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50 of the surest Hip-Hop Producers of 2018

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Producers have long been the architects of hip-hop's largest hits. but this 12 months, they took center stage in a method in all probability unseen. Mike WiLL Made-It took the helm of the Creed II soundtrack. Swizz Beatz and Metro Boomin crafted their personal fan- and critic-beloved albums. And Kanye West—all the time the middle of attention—generated excitement through producing everything of 5 expected albums in five consecutive weeks of the spring and summer (Pusha-T's Daytona, children See Ghosts with youngster Cudi, Nas' Nasir, Teyana Taylor's okay.T.S.E. and his own Ye).
whereas the aforementioned hip-hop superproducers have confirmed to reign supreme, even dipping into other genres (shoutout to Mustard and Pharrell Williams), newer beatmakers have additionally staked their claims. CashMoneyAp went from a sort-beat purveyor to one of hip-hop's most in-demand younger producers. Tay Keith led to one of the vital energizing producer tags—and a few hearth beats to match. And TrapMoneyBenny came out of nowhere to craft one of the crucial beat songs of 2018, Drake's "In My emotions," and was rewarded handedly with a shoutout by using the megastar rapper on the song.
old faculty met new school with OGs like Cool & Dre, Scott Storch, and Irv Gotti making comebacks. John Cunningham helped XXXTentacion etch his musical legacy while J. Cole furthered his personal, both lyrically and musically. Murda Beatz became a heavyweight whereas Boi-1da and Hit-Boy maintained their revered vet statuses.
XXL highlighted the work of 50 producers who were liable for crafting the sonic backdrops that soundtracked hip-hop in 2018.

  • 30 Roc
    After stacking hits like "Rake It Up" and "Bartier Cardi" in 2017, 30 Roc continued making bangers in 2018. apart from govt producing Lil Yachty's sophomore set, Lil Boat 2, the Bronx-bred beatmaker also worked on Jay Rock's "King's lifeless," Bhad Bhabie's "Gucci Flip Flops" and Travis Scott's "Stargazing."
  • Allen Ritter
    Allen Ritter's fingerprint may well be found in every single place hip-hop tracks in 2018—from Jay Rock's Redemption to Drake's Scorpion. The new york native also co-produced distinctive facts on Metro Boomin's epic not All Heroes wear Capes and Travis Scott's Astroworld.
  • Benny Blanco
    With grooves that transcend pop, hip-hop, dance, R&B and every little thing in between, Benny Blanco managed to land tracks on albums launched by using an eclectic community of artists, including Keith city, Cardi B, Nas, Trill Sammy, Juice Wrld, Kanye West and Lil Dicky. Lil Dicky's multi-platinum tune "Freaky Friday," which Blanco co-produced with Mustard, peaked at No. eight on Billboard's scorching a hundred chart.
  • Boi-1da
    Boi-1da has been certainly one of hip-hop's elite producers for practically a decade now, and that stronghold showed no signal of slipping up this yr.. A 2019 Grammy nominee (Producer of the year, Non-Classical), 1da laid down heat for the likes of Drake ("God's Plan"), Eminem ("fortunate You"), The Carters ("friends") and Jay Rock ("Win").
  • Cardo
    Cardo bought hits—and his greatest got here in 2018. After taking part with Boi-1da on "God's Plan" for Drake, the Grammy-nominated producer put in work on two of the year's most anticipated  albums: culture II by way of Migos and Black Panther: The Album soundtrack. His beats had been front and center on big Bossin Vol. 2, his Def Jam-disbursed joint project with Payroll Giovanni.
  • CashMoneyAp
    CashMoneyAp first garnered consideration as an unknown beatmaker leasing "type beat" instrumentals by way of YouTube. Now based, he is been identified for his placements with the likes of Ty Dolla $ign, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, YoungBoy not ever Broke once again and Lil Skies. His excessive-pitched producer tag is relatively memorable, too.
  • ChaseTheMoney
    while J. Cole and J.I.D alternate bars on "Off Deez"—the second single from the Dreamville neophyte's DiCaprio 2—it be the ChaseTheMoney-produced beat that sets the stage for the lyrical acrobatics. it be just one of a handful of fireplace instrumentals for which the St. Louis-bred producer is responsible. he is also laced Ski masks The slump God, Lil Yachty, Smokepurpp and Valee.
