your thing on this one. Especially when it comes down to the number 1 and number 2 spots, which, often times, are the hardest tracks to pick regardless of who’s Top List you’re putting together. Bravo!!!! Peace
The Next Episode never even came to mind J Rizzle. I don’t think its a great beat, but a great mood. It would be hard to take anything off this list for that.
Chris, Fred hooked it up too. Pushed me to the limit on it.
Dynamic, you gotta up that track
THAT COVER ART IS ILL
lol @ ‘nuthin but a g thang”
Dre just added drums on the original sample “I wanna do somethin freaky to ya”. yeah very creative, right? lol. I’m not even hatin since the song is definitely one of my favorite but damn there is nothin genius about the production, now Snoop’s rhymes the other hand…
http://www.zshare.net/audio/5816339043db6c3a/
Here’s the Chris Botti track, if anybody intersted. Check it out, nice work i think
Both beats on Bilal’s album are underrated, besides, where else would you hear Jada over a Dre beat?
Great list, I’d take most of these joints into mine too. My number one might have been Busta Rhymes & ODB – Where’s yur money
I was so pissed when i saw this joint didnt make the bi bang album…
@ Mike: If you put it like that… Dre always just puts his drums to some shit other people play on the keyboard… So thats really no argument…
Are you sure you two didn’t write these together? lol. Very few quibbles from me though – both strong selections. My only honourable mention would be Pump Pump off Doggystyle – possibly Dre’s heaviest beat along with Deep Cover. Good lookin out.
2 of amerikaz most wanted? I know daz claims he did it. idk.
Nice list, Dre needs a top 100 list instead lol
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t126/Isbjerg/DreDay2.jpg
My version of the cover for this Dre Production Album….
Sorry about the delay, but Ive been busy…
Daz produced Afro Puffs, Dre gets way too much credit for a lot of Deathrow stuff
would love proof on that accusation.
Dre has had a lot of ghost producers, Daz, Warren G, Luis Resto. This fact has been exposed in the past
Isberg no problem my man. I appreciate you hooking that cover up on short notice. Thanks again.
like I’ve been saying, like Snoop and a lot of other people have been saying – just because you bring in the sample doesn’t mean you’re the producer. We can’t really prove anything either way with the ghostrpoducer stuff. Shit, DJ Quik allegedly produced the vast majority of All Eyez On Me
If u look inside of the “Above The Rim ” album cover, it says that both Dre & Daz are co-producers on “Afro Puffs”. I dont understand y people discredit Dre 4 using other producers on his projects. He does sort of the same thing Quincy Jones does, they both tell the musicians to play what they’re hearing inside of their head. Nobody, to my knowledge anyway, accused Quincy of taking credit when he didnt deserve it, so whats the difference with Dre. Producing is much deeper than jus bangin on keys.
smh @ Still Dre not bein on this list!! lol
wtf @ Phone Tap too get outta here lol
Hmm cool piece! Myself, I’d put 50’s ‘Outta Control Remix’ as near the top of my favourite Dre productions. Also, no ‘Still Dre’ is a bit of a shocker.
Also, ‘Bad Intentions’ is not really a full Dre production either. Check the credits, although it’s fair to say a lot of Dre’s ‘co-productions’ owe far more to him than they do the main producer…
what about “ghetto fabolous” from ras kass’ rasassination album? hard bangin track in my opinion
Schmoove – I think Scu-B-Doo (i think that’s his name) produced Ghetto Fabolous
His Name is Stu B. Doo. And what about “Eve of Destruction”, “The Message” and, “Say What You Say”
Great article.
Thanks for including a download link.
Great list, and thanks for the download.
My missing picks:
Michel’le – No More Lies
Dogg Pound – Niggas Don’t Give a Fuck (from the Poetic Justice soundtrack)
First off, thanks for the lists. But, I do wonder, if you don’t think Dre is the best Producer in hip-hop history, then who is? You can’t just disagree without offering up who you think is best, right? Also, Thank you Dramastic for somebody finally putting Michel’le up there. Damn. Glad to see someone recognized Phone Tap, it needed to be included.
Other notable omissions/considerations::
Above the Law – Livin Like A Hustler (easily should be on any top 25 list)
Above the Law – Untouchable
Obie Trice – Bodyguard
Mary J Blige – family affair
KnocTurnal – Bad Intentions or Straight West Coastin 2
Snoop – Tha Shiznit and Aint No Fun
Xzibit – front 2 Back
Nate Dogg – Your Wife
Dre – The Watcher 1 or 2
Hittman – Last Days
Bilal – Sally
Eminem – If I Get Locked Up Tonite (might be by FunkFlex)
Busta Rhymes – Break Yo Neck
Dre & LL Cool J – Zoom (wasn’t his best beat perhaps, but notable for LL)
You like these? Cool. I have a list of the best Hood movies of all time, as seen by the ‘hood. Check the list if you like right here.
http://thefilmnest.com/2009/04/10-movies-the-hood-loves-the-most/
Peace, The Rake
I put a few other cats ahead of Dr. Dre. DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Marley Marl, Rza just to name a few.
