Apparently there are ongoing debates about who the greatest rap producer of all time is on ye olde ‘social meeds’ (whatever that is), and word has it that the names set against each other are, more often than not, Dr. Dre and DJ Premier. The other month I was asked to name my three favorite producers of all-time on the Hip-Hop Digest Podcast, and I answered ‘The 45 King, Marley Marl and Ced Gee.’ That was off the top of my head while hung-over/still drunk from copious intake of stout and porter, but I stand by my choices.
Such discussions come down to personal taste, but for the sake of public record I’ll state my case for the importance of each of these three gentleman as succinctly as possible:
The 45 King: Mastered horns and the art of keeping it simple.
Marley Marl: Discovered how to sample drums and gave us the magnificent noise known as ‘The Bridge.’
Ced-Gee: Responsible for the sound of ‘Criminal Minded’ and ‘Critical Beatdown,’ the greatest rap albums ever created.
A great case could also be made for the Bomb Squad, Larry Smith, D.I.T.C. collective and others, but who do you consider the three most significant producers in rap music history?
Larry Smith
No argument about your hungover 3!!
Bomb Squad, Premier, Dre
Everyone brings something different to the table though so the likes of Large Pro, Havoc, Alchemist, Quik, Larry Smith, Mike Dean, Kanye, Rza, Q Tip, Organized Noize, Pete Rock, Laylaw etc are all worth a mention.
I can’t disagree with your choices robbie. I’d want to squeeze Mantronik in there but I think he just misses out
Paul C. – sample chopping, crispy clear mixing with large drums.
Bomb Squad – anti-musical wall of noise that sounds dope
Dr.Dre – bring all above to mainstream
Fave Hip Hop producers of all time? Mcenroe, Count Bass D, DJ Premier, 4th Disciple, Q-Tip, MF Doom, Prince Paul, Funky DL, Tom Caruana,DJ Signify, Scratch Bastad and doubtlessly others too….
Most important Hip Hop producers? Probably the guys who do all the work for which Rza/P Diddy/Dr Dre take all the credit/$. Beyond that? Sylvia Robinson….Rick Rubin…Marl.
Marley was definitely my first thought, and I’d have to say Rick Rubin because those first couple years of Def Jam were so important. I love Ced Gee and Mantronik but if we’re talking about folks who did all their best work from 85-87 I gotta go with the guy who did “Rock the Bells”. I’d have to give the other spot to Premier because he set the template for the last 25 years even though I like Dre’s best records more.
Dj Ivan Doc Rodriguez, Larry Smith, track masters (under and outside marley marl).
The biggest impact happenned during the 80s early 90s.
Diamond D, Xtra P, and the H-A-V-O-C
I’m almost in agreement with our esteemed host here:
DJ Mark The 45 King
Diamond D
Paul C
What about most important types of stout and porter? Nigerian Guinness Export is the isht.
Larry Smith
Paul C
Marley Marl
I’m just gonna drop in Salaam Remi’s name just because I can. Not the most prolific or high-falutin’ boardsman in the game, but that cat is superb.
How much of Criminal Minded did Ced produce? I know he’s been credited as doing work on it, but I’ve heard varying stories about how much work it was.
Ask me anything while I’m drunk I’ll answer Critical beatdown.
They used his SP so he must have programmed the whole thing.
I’m surprised about those of you listing Paul C as top three though. As great as he was, if he was still with us I think even he would agree that he didn’t have the impact of the others mentioned.
Nice list not the usual paint by numbers dre, premier, etc. With that said my personal top 3
Alchemist-His production style has changed quite a bit over the years but with the kind of resume he has he’s def worthy of top 3
Large Pro-The only 90’s boom bap producer who transitioned smoothly into this era where beats have become a lot more simple and have no soul
Pimp C-Not really CRC approved but anyone who’s heard UGK’s music knows what i’m talking about
Prince Paul, Showbiz, Ced Gee(also responsible for the music on Penicillin on Wax!) – honorable mentions: Large Pro, Muggs, Sir Jinx, Schooly D, Buckwild)
Larry Smith
Dr. Dre
Dj Premier
All changed the game.
@Daddy Bones: That reminds me, I need to finish my Salute To Salaam comp.
