THE 2005 / 7TH ANNUAL HIPHOPSITE.COM BEST AND WORST LIST 3
THE TOP FIVE MAINSTREAM PRODUCERS OF THE YEAR
1. Kanye West
There's really no arguing with Kanye as producer of the year, producing
arguably three classic records this year with his own "Late Registration",
Common's "Be", and John Legend's "Get Lifted", as each record was given at
least one perfect rating by virtually all of the mainstream and underground
press. Kanye helped bring sampling back to the forefront when he made his
debut under Jay-Z's wing a few years back, and has shown steady improvement
as his career has progressed. He helped reinvent Common, introduced the world
to John Legend, and released one of the best albums this year. He is the
best, and he knows it.
2. 9th Wonder
9th Wonder officially put his foot in 2005 with a number of releases. From
delivering the acclaimed major label debut from Little Brother, ("The
Minstrel Show"), to lending a hand to one of Destiny Child's biggest hits
("Girl"), 9th let it be known that he's got what it takes to hang around in
this business for a long time. Add that to reviving the career of the BDI
Thug ("Chemistry"), dropping by to aid the flailing Memphis Bleek, and making
sure his Justus League cohorts continue to get the finest (LEGACY and Big
Pooh), 9th best work has possibly yet to be seen.
3. Just Blaze
While Kanye is busier and more productive, Just Blaze's catalog this year is
inferior to no one. The strength of cuts such as Jay-Z's "Dear Summer" cannot
be denied and to boot, he may have even produced the best track ("Touch The
Sky") on the artist's LP we gave best producer to (Kanye West). One of Just's
main strengths lays in his ability to mesh the past with the present, as the
Chuck D vocal sample on Fat Joe's "The Incredible" and his EPMD lift on
Game's "No More Fun And Games" validates. And from the material we've already
heard, we're betting that the work Just puts in on Saigon's official
solo-debut ("The Greatest Story Never Told") will keep him firmly entrenched
on this list in 2006.
4. Scott Storch
The self-proclaimed "tuff jew" kept his stride this year, with his "so
seductive" sounds that helped propel 50's "Candy Shop" and "Just A Little
Bit" into two of the biggest club songs of the year. This of course kept
Storch as the "go-to-guy" in '05, lending his signature style to several
other huge dancefloor packers such as R. Kelly's "Playas Only", Lil' Kim's
"Lighters Up", Chamillionaire's "Turn It Up", and Chris Brown's "Run It".
5. Mr. Collipark
Fashioning his new brand of "intimate club music", Collipark (aka DJ Smurf,
aka Beat-N-Azz) helped reinvent both Ying Yang Twins ("Wait") and David
Banner ("Play"), with a pair of breathy ballads that never failed for deejays
in '05. To top it off, he flipped the script by creating wild, unapologetic
club-bangers such as Ying Yang's "Shake (Remix)" and Twista's "Hit The
Floor", both featuring Pitbull. If Collipark could make Ying Yang and David
Banner sound good, imagine what he could have done for O.D.B.
THE TOP FIVE UNDERGROUND PRODUCERS OF THE YEAR
1. DJ Danger Mouse
Not only did Danger Mouse produce the top indy album of the year in Danger
Doom, but he showed amazing versatility by picking up Automator's slack on
the Gorillaz follow-up, "Demon Days". There's much more the DM than just
"The Grey Album", and he showed and proved in 2005. On another note, anyone
find it ironic that Capitol, the company the cease-and-desisted him for "The
Grey Album", was the same company cutting him checks for Gorillaz. Oh, Irony,
you savage beast!
2. El-P
El was quiet during much of 2005, as he was hard at work on Cage's magnum
opus, "Hell's Winter". But when the time came for its release, El showed that
his production has become even iller, taking it in totally new directions, as
he, along with Central Services co-producer Camu-Tao, helped animate Chris
Palko's life story. (Much respect to the other producers on that record as
well).
3. Blueprint
While Blueprint was oft stuck in the shadow of his collaborators (RJD2,
Illogic), as one of the hardest working men in indy hip-hop, he finally
defined himself as a "whole" artist with "1988", entirely rhymed and produced
by Print himself. On this excellent tribute record to one of hip-hop's
classic eras, Print showed his full range, without sounding dated or retro.
4. Edan
Misunderstood by clueless internet critics when his first album, "Primitive
Plus" dropped, Edan was a Bronx throwback who looked to legendary producers
such as Lord Finesse and Diamond D for inspiration. With "Beauty and The
Beat", he did more than recreate the sound of yesterday, and composed a
psychedelic musical masterpiece, fusing hardcore boom bap with 60's folk
rock. Words can't do it justice, only listening to the record in its entirety
can.
5. Ant
Ant's always been a solid producer, but he's never quite made it into the top
tier. That all changed this year with the release of both Felt's "Tribute To
Lisa Bonet" and Atmosphere's "You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having".
Ant stepped up his production style immensely, showing definite consistency
through honest, hardcore boom-bap and classic, yet obscure samples.
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