  • Cool & Dre
    Hate it or like it, Cool & Dre are again on proper. The veteran tandem—go-to guys all the way through the mid-2000s—made some big noise by contributing a couple of tracks to every thing Is Love, the shock joint album from Jay-Z and Beyoncé. The Miami duo additionally went all of the way up to Detroit to team up with Royce da 5'9" for his J. Cole-featured book of Ryan single, "Boblo Boat."
  • Cubeatz
    Cubeatz saved busy in 2018, cuing up beats for every person from good judgment ("everybody Dies") to 6ix9ine ("Fefe"). His tracks have been some precise Billboard monsters: The Nicki Minaj-assisted "Fefe" at No. four on the pop charts, whereas Cubeatz's work on Travis Scott's "Sicko Mode" gave the producer his first No. 1 music.
  • D.A. Doman
    In 2018, Tyga proved that his hit-making prowess has no longer dulled, thanks in part to a pair of singles produced with the aid of D.A. Doman. "taste" and "Swish" both have a distinctive summery, sample-distorted sound—hallmarks of the Illinois beatmaker's aesthetic. His steel drum-pushed beat for "Zeze," Kodak Black's latest chart climber, is nothing but net.
  • DJ Durel
    Splitting time between being the authentic DJ for Migos and crafting beats alongside Quavo, DJ Durel helps the Migos get the birthday party begun, a technique or an additional. apart from working on 10 songs on lifestyle II (including the infectious "Narcos") and yet another three on Takeoff's The remaining Rocket, Durel dropped his own Migos-guested heater, "scorching summer time," in July.
  • Mustard
    Mustard hit the jackpot when he signed Ella Mae to his 10 Summers imprint. while the R&B songstress' triple-platinum "Boo'd Up" was released in 2017, the Mustard-produced track in reality made its mark in 2018 incomes a couple of Grammy nominations. however Mustard also prolonged his Midas touch to legends like Lil Wayne, T-ache and Mariah Carey, as well as leaders of the brand new school like Cardi B and accepted collaborator, YG. The los angeles native additionally co-produced Lil Dicky's smash hit, "Freaky Friday."
  • Frank Dukes
    Following early placements with street rappers like Joel Ortiz and Ghostface Killah, Frank Dukes has long gone on to beat the pop charts. An government producer on each The Weeknd's My dear despair and the self-titled debut from Camila Cabello, the multi-platinum Dukes also made sure his presence become felt on the hip-hop charts with instrumentals made for Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, Gunna, Mozzy and Cardi B.
  • Hit-Boy
    "Sicko Mode" is Travis Scott's first single to suitable the Billboard hot a hundred. It's a first as well for Hit-Boy, who aside from contributing production on the song also worked with Jay Rock, Lecrae and Ariana Grande this yr.
  • Illmind!
    Like a quiet assassin, Illmind! has been killing it on the low. A secret weapon of kinds, he has racked up placements with one of the most greatest names in rap. Drake's Scorpion, Nicki Minaj's Queen, The Carters' every thing Is Love, Royce da 5'9"'s booklet of Ryan and Denzel Curry's TA13OO are just one of the crucial projects released this year that characteristic Illmind! construction.
  • J. Cole
    whereas J. Cole has had a banner yr as a featured artist, his construction has also been A1 in 2018. He laced the lion's share of his severely acclaimed KOD album, and showed boom while engaged on songs for other artists (see Bas' upbeat music "Sanufa," which Cole produced after experiencing a group by means of South African DJ Black coffee). Cole displayed his skills behind the boards on Mac Miller's Swimming, Wale's Free Lunch and J.I.D.'s DiCaprio 2, whereas additionally serving in a fingers-off capacity as government producer of Swizz Beatz's stellar Poison album.
  • J White Did It
    J White Did It lived as much as his identify in 2018. Making more cash strikes with Cardi B, the "Bodak Yellow" producer crafted her latest single, "funds," Invasion of privateness's "money Bag" and one among her largest funds-makers thus far, the Latin-flavored unhealthy Bunny and J Balvin collaboration, "i admire It." J White also did joints for Tinashe and Iggy Azalea to cap the yr off.
