Recently, a lot of really dope rappers have been stepping behind the boards to flex their producing muscles. Many have smoothly made the transition, and are now forces to be reckoned with on and off the mic (Andre 3000, Inspectah Deck, and Ill Bill to name a few). I don't want to talk about them, though. This little diatribe is all about some of the most talented people who've been producing their whole career, with some only picking up the mic in the past couple of years. These are my four favorites, in no real orders.
First up, MF Doom.
On the production tip, he's been making dope shit for years, from his KMD days to now. Most of his beats heavily feature samples from old cartoons, as well as clapping ass drums. The combination is hard to dislike. On the mic, Doom has always been a polarizing figure. But, when you look at it, he's rapping about what most rappers do, he's just saying it in a different way: there are songs where he's basically talking about nothing (besides being dope); songs about ladies, some where they're the love of his life, some where they have cheated, and some where they're just smuts; stories; and more. People disagree, making the claim that Doom's talking nonsense - they're wrong. Even if they deny his content, it's hard to deny his technical skill. Doom's verses are filled with complex rhyme schemes that weave in and out of a buttery flow, all delivered in Doom's murky voice. He's one of the game's best producer-emcees, equally gifted on both spectrums, and deserves all the acclaim he gets and more.
We go to Detroit for the next prodcee (what a terrible word I've just invented), Black Milk.
He's made a shitload of dope beats over the years, contenting himself as one of the game's premier beatmakers for a couple of years before debuting his first LP, Popular Demand. Every Black Milk beat I've ever heard is dope - no joke. Literally every one. Granted, I haven't heard all of them, but I've heard a lot, and the fact that I haven't been forced to deal with any wackness yet is saying something. On the mic, some of his early stuff is a bit maladroit, but in recent years he has stepped his shit up. His next album, Tronic, shows this, and all signs point to his forthcoming Album of the Year continuing this progression. As long as he keeps going at or near this current level, he'll be one of the game's elite for years to come.
We come now to a pioneer of the game, and arguably (emphasis on arguably) the best producer of all-time: the RZA.
In the early 90's RZA helped revolutionize the game, with no small thanks due to his groundbreaking producing. The dark and grimy sound spread like wildfire along the East Coast, often imitated but rarely matched. You won't find many people denying that. As an emcee, RZA has always been a much more controversial man. His mushy cadence and delivery (the result of a speech impediment) are matched with what is often an inconsistent flow, which can make for some not-so-good rapping. That being said, when he's on his shit lyrically, it's hard to think of many people who can fuck with him. If we look at all the material in his oeuvre as a rapper, the dope certainly outweighs the wack. As a producer, he's Top 10. That combination is why he's here.
Coming straight out of the Delorean, the final prodcee on the list is El-P.
Everybody always calls his work dystopic and futuristic and all that shit, so if I were to call his music that I'd be bringing nothing new to the table. That being said, it's really hard to think of other words to describe his work besides maybe dope, which I use about 17 times a post. El Producto's beats have always been crazy, from the days of Company Flow and Cannibal Ox to now; over the years they've grown a bit more crisp and polished, but retain the same apocalyptic mood. On the mic, El-P is a divisive figure: some people love his nerdy, frequently arhythmic flow, with others despising him for the same reasons. For my money, his flow and sensibilites can get tiresome occasionally, but pound for pound he's able to craft some ill shit, and is a strong breath of fresh air in the congested rap world.
So that's my list. All of these dudes deserve more credit, as they all have considerable talents behind the boards and in front of the mic. By the way, Dr. Dre was excluded from this record because to be considered anything with "emcee" in the title you have to write your own shit.
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