I might even be tempted to put Muggs above Dre, but that’s a close call
Deez-
The only ones in my conversation are Premier, Dre and Timbaland…if we are talking greatest ever. Those have been in my mix over the last 5 years or so, really looking at history of the genre. Pete Rock, great originator but couldn’t stretch it out over time. Marley Marl, not a long enough body of work. RZA for me, way too inconsistent. You take away first two Wu Albums and a few of the early stuff, what are you left with? Tons of experimental stuff that didnt work, IMHO.
You must be on the East Coast I take it? Haha. Its funny how deep down, we still seem to rep our coasts. West Side til I die, ya know? Muggs, again, never on the level of a Dre to me. Good work but nothing noteworthy on this level. I think Kanye has a shot if he keeps diversifying, pushing boundaries, to join the conversation…and although he is super young, I am feeling Black Milk big time right now. Good lookin!
Peace, The Rake
^ LMAO @ your case against RZA and Pete Rock.
“Take away Chronic & Doggystyle and a few of his earlier works (lets say No One Can Do It Better & Straight Outta Compton) and what are you left with?” lol @ that thought process.
What Rake… lol
You wanna throw Timbaland into this conversation, but he’s been a better R&B producer than he has been a hip hop producer. I won’t take anything away from Timbaland, and he did create his own sound, but I don’t think he had any particular beats that could hang with a Pete Rock or Premier beat.
Marley Marl didn’t have a long history of work?! Pretty much running the show in late 80’s East Coast hip hop and producing full albums for Big Daddy Kane and Kool G Rap didn’t do anything for you?
Pete Rock not only created 2 of the best produced albums ever, he essentially created the hip hop remix. And probably remixed work better than any other producer out there. Wanna talk about soul sampling, this dude brought it to it’s forefront.
Rza’s inconsistency can’t be called into question. We are talking about a dude from 1992-1997 didn’t really have a bad beat in his arsenal. Aside from DJ Premier, no one has crafted that many classics in that time span. But I mean, lol, I think you are down playing Cuban Linx, Ironman, Tical, Liquid Swords, and ODB’s Return. Are you saying that isn’t enough?!!?
I’m actually from Toronto, so I don’t rep any particular coast, but I’m heavily prone to the east. I don’t get how you are downgrading some of the ones I’ve mentioned, but upgrade Timbaland and Kanye to this conversation. I never thought Pete Rock being in question… was a question.
Rake, I really can’t see your thought process with the Rza especially. “experimental stuff that didn’t work.” So Liquid Swords (Deemed one of the greatest hip hop albums ever produced) was experimental? You are calling beats like Ice Cream and Verbal Intercourse experimental?
And even if they were experimental, isn’t that what Timbaland does on a day to day basis? Messing around with Baby noises, and beat box sounds?
Justine—That is genius analysis on your part. Typical. Yeah, take away 4 albums that pretty much everybody loves and what r you left with…great argument! Take away 4 albums from anybodies body of work and what do you have. F’ing brilliant! I like that you put forth your argument too….way to stand behind your flimsy statements. You want to come at my reasoning, present your own…something constructive that actually has merit. Did you list your best hip-hop producers? Oh…I didnt think so.
The Rake
http://thefilmnest.com/2009/04/10-movies-the-hood-loves-the-most/
Full disclosure…I’m a Wu Head.
RZA = 36 Chambers, Tical, Dirty Version, Ironman, Cuban Linx, Liquid Swords, Wu Tang Forever, TheW (I think it was slept on). These are classic albums my friend produced by ONE man with a little help from his other producers.
I’m repeating what Deez is saying but…
Dr. Dre is one of the top producers, if not the top. At least to me he is, reason being, I love every track Sean and Freddie posted on their lists, as well as, the honorable mentions. I won’t download only because I have all those tracks already. It is hard for me to pick a favorite. But I always come back and play from time to time, “Let me ride”. Ain’t nothing like cruisin through Miami, bumpin’ “Let me ride”.
Dr. Dre isn’t my favorite rapper. He has a distinct voice and flow. But to ME, if you don’t write your own rhymes, you shouldn’t be rapping. I became a fan of “Let me ride” before I knew he didn’t write much of his lyrics.
I guess like the way I still like Ross’s “Hustling”, even though he’s a fraud and can’t write his own Hooks. Or the way folks love lil Wayne even though him and his daddy are Fags and you can’t understand half what he’s saying with auto-tunes. Just my opinion.
Thanks for this, guys.
Just read through this, man, if you don’t get Timbaland off this list…Just Blaze would break a Yamaha over his head.
Preemo
Dre
RZA (come on, now)
…
[I don't even care after that.]
Charity, I don’t get what you are trying to say?
Premier, Dre and RZA are locks on top producers of all time, no question, period. The rest beyond that are certainly debatable.
My Q: Why did yall put 100 Miles and Running so low on the list? Freddie put it below In Da Club!! I think Let Me Blow Your Mind should have been on there too.