DJ Premier
Marley Marl
Erik Sermon
Honorable Mentions:
Prince Paul C
Dr Dre Dilla
Marley Marl
Primo
Buckwild
Special shout outs to Showbiz,RZA,Just Blaze and DJ Pooh
All those mentioned above are dope and deserve to be the top three but since he hasn’t been named yet, I say Easy Mo Bee.
Yes i agree. But im suprised so many people say premier. He didnt even produced the first gang starr album, just came with ideas while the engineer made it for him. Beats on Step in the arena and daily operation were mostly just raw loops…
He is a inspiration to many but certainly not one of the most important to me. After 45 marley and ced the most important imo are rza, large pro and q-tip.
Larry Smith. DJ Premier. Dr. Dre.
My Favorite Producers
Ced Gee
The Bomb Squad
Marley Marl
Honorees
Preemo
Pete Rock
The 45 King
DITC
RZA
Large Pro
DJ Doc
Prince Paul
Paradise Architect
Rick Rubin
Sugar Hill
Marly Marl
DJ Premier
Dilla
I can name my favorites but most of yall above already did so to answer the question….I had to think long and hard about this one…
Marley-Yall already know…
Larry Smith-Began the transition from the first era of rap records (Sugarhill/Enjoy) by both stripping the sound down to just the basics (Run DMC’s first album) and by adding lush keyboard arrangements (Whodini’s first three albums). He also brought those rock guitars to the game (Rick Rubin, have a seat.) He was the bridge between that first era and Marley’s run.
Dr. Dre – Say what you want about all his alleged ghost producers but the fact is he raised the bar as far as sonic quality and album construction and brought Hardcore Hip-Hop to the mainstream.
Honorable mentions…
Prince Paul-Introduced the skit to Hip-Hop and had cats diggin’ in the crates on some other ish when James Brown samples ran the game.
I might catch some flack for this but Teddy Riley-Even though he mostly made his mark in R&B, his roots were in Hip-Hop (allegedly, he ghost produced Doug and Rick!s The Show) and his blend of Hip-Hop and R&B changed urban radio in the late ’80’s.
Timbaland-Came in the game with an original sound and, like Teddy Riley, changed the way radio sounded.
Ced Gee 2 best hip hop albums of all times
Marley Marley The shit!
Diamond D Cant help it but besides all his great productions Stunts, Blunts is my personal favorite perfect album.
Then there is 45, Pete Rock, Large Pro (main source!) Havoc He is still on the grind for that I must give him credit and a soft spot for Dj Preemos production for Blaq Poe!
Did I write Havoc??? Fuck Im drunk I meant Alc!
Pimp C never gets mentioned but he really deserves too, Supertight and Ridin Dirty are amazing
Most IMPORTANT and most FAVOURITE are two completely different things, IMO of course.
A hard one to call but for me Marley Marl tops the list, his best stuff is too numerous to mention. Ced Gee is in there as Critical Beatdown is the best hip hop album I have ever heard. I love Diamond D but Premier would be my third choice, great music with Gang Starr and loads of brilliant remixes.
Chris Martin
Chad Butler
Alan Maman
Andre Young is overrated
As far as influences go
my top 3 would be:
Premo
Bomb Squad
Marley Marl
As far as starting a wave of production:
Matronix
Larry Smith
Paul C
T Ray
Dre/Hutch
Pete Rock
Diamond D
Ummah(Tip/Shaheed n Dilla)
@sloppyseconds: Yeah, but personal preferences are hard to cast aside when making lists like this. I think the trick is to pick the most important of your personal favorites.
For me, the early-to-mid 90’s was the best age of hip-hop music, the D.I.T.C crew was creating the best beats at the time, and Diamond D was the best producer in the crew. So, to me, Diamond D is the most important hip-hop producer ever.
Large Pro picked up where the oft-celebrated Paul C picked up and went on to produce Wanted: Dead or Alive, Breaking Atoms, Vagina Diner, and some of the best tracks off Illmatic. So, to me, he’s gotta be #2.
And I suppose Havoc is the odd man out on my list. He’s nowhere near as important as Diamond or Large Pro, but his work on The Infamous and Hell on Earth is so deeply ingrained in my being that I can’t really imagine hip-hop music without it.
