Who in your opinion are the top 10 beatmakers of all time?

[The Beat Pharmacy]

I don't know how you can say that TODAY'S sounds would not be different if it weren't for Dilla. Pre 96, sure Dilla had yet to make his impact.
This doesn't make sense to me:
On one hand the vast majority of producers claim that he inspired them. If you attend beat battles you hear more Dilla influence than any one else....but he didn't make an impact?

Sampling bosa nova, the snare/clap, the offset timing he had, have all made huge impacts on hiphop. Dilla, Madlib, JustBlaze, and Kanye are to 1999-2009 what Pete Rock, Preem, Largo Pro, Marley Marl were in the late 80's and early 90's.

Also, this whole notion that Dillas greatness as a producer is some how dimished because he was slept on until after his death is wack. As discussed in another thread, MAD artists throughout history were slept on until they died (Vivaldi, Picasso, Van Gough, Coltrane, Tupac, Biggie).

I dont think Tupac and Biggie were slept on until they died. Maybe slept on by those that didn't follow hip hop.

However if Kanye can make it to this list Dilla definitely should be ranked higher then him without a doubt.

[ginsuthaironchef]

I dont think Tupac and Biggie were slept on until they died. Maybe slept on by those that didn't follow hip hop.

However if Kanye can make it to this list Dilla definitely should be ranked higher then him without a doubt.

Maybe Pac and Big weren't slept on...but NO one was calling Pac a poet/martyr/genius/etc etc etc.

[The Beat Pharmacy]

Maybe Pac and Big weren't slept on...but NO one was calling Pac a poet/martyr/genius/etc etc etc.

That's true I never really thought that of Pac myself.

[njguru4711]

Here's my top 10.

1. Pete Rock
2. Premier
3. Dilla
4. Nujabes - check this guy out if you haven't heard about him
5. Jazzy Jeff
6. Large Pro
7. 9th
8. Kev Brown
9. Nicolay
10. Alchemist

Other greats that you may not have heard of:
Michita
Nomak
Dela

[joshspoon]

I'll think on the top ten but what about the versatile Rick Rubin. That dude mad some hits Beastie, LL, Run DMC. He's got hits from hip hop to country. I was listening to Licence to Ill the other day, now that I make beats and was blown away about how "basic" the beats were and I was jamming. We spend so much time on all these production techniques and Rick would just throw that down. Sorry I'm a big fan of Rubin cause to me he's like no other.

[Speologic]

Kno from Cunninlynguists should definitively be in the list, as well as Nujabes!

I would put No ID, and Kanye West too.

And Timbaland for modern commercial stuff and innovation!

[sigmundfred]

my top ten :

1) Primo
2) Pete Rock
3) Jay Dee
3) Dr Dre
4) Dj Muggs
4) Kanye West
5) The Roots (i Know it's not beatmaker in usual sense but...)
6) Organized Noise
7) Alchemist
8) Easy Mo Bee
9) Timbo
10) Pharell... Dj Shadow... Q-Tip, Soulsquadrian, The guy from Porthishead... and many more...too much... it's not a easy question... LOL

[Kregan]

My personnel favorite top ten in no order

Dilla
Dre
Primo
Pete Rock
Madlib
Just Blaze
People under the stairs (thes 1)
Rza
El P (cannibal Ox album)
Q Tip

Its funny how dilla is such a talked about dude, it may be true that people jumped on his nuts after he died, regardless that doesn't take away from how ill he was, also i noticed many people dont regard donuts as some of his best work, I've heard almost all his releases and donuts is certainly up there for me, it may be more minimal compared to his other offerings (almost like edits of the original joints) but to me it's still one of my favorite dilla albums, really awesome!

[EmExtraMunnee513]

The Neptune Sound!

1- Pharell Williams and Chad Hugo (come on guys no one mentioned these two? a hit is a hit is a hit. rump shaker was sampled, look where he went from there)
2- Timbaland (absolutely without a doubt, of course. revolutionary.)
3- Scott Storch (top beatmaker, i mean, you may not love all of scotty's stuff, but look at what he's done since leaving the roots)
4- Kanye West (Ye is just nasty. He doesn't stop. He's got a talent for a catchy sample like jimmy page could write a riff)
5- Dr Dre (consistent quality)
6- J Dilla (yes! because of donuts. that was on the way out the door and that's what it took for his kind of legacy. i haven't heard anyone else slip in a NKOTB sample)
7- MadLib (take a look at his production space)
8- MF DOOM (Dr. Sample)
9- Mannie Fresh (cash money is the definition of what rap is now. i mean hate it or love it, someone grabbed it by the balls)
10- me. (im a big fan of my own music. that's the whole point)

I'd be forcing anybody else. Listen guys I didn't really like wu tang growing up. I'm from the South. I remember DJ Magic Mike and all the deep bass cd's. where im from, it was cool to let your trunk rattle. marley marl, pete rock, i know those guys are legends etc., but beat for beat, i showed you who's tops on my list.

these are just my favorites.

Mikel J

I was thinkin the same thing about The Neptunes. The soundscapes they created was a huge inspiration for me and many other producers. Along with the fact they (with the exception of
Nelly's "Hot In Herre" which used an interpolation) they used original sounds and grooves. Which might I add is highly difficult if you're trying to attain the "thickness" the Neptunes had. I definitely agree with all the producers listed here, so much so I can't peice together a top 10a (too many beasts) I just thought they'd be mentioned more.

Nice topic, cause I'm gonna open up some re-study sessions on all these cats.

[Nathan17009]

Has anyone mentioned the Dust Brothers yet? They did some great work with the Beastie Boys.

My top 10 would probably be:


RZA
Prince Paul
Pete Rock
Premo
Dr Dre
Hank Shocklee & the Bombsquad
DJ Muggs
Marley Marl
Rick Rubin
Dust Bros

But I'm sure I've probably missed someone off.

[Kostia]

My Top 10 Beatmaker of All-Time

Madlib
Pete Rock
Kankick
Taarach
Dre
Jazzliberatorz
Jay Dee
DJ Medhi
Apollo Brown
J-Swift