  • John Cunningham
    The late XXXTentacion dropped two No. 1 albums in 2018 with March's ? and this month's Skins. generally produced by using John Cunningham, both projects have helped cement the "sad!" artist as a leading voice of his era.
  • Kanye West
    despite all of his antics both online and off, Kanye West bought in his creation bag in 2018. He pushed the bounds of his creative pressure via managing the beats on a series of G.O.O.D. track-affiliated initiatives—five releases over the route of five weeks in may additionally and June. He channelled his inner RZA for Nas' Nasir album, helped recognise Teyana Taylor's retro R&B ambitions, made the moody youngster Cudi collaborative challenge that lovers have desired for years and partnered with Pusha-T to make the quick traditional Daytona. in some way Ye nevertheless had gas in the tank to make Ye, making him, if nothing else, some of the hardest working producers of the 12 months.
  • Kenny Beats
    "We did seven songs in three days," Kenny Beats told XXL earlier this year, as he discussed 777, his joint-assignment with Key!. "That became the venture, then we kept working."
    The grind persisted over the course of 2018 for the la-based mostly producer, as he locked in with Rico Nasty for her Nasty tape and Freddie Gibbs for his fourth album, Freddie. Beats also made beats for the likes of JPEGMAFIA, UnoTheActivist, YoungBoy not ever Broke once more and others.
  • Ludwig Göransson
    a local of Sweden, Ludwig Göransson earned his hip-hop and R&B stripes after forging a artistic partnership with childish Gambino, who he met while engaged on the NBC comedy, community. for the reason that then, they've achieved a sequence of initiatives, together with 2018's chart-topping "here is america" and "feels like summer." Göransson, who doubles as a movie composer, additionally collaborated with Vince Staples for the soundtrack to Black Panther—he scored the blockbuster film, too.
  • Mally Mall
    life after Love & Hip Hop hasn't been too dangerous for Mally Mall. post-fact tv, he clocked studio time with the Rae Sremmurd boys, which resulted in a few contributions to the platinum duo's third album, SR3MM, together with singles "Powerglide" and "Guatemala." Mall and Swae Lee joined forces again for "palms round You," the collaboration between XXXTentacion and Lil Pump that also elements Maluma.
  • Metro Boomin
    here to retailer the day, Metro Boomin proved that heroes really don't want capes. After 2017's run of joint-tasks with Offset, 21 Savage and massive Sean, Metro finally dropped his debut album, no longer All Heroes put on Capes, which captured the exact spot on the Billboard 200.
  • Mike Dean
    outdoor of his work on projects comparable to Daytona, Nasir, ok.T.S.E., kids See Ghost and Ye, Mike Dean lent his construction competencies to the likes of The Carters, Migos and Travis Scott.
  • Mike WiLL Made-It
    carrying out considered one of his largest tasks yet, Mike WiLL Made-It curated the soundtrack that accompanied the blockbuster movie, Creed II. He had a hand in 12 of the 15 songs on the dope project, also rounding out his 2018 by means of producing Nicki Minaj's latest single "first rate kind," a couple of Kamikaze statistics for Eminem and a number of joints that seem on Rae Sremmurd's SR3MM. Mike may even reconnected with Miley Cyrus.
  • Murda Beatz
    now not handiest did Murda Beatz bless the lure alongside the likes of Smokepurpp (the joint venture Bless Yo lure) and Don Q, he additionally flexed his chart-topping muscle. The 24-yr historical with a label deal in region at Interscope facts has gotten cozy on the Billboard scorching a hundred, because of Drake's eight-week chart-ruler "first-rate for What," 2Chainz's "larger Than You" and 6ix9ine's "Fefe."
  • Nick Mira
    It's one element to provide successful checklist. or not it's a wholly distinct thing to craft a checklist that receives compliment from an iconic artist like Sting. Nick Mira has experienced each. He even knows what it's like to pork with an icon. All of this is due his creative chemistry with Juice Wrld. Mira—who produced half of the rising artist's Goodbye & respectable Riddance, including the album's breakaway hit, "Lucid goals"—additionally made waves with productions for Yung Bans, Lil Gnar and Lil Skies.