So there you go.
As was said above, the key word is IMPORTANT. To me that means that they changed the entire direction of the genre, and established a whole new template for the BETTERMENT (not the worse–and yes, that is subjective) of the art form. So with that being said:
Larry Smith
Marley Marl
DJ Premier
For the 1985-1990 time period it’s difficult to argue against Robbie’s choices. But for best of all time there are many more to consider. Not really CRC-approved but I’d vote DJ Quik
@mau “Beats on Step in the arena and daily operation were mostly just raw loops…”
That’s what is so dope about them!
Pete Rock(the horns !!), rza(layered soundtracks), ced gee(crazy drums & snares), q tip(808 bass drops mixed with unheard of samples), havoc(epitome of a hardcore soundtrack), premier(hypnotizing loops and heavy bass), marley marl(imagine the juice crew without those tracks) Honorable-Kanye(late registration-nuff said !!!),diamond d(smooth & hardcore all at once), jam master jay(onyx, 50 cent mentor). Tony dofat ?!?(listen to heavy d’s blue funk album)-thats a reach, but he was great for that one album
Damn is hard to narrow down to just three. Everyone pretty much nails it. I look forward to seeing the voting on this one (sure Robbie will do a poll).
I am happy to see Prince Paul large pro Diamond D and q tip getting mentions they deserve it.
Funny to see some people always detract from premier. To me he’s always gotta be in a top ten and so influential.
& no mention of the Beatnuts? Y’all furthermuckers haven’t a gotdamn clue! 😜
I got to throw Madlib in there.
This list is to general to make.
You have timbetland who made the hiphop/r n b take a serious step with those shuffle, no sample beats.
Then there is the bomb squad, who took samples to another level, like listening to an action movie.
Now the kaiser storch, dj kahled, big miami sound.
And the kardinal official crew making happen Big hits.
Swizz, primo, dupree, dj muggs, all catering to a certain sound
Way too many hitters to make a top 3! How about top 3 favorite?
El-P
Alchemist
Mike Dean
Premier
DJ Quik
You gotta look at longevity. All those guys above still do it, are still evolving.
Pretty much agree with the top 3. Just wanted to throw in Erick Sermon for starting so many styles! Too many classics to name!
& we’ve got to throw his overrated ass out! 😜
Marley Marl
DJ Premier
RZA
most importante’
The BOMB Squad – who else did it like them
Puff Daddy – not in a good way but he changed the game?
Marley or RZA there after………cannot decide
@ Trevor Overrated…. Troll if you want, but the catalogue is there:
http://www.thegreeneyedbandit.com/producer-credits/
RZA
Premo
Al The Chemist (son stepped up BIG time these last projects)
Easy Mo Bee, E Double, and True Mathematics be the next 3
@$yk: True Mathematics, the dude produced by the Bomb Squad?
My bad, meant True Master….
Diamond D
Tony D. (RIP)
Muggs
@ $yk
Been a minute, what up!!
PETE ROCK
MARLY MARL
AND A RACE BETWEEN LARGE PRO & MANTRONIX(IN FULL EFFECT WAS SLEPT ON AND WHAT HE DID WITH KING OF THE BEATS 1 & 2 WAS SICK)
-Marley Marl
-Timbaland
-Mannie Fresh
Marley Marl
Showbiz
Primo
Ced-Gee produced all of “Criminal Minded” except for “South Bronx”,”Elementary”, & “My nine Millimeter”. Everything else he chopped,layered and programed up in the Ultra-Lab (1372 Washington Ave.)in the SBX. Ced-Gee created the chop plain and simple! His ability to layer multiple samples on one song and not sound cluttered is impecable! He also taught Paul C. how to create the “fake echo” on the SP1200 and how to chop samples from various parts of a record and program into a full loop.
The reason for all the conflicting stories is because once Ced’s child hood friend Scott La Rock passed away nobody was around to set the record straight and give him the credit he deserved. BDP & Ultra’s relationship had dismantled and both crews went on and did there own thing. It’s only until recent years where Krs has admitted he himself didn’t produce “Criminal Minded” and it was Ced-Gee’s production that birthed the classic!