As rappers rise to fame, producers behind hits quietly shine

Today, when the average music fan thinks about hip-hop, the role intrinsically connected to the genre is the rapper. This connection doesn’t exist without reason, as rappers have been the face of hip-hop for more than 30 years. Although, when the art form was still in its infancy, the MC played a more subdued role.

More of a hype man, the early version of a rapper was tasked with keeping the party active in support of the true star, the DJ. The hip-hop revolution was led by the turntablists' sampling of disco and funk, a practice far more innovative than anything vocalists were doing at the time. Eventually, the artistic potential of meaningful vocals over these beats became evident and MCs started to embrace the role of being a lyricist. The union of inventive DJs or producers and articulate MCs birthed hip-hop’s “Golden Era” comprised of the music from the late 80s to the mid-90s. Think N.W.A., A Tribe Called Quest and Geto Boys.

Since then, rappers have become arbiters of change with more influence than ever before, while the producers have inarguably faded to the background. This isn’t to say that they’re irrelevant, but they’re no longer on the forefront of the conversation. The conflation of the labels “hip-hop” and “rap” is proof, as hip-hop is the actual style of music while rap is just something that takes place over the instrumental.

With that brief history aside, the state of the hip-hop producer is still incredibly strong. Artists like Murda Beatz, Southside, Mike WiLL Made It and more are thriving, achieving great success by collaborating with some of the top rappers in the game. Last year, Rutgers University Programming Association (RUPA) even invited producer Metro Boomin to campus to perform as part of the Beats on the Banks series, marking the first time the program wasn’t headlined by a vocalist.

If production is what draws you to hip-hop, here are a few producers to keep an eye on for the rest of the year.

1. Kenny Beats

After spending years as a touring EDM artist, Loudpvck rebranded as Kenny Beats, a trap producer incredibly dedicated to his craft. His style runs the gamut of trap, ranging from sample-heavy beats to massively-distorted punk-influenced 808s. He’s formed some key creative partnerships with trap mavericks like Rico Nasty and Key! (who serves as the voice for his signature tag). He’s been teasing new music on social media for some time now, so expect him to finish off the year strong.

Three great beats: “Demolition 1 + 2” by Key!, “Rage” by Rico Nasty, “Toe Tag” by Freddie Gibbs

2. Slauson Malone

Jasper Marsalis (a.k.a. Slauson Malone) is one of the most prominent and busy producers in the bubbling NYC hip-hop underground scene. Constantly at work, he’s a member of Medslaus (in collaboration with rapper Medhane) and the Art ensemble Standing On The Corner. A meticulous sampler, Malone bends vintage jazz and R&B tracks into forward-thinking compositions still rooted in tradition.

Three great beats: “Hindsight” by Medslaus, “Girl” by Standing On The Corner, “1123” feat. Medhane

3. WondaGurl

Born Ebony Oshunrinde, Wondagurl is a Canadian producer who’s been working with some of hip-hop’s biggest artists for years. Her past clients include Travis Scott, Drake, Jay Z and more. Wondagurl has already had a huge year with two placements on "ASTROWORLD," but there’s reason to believe that there’s more on the way. Having already produced tracks on "Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World" and "LUV is Rage 2," be sure to check the tracklist for Wondagurl’s name on Lil Uzi’s upcoming project "Eternal Atake."

Three great beats: “No Bystanders” by Travis Scott, “How to Talk” by Lil Uzi Vert, “God/Guard Up” by Sean Leon

4. Knxwledge

Originally from Central Jersey, Knxwledge relocated to L.A. off the strength of his incredibly large discography. With 95 projects on Bandcamp, there’s a world of music to explore from one of the best producers in the game. Knxwledge is effectively an underground legend due to his huge personal output, a successful R&B album with Anderson .Paak under the title “NxWorries” and production for elite rappers like Kendrick Lamar and Earl Sweatshirt. His music can range from smooth to abrasive, and he’s liable to sample absolutely anything. With a reverence for 90s and early aughts hip-hop, Knxwledge creates impeccable dusty loops that venerate and expand upon his favorite era. His 96th project "WT.13.8_[ラフミックス]" is slated to release on Oct. 8.

Three great beats: “Momma” by Kendrick Lamar, “kntbear,” “isntSheLovlee”