  • Noah "forty" Shebib
    Drake's Scorpion became another milestone for the OVO crew. operating as Drizzy's creative guru, Noah "40" helped orchestrate the checklist-breaking, Grammy-nominated blockbuster, producing 10 of 25 tracks on the double album.
  • OG Parker
    a few OG Parker-produced songs got gold and platinum certifications in 2018: Chris Brown's "tablets and vehicles," Tory Lanez's "B.I.D" and Migos' multi-plat "walk It talk It," featuring Drake. looking to add to the plaques on the wall, satisfactory manage song's in-condominium producer created tracks for Gucci Mane, Jeremih & Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Durk and the self-proclaimed king of R&B, Jacquees.
  • Pharrell Williams
    A contender for the coveted Producer of the yr Grammy award, Pharrell Williams had average year that protected hit records and platinum plaques. On the R&B and dad aspect of things, he contributed to a great deal of the creation on both Justin Timberlake's comeback album, Man of the Woods, and Ariana Grande's Sweetener. Skateboard P also cooked up a funky creation for Migos with "Stir Fry" and landed a couple of beats on The Carters' every thing Is Love.
  • Pi'erre Bourne
    Pi'erre Bourne, who just closing year helped us to get reacquainted with the Milly Rock, saved the birthday celebration getting into 2018. He offered the sonic backdrop for the majority of Playboi Carti's surprise free up, Die Lit. He additionally linked with Kanye West on a couple of events, producing for Ye on "Yikes" and Travis Scott's "Watch," which additionally facets Lil Uzi Vert.
  • Quay international
    Lil baby and Gunna might be a dynamic duo, but that doesn't imply baby's Drip tougher collaborator is his most effective tag-crew associate. Quay global and the "My Dawg" rapper have joined forces a bunch of instances this yr by myself, like on road Gossip, the place global handled the creation for nine of the mixtape's 13 tracks.
  • Ronny J
    A longtime inventive cohort of Denzel Curry, Ronny J elevated his reach a couple of years in the past after getting looped in with upstarts like Lil Pump, XXXTentacion, Smokepurpp and Ski mask The hunch God. A triple danger, the producer, songwriter and artist now elements sonics to everybody from Bhad Bhabie to Eminem.
  • Ron-Ron
    Hailing from Watts, Calif., 22-12 months old Ron-Ron become influenced by West Coast pillars like Snoop Dogg and Tha Dogg Pound arising. So it makes ideal experience that his new-age road-productions for brand new West rappers Shoreline Mafia, 03 Greedo and Drakeo The Ruler has stored him on the forefront of Cali's underground circuit all 2018.
  • Scott Storch
    A blast from the past, Scott Storch is again like he on no account left. Having had launched his profession as a producer under the watch of the likes of The Roots and Dr. Dre within the Nineties, Storch has been crafting contemporary sounds for the next generation as of late. some of the superproducer's more contemporary customers have been 6ix9ine, Russ, Trippie Redd and T.I.
  • Sounwave
    youngsters Kendrick Lamar and the TDE label are often credited for the vision behind Black Panther: The Album, the team's in-condominium producer, Sounwave, should still accept some props, too. The soundtrack that accompanied the massively successful movie lists him as a co-producer on 9 of its 14 tracks, together with the Golden Globe-nominated SZA and Kendrick Lamar collab, "all the Stars."
  • Southside
    Southside swerved on 'em in 2018. He dropped his lure Ye: Season 2 mixtape and Swervo, his album with G Herbo, returned to back. When in producer mode, he spazzed on a couple of Lil baby's harder Than Ever information and contributed a few bangers to tasks from Moneybagg Yo and younger Thug.
  • Swizz Beatz
    2018 turned into showtime for Swizz Beatz. The multifaceted creative gave the impression hungrier than he is been in a long time, losing his sterling Poison album in November, which featured the ideal bars from lyricists like Nas, Pusha-T and Lil Wayne, who gave his finest performances in fresh reminiscence on the lead single "Pistol on My side (P.O.M.S.)." That synergy helped to bring about "Uproar," an additional fireplace collaboration with Weezy that seems on his own Tha Carter V.
