This wasn’t an easy task for Evidence. We asked him to name the best producers on the mic but we also gave him a challenge. We asked for only five.
Ev graciously joined in and gave himself an added challenge. He did it spontaneously.
“I tried not to think about this so I could go into it honestly,” he said, before revealing his list.
The idea originated because of Diamond D. He once said he was, “by far, the best producer on the mic.” On Dilated Peoples’ “Rework the Angles,” Evidence recalled that line from The Fugees’ “The Score,” saying, “Sometimes I get so hype / I feel like Diamond D, the best producer on the mic.” So, we asked Evidence to name other producers who could spit, to give us a list of the best.
Being behind the boards and behind the mic, Evidence has paid close attention to others doing the same. He’s done his own share of rhyming and producing, releasing his second solo effort, last year’s Cats & Dogs on Rhymesayers Entertainment. This year, he released his latest instrumental project, The Green Tape. He’s also working with Alchemist on Step Brothers’ Lord Steppington and with Dilated Peoples on their next project, Directors of Photography. He’s also working on his next solo album and producing the next LMNO project, After the Fact.
Before moving forward with the list, Evidence had to explain just how challenging this was.
“There are so many levels of this,” he shared. “You might ask, ‘What’s your top five favorite movies?’ You might say ‘top five’ but that doesn’t mean those are the best five movies. That’s just what you thought of [at the time]. You know? If I say Shawshank Redemption, I can’t say The Godfather. You know? So, with that said, I’m definitely gonna miss because it’s only five. “
Evidence also made it a point to salute young emcees/producers who are doing it today, even if they didn’t make the list.
“Also with that said, there’s a new generation of mothafuckers who are ill right now but I can’t say them because only time will tell. It’s too new for me to say I love Hit Boy’s raps or whatever. You know what I mean? It’s too new. But I do like a lot of new people. I like Joey Fatts. I like J Cole. I like certain people who are killing it on the beats and rapping but it’s too early to tell whether they are worthy of this list.”
The list was so tough that Evidence had other names on his mind as important producers on the mic who didn’t make the final cut. Those names included artists like JuJu, Pete Rock, Havoc, Alchemist, Black Milk, Hi-Tek, Large Professor, Oh No, Pharoahe Monch, Roc Marciano and Eminem.
All of that out of the way, here is Evidence’s list of best producers on the mic, in no particular order.
Evidence Says Dr. Dre Is Rap’s “Greatest Producer Of All Time”
“I don’t care if he wrote it or didn’t write it or if six people wrote it. He’s the greatest producer to me of all time, pretty much, in Rap. [Dr. Dre’s] got one of the greatest voices and he’s made some of the most classic records. Sometimes, it’s the producer’s job to know what he excels in and what he doesn’t excel in and highlight the strengths instead of illustrating the weaknesses. Maybe writing is not his forte but beats and delivery sure are. He’s got a great delivery as well. And then, who’s to say what he wrote or didn’t write? Who can’t sing [“Fuck Wit’ Dre Day”] or who can’t sing ‘Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang?’ Nobody. It’s pretty much impossible.”
Case in Point: “Express Yourself” by N.W.A.
Evidence Says Q-Tip “Should Be Number One” As Producer/Rapper
“He should be number one, actually. Yeah, A Tribe Called Quest. He’s one of my favorite rappers and those are some of the best beats to date. I don’t know present Q-Tip, as far as 2013 but yeah, Q-Tip. Q-Tip is the best producer on the mic. There it is. We didn’t even know he made those beats. It just said ‘Produced by A Tribe Called Quest.’ We didn’t figure that shit out ‘til later. And then to find out he made that shit? And then he’s one of my favorite rappers period so to find out he made all that? And then it was obvious when he made Crooklyn Dodgers and his production on Mobb Deep or his [Nas] ‘World Is Yours Remix’ for that matter, or even that shit he did for Tiger back in the day. So, yeah, Q-Tip’s number one.”
