7 Hip-Hop Producers To Keep An Eye On In 2018 | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

7 Hip-Hop Producers To Keep An Eye On In 2018

These brilliant beatmakers are changing the tide of a new generation of hip-hop.

1432
7 Hip-Hop Producers To Keep An Eye On In 2018
Wikimedia commons

The hip-hop scene is saturated with hundreds, if not thousands of beatmakers who make hits and seem to vanish just as mysteriously as they materialized. But occasionally, there are some who stick, coming back for an encore or two, and definitely some who should be sticking. Here are seven hip-hop producers who either are rightfully gaining traction or who I feel should be given more of a shot.

1. Teddy Walton


Teddy Walton's made a few recent hits, but he really took off in 2017, when he produced Goldlink's popular single "Crew" and Kendrick Lamar's smash hit "LOVE." His style is unique, some sort of vaporous take on trap production, and the results both have pop appeal and layered soundscapes.

Best tracks: "Crew" by Goldlink, "LOVE." by Kendrick Lamar, "Redemption" by Zacari and Babes Wodumo

2. KAYTRANADA


Kaytranada's breakthrough was really a couple of years ago, with his fantastic dance-jazz-electronica debut 99.9% making a vibrant splash in the music industry. He went on to produce a plethora of tracks which each stood out within their respective projects. His beautiful creations are individual journeys, every single one worth taking.

Best tracks: "Girl" by The Internet, "All Night" by Chance the Rapper, "P's and Q's" by Mick Jenkins, "Alexys" by Freddie Gibbs, "Uptempo" by The Celestics

*Note: I only included his productions for other artists, but his solo album is absolutely amazing, and you should definitely check it out.

3. Paul White

English producer Paul White's work is incredibly eccentric. I can guarantee you've never heard anything like a Paul White beat in your life. He's probably best known in the hip-hop world for his work with the equally eccentric Danny Brown, whose amazing 2016 album Atrocity Exhibition relied heavily on Paul White's haunting and bombastic production. It makes Danny's descriptive hell-scape of addiction just that much more vivid. I don't know if he'll be able to work with many other artists besides Danny, but his musical creations speak for themselves.

Best tracks: "Tell Me What I Don't Know", "Ain't It Funny", "Dance In the Water" and "From the Ground", all by Danny Brown

4. Frank Dukes

It's a huge shame that Frank Dukes is not a household name. He's the genius behind Camila Cabello's "Havana", Kendrick Lamar's "Levitate", and a solid selection of Lorde's brilliant new album Melodrama. Uniquely, he makes his own samples, so he doesn't actually use another artists' work. Which isn't to besmirch sampling at all for that reason, but Frank Dukes's work is entirely built from scratch.

Best tracks: "Havana" by Camila Cabello, "Sundays" by Aminé, "Homemade Dynamite", "Hard Feelings/Loveless", and "Sober II (Melodrama)" all by Lorde, "Levitate" by Kendrick Lamar, "Real Friends" by Kanye West

5. Pasqué


In terms of high-profile production, he's only really worked with Aminé, but he really has the ability and potential to branch out. Pasqué's beautiful synth-based sweet beats are the perfect mix of catchiness, fun, and good vibes. The most notable beat he's produced is easily "Caroline", but, come on, that's one of the best instrumentals I've heard in a long time.

Best tracks: "Caroline", "Money", and "Baba", all by Aminé

6. Ludwig Göransson

He's really rising the ranks in terms of film scoring, having been given the opportunity to score the films of Ryan Coogler (who, with Fruitvale Station, Creed, and Black Panther, is also rising the ranks). Göransson is also a very adept hip-hop producer, working primarily with Childish Gambino, who, even if his verses are a little questionable, does rap over some beautiful instrumentals. If anything, the sheer power of Childish Gambino's latest effort, Awaken My Love!, which was a transcendent R&B/soul experience, just goes to show the expansively creative abilities that comes naturally to Göransson.

Best tracks: "Worldstar", "The Worst Guys", "Redbone", "Me and Your Mama", "Riot!" and "Sweatpants", all by Childish Gambino, "Opp" by Kendrick Lamar, Vince Staples and Yugen Blakrok

7. Sounwave

Sounwave is another producer who a lot of people aren't too aware of, but they really should know the man who has crafted and spearheaded so many iconic musical moments. He's an in-house producer for TDE which means he has worked with some of the best and brightest in hip-hop today, but his sonic versatility and creativity continues to shine and bolster each and every creative product that these amazing rappers put out year after year.

Best tracks: "m.A.A.d City", "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe", "Complexion (A Zulu Love)", "King Kunta", "Untitled 05", "YAH.", and "ELEMENT.", all by Kendrick Lamar, "JoHn Muir", "Ride Out", both by ScHoolboy Q

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
nothing on to-do list

Winter break is a cherished time for many after enduring a grueling fall semester. It’s a time of relaxation and time spent with loved ones over the holidays. However, once the new year rolls around, we’re all ready to go back to school. Here are thoughts every college student has during winter break.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Facts All People In A Large Family Can Confirm During The Holiday Season

The holiday season can be the best and most stressful time of the year, especially when more people are involved.

2909
kids jumping

The holidays are full of lights, sweets, sweaters, and your favorite movies. There's nothing quite like this period from the beginning of December through January. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years. The fun of it all.

I don't know about you but with my large Italian family something is always going on during this season. It can be the most wonderful time of the year while also being the most hectic. These are a few things you know if your family is anything like mine during this time.

Keep Reading...Show less
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

5475
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

3426
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments