Producers don’t always get their just due, yet they are just as important to the song story as the artist. If you didn’t know by now, a good beat can make or break a record, just as a good lyric can ruin a hot beat.
That said, music production isn’t merely an afterthought. In this day in Hip-Hop the producer can be as celebrated as any rapper, which is why our “Beatmakers” feature series was born. The series highlights producers on the rise, along with those already racking up monster records, and working with music heavyweights.
The idea of Beatmakers is to shed light on rap and Hip-Hop producers in the game with a passion and love for music– whatever that sound may be.
Since we kicked off “Beatmakers” last year, Hip-Hop Wired has shared stories from the likes of Key Wane (Big Sean, Drake, Beyoncé), Alex da Kid (Eminem, Rihanna, Imagine Dragons), 1500 or Nothin’ leader Larrance Dopson (Game, Snoop, Lupe Fiasco), and newcomer Sage the Gemini (“Gas Pedal,” “Red Nose”). For the final installment of January 2014, we’ve rounded up a batch of five beatmakers you need to know.
Peep them in the gallery below.
—
Photos: Snugworth.com, Tumblr, Nardovich, Instagram, YouTube, Myspace, Twitter
Nate Fox
Meet Nate Fox, one of the main producers behind Chance the Rapper’s Acid Rap mixtape. According to a Complex interview last year, Fox started making beats at the age of 14, and currently resides in Pennsylvania. His day job is in construction, but he’s saving up to work his way over to the City of Angels.
He also has beats for sale. Check them here.
Like (Pac Div)
Chances are you’re already familiar with the Pacific Division, but Like gets a special shootout on the beat list. As a third of the West Coast rap trio, Like is essentially the man behind the sound, and he doesn’t just keep his skills in-house. The native West Coaster recently earned a Grammy nomination for his work on Kendrick Lamar’s good kid m.A.A.d. city release.
Hit the link to hear some of his beats.
Childish Major
Childish Major — aka Markus Randle — is responsible for one of last year’s more ubiquitous beats: Rocko’s “U.O.E.N.O.” The record, released last May, ended up being bad news for Rick Ross and good news for Major (and Rocko, for that matter).
The young producer stays putting in studio time, and is an understandably a hot commodity right about now. Juicy J, Usher, and 2 Chainz are some of the names he’s worked with already.
Hear Major’s work here.
Snugsworth
Producer Curtis “Snugsworth” Samuel can literally march to his own beats. Before he cooked up A$AP Ferg’s “Shabba” single, Snugsworth was also working on his own projects. In 2012 he and fellow producer Marvel Alexander released the 10-track mixtape Frequencies, under their Marvel Outfit name.
One listen to Snugsworth’s beats and it’s clear that the budding beatmaker is in a lane all his own.
Check out some of his music here.
Zaytoven
Last summer, Drake let loose a string of new tracks to promo Nothing Was the Same. Featured among the music was Migos’ “Versace” remix, courtesy of Atlanta-based producer Zaytoven.
It’s definitely not a bad look to have Drizzy on your beat, but Zaytoven was making a name for himself long before October’s Very Own jumped on board. Zaytoven has worked on a bunch of Gucci Mane’s music, plus other ATL rappers Soulja Boy, Waka Flocka Flame and Young Jeezy.
Find out more here.