  • T-Minus
    J. Cole's "Kevin's heart" peaked at No. eight on the Billboard scorching 100. The simplest non-Cole-produced song to make the Dreamville accepted's fifth solo album, the single became crafted via T-Minus. as a result of his work on 2 Chainz's "Proud" and Drake's controversial "March 14," as well as tracks for 6lack and rich the child, T-Minus persevered to add to his long listing of buzzworthy facts.
  • TakeADayTrip
    NYC-primarily based duo TakeADayTrip took no days off in 2018. The "Mo Bamba" producers put in additional work, which resulted in records like "Kung Fu" and "goal" for YBN Cordae, "Dummy" for 6ix9ine and "Legends,"Juice Wrld's tribute to fallen comrades XXXTentacion and Lil Peep
  • Tay Keith
    2018 noticed Tay Keith graduate from native beatmaker to one in all hip-hop's most in-demand producers. The recent school graduate all started his leap forward yr with BlocBoy JB and Drake's amped-up "look Alive," which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard scorching 100 and helped set the tone for the year of Drizzy, while also introducing the Memphis rookie. similarly, information just like the 6ix God's "Non stop," the Travis Scott's No. 1 hit "Sicko Mode," "under no circumstances recover" with Lil child, Gunna and Drake (once again), the 6ix9ine and Bobby Shmurda collab, "Stoopid" and Eminem's Royce 5'9"-featured "now not Alike" kept Tay Keith's momentum going.
  • Taz Taylor
    The son of a drummer, Taz Taylor has a connection to music that runs deep. All about his information superhighway money, the savvy beat slanger has paired his ardour with a hustler's spirit. This 12 months, he laced a number of marquee artists with sounds, together with Drake and young Thug.
  • Teddy Walton
    a number of Grammy-nominated albums released this year, including Black Panther: The Album, put up Malone's Beerbongs & Bentleys and Nipsey Hussle's Victory Lap function Teddy Walton productions. The Memphis producer's sound also seemed on significantly acclaimed projects through Key Glock and Jay Rock.
  • TM88
    TM88 crafted beats for Lil Uzi Vert, XXXTentacion, Wiz Khalifa, Doe Boy and others in 2018. Stepping out from at the back of the boards, the producer at the back of Uzi's "XO Tour Llif3" additionally spent the 12 months prepping the release of his debut for Capitol statistics.
  • TrapMoneyBenny
    through a few key connections, a song produced via a comparatively unknown producer from Cleveland made its strategy to Drake. That music became the foundation for the Toronto rapper's mega-hit "In My feelings," and within the wake of that song's success, TrapMoneyBenny's inventory is higher than ever.
  • turbo
    "It was one of the vital greatest roles I've had this 12 months," rapid instructed Billboard, as he discussed his work on Drip more durable, the joint effort from Lil baby and Gunna. the sole producer of the tandem's "Drip Too challenging," rapid functioned as the mission's govt producer.
  • Vinylz
    widespread for his work with Drake, Chris Brown Travis Scott and many others, Vinylz has been a go-to man for the hits for a while. It shouldn't come as a shock that the Washington Heights-bred producer crafted tracks housed on several of this 12 months's most-predicted albums. He's partially accountable for The Carter's "Heard About Us," Jay Rock's "Win" and Cardi B's "be careful."
  • Wheezy
    sure certainly, Wheezy become out of right here in 2018. In what could be regarded his breakthrough season, the Atlanta native scored a couple of main placements on projects from Migos, younger Thug and Nav. He also locked in two properly 10 hits with Meek Mill and Drake's first put up-beef collab, "Going bad," and Lil child's Drizzy-assisted "sure certainly."
  • WondaGurl
    WondaGurl is a young OG. Credited as a producer on tracks by using Jay-Z, Drake and Rihanna, she's been constructing her dazzling résumé due to the fact that her teenage years. This yr's additions to the 21-year-historical producer's lengthy catalog consist of wealthy The kid's Khalid-accompanied tune "Too gone" and Astroworld cuts like "No Bystanders" and "cannot Say."
  • Zaytoven
    Zaytoven further assorted his portfolio in 2018. The lure god played host for his personal gangsta birthday celebration, the correctly titled Trapholizay, while additionally enjoying maestro for others. Zay's hyperlink united statesresulted in Usher's surprise project, A, Let The entice Say Amen with Christian rapper Lecrae and the sequel to Future's cult-classic, Beast Mode.
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