Case in Point: “Stir It Up (Steve Biko)” by A Tribe Called Quest
Evidence Recalls Kanye West’s Enthusiasm For Rapping & Producing
“[Kanye West’s] passionate about both [rapping and producing]. When I met him, he was equally excited about his rhymes as he was his beats. In fact, he knew that his beats were dope. He was trying to prove to everybody what a dope rapper he was. When [Dilated Peoples] made ‘This Way,’ it was just two verses. We were about to write a third one and he asked us, ‘Can I get on this?’ I was like, ‘Ask Rakaa.’ Rak was like, ‘Cool.’ [Laughs] We didn’t even realize what a dope rapper he was at the time but he knew in his heart.”
“And then, as a performer, Kanye’s one of the best performers. He can rock certain material from certain albums anywhere for any stage on earth. You could put him in front of the biggest festival. He could handle it by himself, no hype man. And then he could do the same performance at a high school lunchroom on a table if he wanted to. He’s very eager to get his message out and I think that’s pretty obvious.”
Case in Point: “Two Words” by Kanye West featuring Freeway & Mos Def
Evidence Says J Dilla’s Rapping Made Beats Better
“I love Jay Dee’s Rap style. His beats, he’s got enough praise for that, but his Rap style to me was so slick. I don’t know, man. He had that real raspy voice and he had that slick Native Tongues style. When he rapped, he made the beat better to me. He just knew how to glide across the track to let the beat breathe. I think producers understand that more than rappers sometimes. I’ve seen [J] Dilla live. You know?”
“Everyone from Detroit can rap. It’s just like a default. I don’t understand it quite but there’s nobody wack there. You might not be the best but you ain’t wack. Nobody. Then you also gotta consider Jay Dee’s health condition. This guy’s rapping. He might have just been coming from God knows what and then getting on the mic? It’s just like, ‘Woo!’ Yeah, salute.”
Case in Point: “Raise it Up” by Slum Village
Evidence Praises RZA’s Longevity As Producer/Rapper
“RZA said some shit on [Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang Clan] and on the second one and throughout time, he’s just constantly dropped shit. Sometimes, he gets crazy and I like crazy personally. I understand how he might lose somebody with getting real deep but me personally I’m into that shit so that makes me even like him more. He might be one of the greatest Rap producers of all time so the fact that he can rhyme like that and perform? He’s dope on stage even still. He’s still skinny and shit. He looks young. He doesn’t look old. You know what I mean? I’ve gotta go with RZA.”
Case in Point: “Protect Ya Neck” by Wu-Tang Clan
RELATED: Evidence Talks The Green Tape, Step Brothers & Dilated Peoples’ “Intricacies”
Pete Rock > Dre and Ye
Pete ain’t much of a rapper though.
I would’ve replaced Dre with Quik.
no he’s not, but underrated especially compared to these guys
behind the boards, there is no comparison to me… got to factor that in for this convo
Pete Rock, LP, Alchemist, Eric Sermon, Havoc >>> Dre and Ye
Some others great on the mic and behind the boards:
Large Professor
Beatnuts
Lord Finesse
DJ Quik
No ID is not bad
I think I agree with this list. It really sucks how RZA’s been completely fucking useless since 2000 though. He deserves that nod on ’91-2000 alone though.
Large Professor is probably the best though.
Fuck You..Wu forever
1.) Dre
2.) Kanye
3.) Rza
4.) Quik
5.) Havok
co-sign
Kanye doesn’t belong on this list. He has way too weak delivery.
take kanye and dre off they dont write their own rhymes or make their own beats anymore they got a team of slaves to do that shit for them!
shiiiit Dj Quik is deff. the best producer of all time if u really watch his dvd and pay attention to his work over years and how hes not always credited with some of the shit he has done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWvSwaC4Kg8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhkB95J5c9s
EL FUCKING P……
indeed.
Word I forgot El P on my list !!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pv7GZN_sPM
diz list is fuckin wack. all deze bitch ass rappers are from da 90s… new producers are way betta. swag
1. T-Minus
2. Noah “40” Shebib
3. DJ Khaled
4. Soulja Boy
5. Lex Luger
6. Mike Will Made It
7. Bangladesh
8. Young Chop
9. Birdman
10. So Icy Boi!
Hey dumbass, if you read the title it says “Best Producers on the Mic” which means rapping. None of them niggas you just named sucked.
