The Top 10 Producers of the 2010s

Now all said and done, the 2010’s in Hip-Hop will be looked at in many ways. Throughout this decade Hip-Hop became the number one genre in the country, the power of social media as an advertising avenue grew, and we saw many artists rise and fall, some never falling at all and some falling rather quickly. However, when we look back at what the 2010s meant for Hip-Hop we would do a great disservice to not mention this decade as the rise of the producer. Think about it, we started off this decade giving lots of credit to rappers while at times turning a blind eye to the person responsible for that beautiful mix of sounds under the rapper’s lyrics. Now, when listening to that new Hip-Hop song everyone is obsessed over, we make sure to ask if Pi’erre wants to come out here or if Young Metro trusts you. With all this being said, we wouldn’t be doing our job here at OldMilk.Co if we didn’t run down our top ten producers of the decade. So without further ado, let’s celebrate the top ten producers of this decade.

10) Sonny Digital

Responsible for songs like “Same Damn Time” by Future, “Tuesday” by ILoveMakonnen featuring Drake, and “Stargazing” by Travis Scott, Sonny Digital has quietly had a part in your favorite Hip-Hop melodies. The typically dark vibe he puts forth through his production could be pointed to as the reason why his beats go so hard! 

9) London on da Track

One of the underrated artists to come from the Cash Money Records rise to success, London on da Track has been a consistent presence within the Hip-Hop genre. Responsible for defining hit songs like Young Thug and Rich Homie Quan’s “Lifestyle,” Young Thug’s “Check” and Kodak Black’s “Roll In Peace” featuring XXXTentacion, London on da Track’s production has been one to create a song that deserves to be blasted out of the speakers of your mom’s car. 

8) Pi’erre Bourne

Pi’erre Bourne is clearly one of the most transformative producers of the decade. His sound is so distinct, you can tell a Pi’erre Bourne beat by the intensity of his bass patterns. Aside from his bass patterns, his melodies under his beats are one of a kind. Think I’m cappin'? I challenge you to listen to “The Life Of Pi’erre 4” without being impressed by the production and song to song transitions on display. Pi’erre Bourne is also one of the producers to made music tags important to listeners, inspiring people to yell “Yo Pi’erre  you wanna come out of here (door creak)” whenever they hear that tag on a song. Pi’erre Bourne is responsible for producing hit songs like Playboi Carti’s “Magnolia,” while also producing most of Playboi Carti’s beats and collabing with Young Nudy to create the joint project “Sli’merre.” 

7) Boi 1da 

 Coming in at number eight on the list is Canada’s own Boi 1da. A frequent collaborator with Drake, this Canadian connection has come together to make early hits like “Best I Ever Had,” “Over,” “Miss Me” ft. Lil Wayne and “0 to 100 / The Catch Up,” just to name a few. The Canadian producer hasn’t just limited himself to working with the Canadian superstar that is Drake. Boi 1da also sports credits on the hit songs, “Not Afraid” by Eminem, “Work” by Rihanna featuring Drake, and “The Blacker The Berry” by Kendrick Lamar. Boi 1da has also been nominated for fourteen Grammy Awards, winning one for Best Rap Song for his work on Drake’s “God’s Plan.”

6) Zaytoven

“Versace, Versace, Medusa head on me like I’m illuminati…. (Zaytoven)” One of the most prominent producers to come out of the Atlanta trap movement, Zaytoven has been known for his work with Hip-Hop and R&B’s biggest stars. From working with Future and Usher to producing “Versace,” one of the first hits in the rise to Hip-Hop superstardom for the Migos chances are if a rapper’s rise to fame went through Atlanta, Zaytoven had something to do with it.

5) Kanye West

Responsible for some of the most iconic beats of all time, Kanye’s place on this list is well earned. We would literally be here all day if I had to name every hit Kanye has produced this decade, but in the name of time because we both have other things we want to get done today some highlights of Kanye’s career include, “Power,” Big Sean’s “I Don’t Fuck With You,” and “Black Skinhead.” West’s talent shines through his production on his own albums as well as his impressive run, producing Pusha T’s “DAYTONA,” his own “ye,” his collab album with Kid Cudi “KIDS SEE GHOSTS,” Nas’ “NASIR”  and Teyana Taylor’s “K.T.S.E.” in the span of five weeks.

4) Mike WiLL Made-It

Whenever Mike WiLL Made-It, you know it’s going to be heat. Responsible for Rae Sremmurd’s “No Type,”“Black Beetles” and “No Flex Zone,” Mike WiLL’s ability to create a hit to turn the party up should not go understated. Mike WiLL’s reach this decade is endlessly highlighted by him winning a Grammy for his production on Kendrick Lamar’s “HUMBLE.” Other notable Mike WiLL production credits are Rihanna’s “Pour It Up,” Future’s “Move That Dope” and G.O.O.D. Music’s “Mercy. Also, shout out to him for the impressive work he’s done for his label Ear Drummer Records.

3) Southside, TM88 & 808 Mafia

Coming in at number three is the producer supergroup 808 Mafia. While many of them could have easily been on this list by themselves, it just wouldn’t feel right separating them. Together 808 Mafia is responsible for many of your favorite trap melodies including Lil Uzi Vert’s “XO Tour Llif3,” Future’s “March Madness” and Machine Gun Kelly’s “Wild Boy” as well as many songs on Future’s transformative “DS2.”

2) Mustard

Holding it down for the West Coast at number two, Mustard has been at the forefront of many of the biggest hits in Hip-Hop. Starting in 2011 with Tyga’s “Rack City,” Mustard went on to produce 2 Chainz’s “I’m Different,” YG’s “My Nigga,” YG’s “Who Do You Love,” Tinashe’s “2 On,” Ty Dolla $ign’s “Paranoid,” T-Pain’s “Up Down (Do This All Day)” and many more hits. Mustard recently started a record label, 10 Summers Records, so a tip of the cap to him.

1) Metro Boomin

Metro Boomin is the undisputed producer of the decade. Let’s put aside his role on the countless hit songs of this decade for a moment, to take a look at the sheer impact he has had on the culture. Metro Boomin was one of the first producers turned into a meme because of his Future said tag, “If Young Metro don’t trust you Imma shoot you.” Metro’s role in producing for Future’s DS2, as well as placing his name on projects he produced in full such as Metro Boomin and 21 Savage’s “Savage Mode,” Metro Boomin and Big Sean’s “Double or Nothing,” Metro Boomin and NAV’s “Perfect Timing” and Metro Boomin, 21 Savage and Offset’s “Without Warning” is one of the biggest reasons for the rise in attention paid to producers during this decade. Now, just for fun let’s talk about Young Metro’s hits this decade. “Bad and Boujee” by Migos featuring Lil Uzi Vert, “Where Ya At” by Future featuring Drake, “X” 21 Savage and Metro Boomin featuring Future, “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1” by Kanye West featuring Kid Cudi, “Mask Off” by Future, “Congratulations” by Post Malone featuring Quavo are all produced by Metro Boomin, while also being the ultimate testament to his impact on Hip-Hop this decade.

The 2010s was truly a transformative decade for producers. As we look forward to what the 2020s has in store for the Hip-Hop genre, the one thing we know for sure is that the producers on this list have shown no signs of falling off in the next decade. However, there are a lot of producers who are on the rise, focused to make their mark on 2020 like Working on Dying, Take a Daytrip, Wheezy, Nick Mira and more. All I know for sure is listening to the next wave of outstanding Hip-Hop production is certainly going to be worth it.