Just like an artist, a great producer is somebody who has their own distinct sound. Many producers will mimic others, and while they might sell a few tracks, they will never really make it until they develop their own production style. Timbaland is a great example of individuality in production. Timbaland is a super-producer from Virginia who got his start when he auditioned for Jodeci member Devante Swing and signed to his Swing Mob label in the early 90’s. He was collaborating with label mate Ginuwine and would produce his first hit single with Ginuwine’s smash hit “Pony” in ‘96 (he also produced every song on the album). He would then go on to produce countless hit singles for artists such as Missy Elliot, Aaliyah, Jay-Z and more recently Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado. Timbaland is one of the most diverse producers in the game and one of the few that can produce a hot R&B track, a hot hip-hop track and a hot pop track.

His style is very distinctive often using unusual drum patterns and foreign instrumentation on his tracks. His odd sound effects make his music instantly recognizable. They also make him the go to guy right now for that hit single. And while he may or may not get a half a mill for his beats like he said on “Give it to Me,” you better make sure that you’re prepared to shell out upwards of $75,000 for that hit.

Timbaland in the studio

“Rep yo City”
In hip-hop music it is almost essential for a star to publicly represent where they come from. They do this by wearing clothes and hats with logo’s of their local sports teams and also by shouting out where they’re from in their music and in interviews. But what better way to represent where you’re from than by putting your whole region on the map by bringing forth a fresh new sound that will influence a culture for years to come. That brings us to our next super-producer; Dr. Dre. His early work as a key member of N.W.A. helped not only to establish him as a serious force in hip-hop, but it also put the whole west coast on the map and opened doors for future west coast artists to flourish. When his first solo album “The Chronic” came out, most producers were making grimy sounding instrumentals with break beats and many samples and Dre really changed the format. He created a sound that would define the West Coast, and become known as G-Funk, which used whiny synthesizers, slow mellow beats, and bass lines that emulated Parliament-Funkadelic. When the music at the time was dark, Dre made it sound fun and a whole new audience became interested in hip-hop music. And throughout every project he produced he never stopped representing California and, more specifically, Compton.

Dre is not your average beat maker. He is a true producer that can create a track, engineer and mix the whole record. Once again, a producer is a person that oversees the whole process of creating a song from start to finish. Dre is known for bringing musicians in the studio to play live parts and for pushing artists to give their best performance. He is known for birthing the careers of artists like Snoop, Nate Dogg and Eminem. Dre is known as a perfectionist in the studio, and Snoop even said that one time Dre made artist Chauncey Black re-record a single bar 107 times. Dre has also had other producers on his team to assist him in his work. In ’96 he brought in up and coming producer Mel-Man to co-produce music with him and in ’99 he brought in keyboardist, bassist and guitarist Mike Elizondo to contribute his talents to the team. While many people praise Dre for his greatness, others criticize him for not entirely creating musical tracks. However, people need to understand that a producer is not just a person that makes beats. Dre is a real producer who has solidified himself as a legend in the music business. And if you want to get that legendary production, it will cost you. It has been said that Dre charges $75,000 a track (and that’s his "family and friends" charge, his regular price is $250,000). Or you can just get your own MPC 2000 and save about $248,500.

Scott Storch Interview

You don’t know my name

Usually a big name producer doesn’t charge a lot of money for a beat because the beat is so great. They charge a lot of money because they have a big name and they know that by putting their name on your project, your music will generate more attention, and be taken more seriously. However, there are super-producers out there that you have never heard of even though you have been listening to their beats for a while.

Check out this video for some of his production

Originally I was going to describe 5 of the top music producers in the business but, honestly, that wouldn’t even be enough because there have been many producers over the years that have been influential in Hip Hop and R&B. Producers like the Neptunes, Kanye West and Jermaine Dupri have all brought their own distinct sound and style to the table and have helped many artists create music that is groundbreaking, innovative and marketable. They also put helped to put their cities and states on the Map with the Neptunes representing Virginia, Kanye repping Chicago and Jermaine with Atlanta. One of my personal favorite producers, DJ Premier, is even regarded by some fans and respected publications as the #1 hip hop producer ever, and has recently produced Eminem’s new single “Keys to the City,” which is not out yet. When you think of that vintage New York hip hop sound DJ Premier should instantly come to mind. A great producer will not only give you a great track, but they will also make sure that your music is on the cutting edge and will be able to compete in today’s market.

Producers are just as important if not more important to a song than even the artist. If you’re reading this article as a fan or a just for the heck of it then hopefully you have gained some information and a new perspective on the art of producing. If you are reading this as an artist or an aspiring producer then you should pay close attention to the next couple paragraphs.

I want to produce

If you want to produce and make money from it then you need to make sure you’re worth it. Obviously you will need some equipment to practice on. There are many places and websites you can visit to get equipment. One good place to go is Guitar Center and some websites to check out are www.pssl.com and www.musiciansfriend.com, and there are many magazines that you can read with helpful tips and equipment for sale. My only advice is to make sure that you learn your equipment, pay attention to what people are listening to right now and create your own special sound or style. It might sound easy but trust me; it takes a lot of time and hard work.

I need production but I can’t afford it

Most people do not have $75,000 to buy a beat from Timbaland or a cousin who knows Scott Storch. Luckily we are living in the age of technology and there are some great resources out there for the artist that is seeking high quality production for reasonable prices. One site, www.onfirebeats.com, actually offers beats starting at $30 and they are of the same industry quality that some of these big name producers would make.

Hopefully this article has been informative and has given you some insight into the art of producing. Producers often do not get the recognition they deserve because they are in the background and the artist is in the limelight. Now maybe next time you hear a song you like you will not only give the artist respect, but also the producer.