So Dumb Boi!
why do you guys always respond to an obvous troll. youre all idiots. i hate this site
none of them rap though you fuckin icey tard.. birdman tries to but he blows
“He just knew how to glide across the track to let the beat breathe. I think producers understand that more than rappers sometimes.” thats the point
1) Q-Tip
2) Large Pro
3) rza
4) Diamond D
5) Pete Rock
6) Dj Quick
7) Havoc
8) People under the stairs- Thes one and Double K
9) Madlib
10 Dr Dre
11 Oh no
12 Beatnuts
13 erick sermon
14 Evidence
15 Ill Bill
I gotta say for me, its J Dilla, Madlib, RZA, Black Milk, and Grandmaster Caz, if you can go back that far. I have love for the old school.
Havoc constantly underrated
another irrelevent niggas opinion making the news in hhdx is it any wonder no1 takes this site seriously what a bunch of lames that run this site.
dude you on this site…and evidence a beast
Dilated Peoples irrelevant? Just because You don’t know shit don’t mean you gotta troll this shit up.
some nobody anon calling anyone irrelevant is funny to me.. this geek probably grew up with his mama tellin him how special he was and believed that shit! what a fuckin zeek
Premier
Dilla
Showbiz
RZA
Diamond D
honorable mentions:
Alchemist
Pete rock
madlib
DOOM
Prince Paul
Large Professor
Evidence
New producers:
Apollo Brown
Oh No
black milk
Imakemadbeats
Araabmuzik
this list is for producers that rap
dj premier does not rap
someone huge they’re forgetting, MF DOOM
he probably deserves to be on this list moreso than dilla, dre
DOOM is ILL!!!
MF DOOM!!! Good list tho. I’d probably switch Dilla with DOOM but Dilla was ill too. Just not as good a rapper as DOOM!
yeah i think doom is closer to dillas talent producing than he is to dooms emceein
Its hard to say bc Dilla passed away to compare Doom and him
You fucking kidding me? Dre doesn’t even write his raps & it’s the same ol’ shit every time….
We stay young, while y’all old wicked faces be wrinkling
RZA
Havoc
Doom
Jehst
Diamond D
RZA
Pete Rock
Erick Sermon
Lord Finesse
DJ Quik
Hi Tek
Necro
Havoc
MF Doom
El P
Roc Marciano
Q tip
eminem
Celph Titled
J zone
45 king
The alchemist
oh no
madlib
jay dee
j live
The others that come to mind either don’t really make their own beats or don’t write their own rhymes these are official cats. Honorable mention: Scram Jones, Inspecta Deck.
I can tell your a real head that’s a good list…….The only one your missing is People under the stairs and the beatnuts…Are you hep to Jneiro Jarel and fat jon are dope to…
Erik Sermon , Big Krit, Large Professor, Kanye West, Qtip and Havoc tie
Oh yeah, K.R.I.T. is a dope producer/mc as well!
Krit is dope, but how is he one of the best of all time? LOL
Anyone who leaves out RZA is automatically excluded from Hip Hop conversations.
Mr Porter, Will I am and Pharrell.
No DJ Quik??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W1tG-m4NSU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45D55h0DGNo
i think havoc is pretty dope
shit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPBKtyE0X9U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DGxTlho12c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH-cIzI4iQA
Gotta be Havoc and Eminem I always thought Kanye was pretty average and his whole asshole personality makes me dislike him even more not to mention he impregnated the most pointless piece of shit fame whore in history
KANYE IS THE BEST, HANDS DOWN.
Put your hands back up, because you’re so wrong. Eminem has always been the better one.
^Its best producers on the mic, not best MC’s on the boards. Em is a rapper/MC first.
^^^
So how is Q-Tip a producer first?
He’s more well-known as an MC in tribe than for his production work.
It just matters that they do both, not what they’re most well-known for, ya dummy.
