Wired 25: The 25 Best Producers In Hip-Hop Right Now

This week’s Wired 25 focuses on the person who is just as important as the MCs when it comes to making songs. The producers. The sometimes unsung heroes of the music we love are the composers and beatmakers who keep our feet moving and our heads nodding everywhere you go. These are the people most responsible for finding and elevating and inspiring the proper sound out your favorite artists when they sometimes cannot find it themselves. Ranging from the young to the old, the solo producers to the full fledged production teams; these knob twisters and MPC pad musicians can be considered the lifeblood of Hip-Hop. This week, we took a look at the 25 best producers in the game right now.

Hit below to check out where your favorite beatsmiths ranked and get a listen to some of their best work.

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25. Tyler, The Creator

The talented rapper/produer/lunatic is the most visible member of the Odd Future crew. He doesn’t think much of his raps if you take his tweets to heart, but he prides himself on his beats.

Tyler, The Creator ft. Frank Ocean and Syd – “Analog 2”

24. Boi-1da

As one of the biggest producers to break out of Canada, Boi-1da expanded outside of Drake’s camp to craft joints with Eminem, Slaughterhouse and more.

Slaughterhouse – “Goodbye”

23. Sledgren

The in-house producer for Wiz Khalifa, Sledgren’s trippy sound has become a Taylor Gang trademark.

Wiz Khalifa ft. Rick Ross & Amber Rose – “Never Been (Part 2)”

22. Symbolic One

One of Hip-Hop’s best kept secrets was out after he collaborated with Kanye West on his last few albums.

Phonte ft. Carlitta Durand – “Gonna Be A Beautiful Night”

21. The Alchemist

Even though the M-O-B-B- is likely no more, Alan the Chemist kept cooking up with Action Bronson, Domo Genesis and more.

Domo Genesis – No Idols 

20. Salaam Remi

Salaam Remi has been the Nas’ go-to guy for the beats for a long time. Back in the day, that could’ve been a punchline, but with Nas holding the crown with the best album of 2012 so far, Remi’s earned his spot.

Nas – “The Don”

19. Lex Luger

Lex Luger brought the grimey back to the club on Flockavelli, but has continued to prove that his sound is more than hard bass and stomp out music.

Rick Ross ft. French Montana – “Off The Boat”

18. araabMUZIK

araabMUZIK found his niche with the Dipset, but he contines to grow with his one of a kind production and live performances.

Slaughterhouse – “Hammer Dance”

17. Pharrell Williams

Even though he’s busy doing a million other things, Skateboard P can still throw down behind the boards.

Frank Ocean – “Sweet Life”

16. Just Blaze

If percentage was a stat on this list, Justin would be a whole lot higher. Every time “produced by Just Blaze” is on a song, you automatically know it’s a smash. Although his production is few and far between in this day and age, it’s hard to think of the last time you heard a wack Just Blaze beat. Go ahead, think. We’ll wait.

Kendrick Lamar ft. Dr. Dre – “Compton”

15. Jim Jonsin

When he’s not busy running his racing company, Jim Jonsin is still a safe bet to take a rapper from Urban to Mainstream radio.

Usher ft. Rick Ross – “Lemme See”

14. Bangladesh

Even though he puts his foot in his mouth more than he should, Bangladesh’s beats aint nothing to play around with.

Rihanna ft. A$AP Rocky – “Cockiness (Remix)”

13. Noah “40” Shebib

We all know that he is the most influential person in Drake’s musical career, but it’s when Noah “40” Shebib works with other artists, he shows off his true ability.

Nas ft. Aaron Hall – “Bye Baby”

12. Swizz Beats

Even though he has 20 million other jobs in the world, the legendary producer still has a pulse on what sounds hot now.

Nas ft. Miguel and Swizz Beatz – “Summer On Smash”

11. Diplo

The sign of a great producer is when they can take an artist, no matter their genre, and bring them into his world. Nobody does this as well as Diplo.

Wale ft. Big Sean – “Slight Work”

10. Harry Fraud

Who thought that it would be a producer, and not a rapper, that would help bring New York back. Brooklyn’s Harry Fraud has the best drop in the business with beats to match.

Curren$y – “Sixty Seven Turbo Jet”

9. Oak And Pop

Pop Wansel along with Oak Felder have created tons of hits ranging from Big Sean to Wiz Khalifa, but it was their crafting of new star, Elle Varner, that might be their best work to date.

Elle Varner – “Sound Proof Room”

8. Kanye West

Yeezy may get a ton of help from people when it is studio time, but his unmatched vision when it comes to creating music is what seperates him from the entire pack.

Kanye West, Pusha T. and Ghostface Killah – “New God Flow”

7. Jahlil Beats

He looks like a child, but his style is quite grown. Aside from Rick Ross, the success of Meek Mill might be most attributed to a real baby face killer in Jahlil Beats.

Meek Mill ft. Big Sean – “Burn”

6. Young Chop

The Chi-town resident took the ball that Lex Luger threw two years ago and ran with it to the end zone. “I Don’t Like,” and the new heater “Mula,” are instant club smashes.

Big Sean ft. French Montana – “Mula”

5. Justice League

Rick Ross ft. Andre 3000 – “Sixteen”

4. T-Minus

Tyler Minus is the latest and possibly greatest out of the pool of talented Toronto producers. The young upstart has created a signature sound all his own and has had more number one hits than you can shake a stick at.

Kendrick Lamar – “Swimming Pools (Drank)”

3. No ID

Not only is he the VP of Def Jam Records, but No ID is responsible for a majority of some of the best quality Hip-Hop out right now. He masterminded Nas’ return to prominence on Life Is Good, set up Big Sean for superstardom, and banged out another quality project from Common. All in a day’s work.

Nas – “Daughters”

2. Hit-Boy

He’s been hailed by many as the second coming of Kanye West, and with record with every relevant rapper under his belt; the only thing left is to take over the rap game. Let’s see what happens.

Kanye West, Jay-Z & Big Sean – “Clique”

1. Mike Will 

As we speak, there are three of his songs (“No Lie,” “Turn On The Lights,” and “Bandz A Make Her Dance”) in the top 10 of the Billboard Rap Charts. Enough said.

Juicy J. ft. Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz – “Bandz A Make Her Dance”