EMINEM’S PRODUCTION IS SO WACK…
The Way I Am
Lose Yourself
Till I Collapse
most of the EMinem Show
most of Devils Night
Renegade & Moment of Clarity for Jay
The Cross for Nas
etc.
yeah Em’s production must be wack *sarcasm*
Actually yes The Cross and Moment of Clarity were some of the wackest beats I heard… I couldn’t stand either song till I heard remix version by 9th Wonder and Danger Mouse respectively
YES THOSE ARE ALL WACK BEATS… NOT NECESSARILY WACK SONGS (ALTHOUGH MOST ARE TOO), BUT THE BEATS ARE FUCKING GARBAGE
He (Em) has made some wack beats (Ricky Ticky Toc, for example), but mostly he makes bangers.
fuck off.. DRE really ??? though you had good hiphop ear evidence…
He has clearly the most likable delivery and voice. He never wrote his verses, but to me – it’s not a big deal, since the verses are dope!
Fuck Doom with his using the same beat, not showing up for shows ass. Imma give it to q-tip and dre. Classic shit. Hands down
Dre is the best ENGINEER in hip-hop…he doesn’t make beats, he steals from his underlings, which he doesn’t have anymore because of his thievery, he doesn’t write rhymes, and that’s why Detox is taking so long to come out…Kanye can’t rhyme and his new beats suck…Q-Tip belongs on this list however…
his career is 30 years long. that is all.
if Dre stole everything, he would have disappeared years ago.
if his underlings made all that classic music, why can’t none of them niggas do it without him?
Dre is always involved, so clearly he is the one with the creativity.
Dre had a great support team Mel-Man sam sneed , Budah & JFlexx all from Pittsburgh, They did ghost production and writing….These cats never got their full props but real cats know who they are !!! The worked with cube, pac, xzibit, king t, Warren G, the whole death row and other out West !!!
“Eminem is better.” “No, Kanye is so much better what?!?!”
Shut the fuck up with all of your baseless opinions. No one is the best it’s a subjective question. All of you just keep nodding your empty heads.
Paris
Q tip
Erick Sermon
Large Professor
Kanye West
By excluding RZA you revoke your Hip Hop pass
Does RZA have some dope beats? yeah i’ll give him that. But dude is wack as fuck on the mic. I swear y’all niggas be tripping me out with the Wu-Tang Clan acting they the most untouchable niggas knowing damn well the Wu consisted of 3 dope emcees 1 dope producer and 5 wack niggas for real doe. I knnow y’all niggas gonna get butt hurt over that too, but let’s be for real. The only Wu niggas still relevant are Ghost, Meth, Rae, and Rza. 3 emcees and 1 producer like I said. Now before y’all start coming at me about Gza I’ll give him Liquid Swords though personally I wasn’t feeling it, but its a def Classic.
Word
Grand Puba & CL Smooth wrote the majority of Pete Rock’s Rhymes. If you’re gonna knock Doc Dre, you have to say the same about Pete. This is a pretty good to 5 – Quik & Eric Sermon are up there too.
black milk isn’t bad
EL-P is definitely in my top 5, Ka & Roc Marciano will be in the top 5 after their respective careers are over. RZA is number 1 on my list because of his original and genre defining style as a producer as well as an emcee. MF DOOM would be number 3 on my list followed by EL-P. You can’t put Dr. Dre on this list considering he doesn’t even write his own rhymes…
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that is a nice list, but el-p is coming back in a major why. he is a force to be reckoned with.
1. RZA
2. Q-Tip
3. RandomBlackDude
4. Dre Dre
5. J Dilla
Dilla the best producer rapper most definitely. Dre is dope but the fact that he doesn’t write most if not all of his rhymes knocks him off the list. I’m sorry but this is Hip-Hop not R&B if you rap write your own lyrics.
DJ Quik, that is all
Damn real rap I even forgot that one and I got all his albums!
Damn right. Take out Dilla, replace with Quik.
Good list otherwise though.
HATE TO SAY IT, BUT DIDDY IS THE GREATEST PRODUCER ALIVE !
el-p
rza
kool keith
j dilla
alchemist
juicy j at least top 10 though..
EVIDENCE!! good article enjoy reading about true artists opinions
what about havoc he is a incredible producer
he is mentioned in the list before the top 5
DRE THE G.O.A.T
and Eminem
lol bullshit, Eminem is a shitty producer and a gimmicky and wack rapper
the alchemist is the greatest producer alive