Double Duty: Notable Rapper/Producers

Word is André 3000 has produced songs for Aretha Franklin.

Behind the Boards and in the Booth - One half of OutKast, André 3000 is not only a rapper, singer and actor, he also wears a producer's hat as well. In the past he produced tracks for Kelis, Gwen Stefani, and Killer Mike; and now he will work with Aretha Franklin, producing a reported four songs on her forthcoming covers album.With the Queen of Soul herself stamping his production chops, Dre falls in line with a double-threat music makers. Read on for more notable rapper/producers.(Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Firefly Music Festival)

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Behind the Boards and in the Booth - One half of OutKast, André 3000 is not only a rapper, singer and actor, he also wears a producer's hat as well. In the past he produced tracks for Kelis, Gwen Stefani, and Killer Mike; and now he will work with Aretha Franklin, producing a reported four songs on her forthcoming covers album.With the Queen of Soul herself stamping his production chops, Dre falls in line with a double-threat music makers. Read on for more notable rapper/producers.(Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Firefly Music Festival)

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Hit-Boy - After crafting beats for hits by the Throne, Nicki Minaj and others, Hit-Boy is one of the most in-demand producers in the rap world. But prospective customers have to compete for the SoCal producer's beats with Hit-Boy himself. Tracing the footsteps of his mentor, Kanye West, HB released a free album, HITstory, online in 2012. (Photo: Courtesy of Def Jam Records)

Large Professor - Large Pro's production work on Nas's Illmatic made him a legend, but before that he was probably better known on the mic as frontman and beatmaker for Main Source. Their 1991 debut, Breaking Atoms, is a slept-on classic.    (Photo: WENN)

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Large Professor - Large Pro's production work on Nas's Illmatic made him a legend, but before that he was probably better known on the mic as frontman and beatmaker for Main Source. Their 1991 debut, Breaking Atoms, is a slept-on classic.    (Photo: WENN)

Wyclef Jean - Wyclef Jean was born in Haiti, moved to Brooklyn and then settled in Northern New Jersey and started the multi-platinum Fugees before embarking on a notable solo career. (Photo: Johnny Louis/WENN.com)

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Wyclef Jean - Wyclef is more than just a guy in the Fugees, or the singer who ran for President of Haiti, he's also an eclectic producer, the man behind hits for the Fugees, Shakira, Mary J. Blige and his own solo work. (Photo: Johnny Louis/WENN.com)

J. Cole - This year was huge for J. Cole, who topped the charts with his debut album Cole World: The Sideline Story. The rapper-producer can add Soul Train Awards' Best New Artist nod to numerous nominations he received in 2012.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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J. Cole - J. Cole produced the vast majority of his chart-topping 2011 debut, Cole World: The Sideline Story, and its follow-up, Born Sinner; and he's made beats for Kendrick Lamar, XV and others.  (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Pharrell Williams - Skateboard P made his name as a falsettoed crooner and one half of hit-making duo the Neptunes, but he eventually took to the mic as well, spitting alongside beat clients like Snoop ("Drop Like It's Hot") and the Clipse ("Mr. Me Too") when he wasn't releasing solo material (In My Mind and GIRL).  (Photo: Courtesy of WIkiCommons)

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Pharrell Williams - Skateboard P made his name as a falsettoed crooner and one half of hit-making duo the Neptunes, but he eventually took to the mic as well, spitting alongside beat clients like Snoop ("Drop Like It's Hot") and the Clipse ("Mr. Me Too") when he wasn't releasing solo material (In My Mind and GIRL).  (Photo: Courtesy of WIkiCommons)

Standing O - The Watch the Throne Tour may be over but Kanye West is still bringing crowds to their feet. Here, the Chicago rhyme spitter and super-producer kills his two-night performance at Ovation Hall at Revel Resort & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

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Kanye West - Undoubtedly one of the best and most successful rapper/producers of all time, Kanye crafted classic beats for Jay Z, Beanie Sigel and others before embarking on his own storied MC career with a verse on Hov's "The Bounce" in 2002. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

Diamond D - Bronx legend Diamond D boasted that he was the "best producer on the mic" back in the '90s. He's been criminally slept on and forgotten since, but his first album, Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop (1992), was an underground favorite. Meanwhile, he's produced for Busta Rhymes, OutKast, the Fugees and many other icons.    (Photo: Courtesy of Diamond D/Myspace)

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Diamond D - Bronx legend Diamond D boasted that he was the "best producer on the mic" back in the '90s. He's been criminally slept on and forgotten since, but his first album, Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop (1992), was an underground favorite. Meanwhile, he's produced for Busta Rhymes, OutKast, the Fugees and many other icons.    (Photo: Courtesy of Diamond D/Myspace)

Lord Finesse - Lord Finesse, who's a member of the DITC crew with fellow MC/producer Diamond D, was king of punchlines back in the late '80s and early '90s, but he also made dope beats for Big L, Fat Joe and Dr. Dre. Just ask Mac Miller, who spit over one of his old beats for his mixtape cut "Kool Aid and Frozen Pizza" — and was served a lawsuit by Finesse as a result.  (Photo: Courtesy of Lord Finesse/Facebook)

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Lord Finesse - Lord Finesse, who's a member of the DITC crew with fellow MC/producer Diamond D, was king of punchlines back in the late '80s and early '90s, but he also made dope beats for Big L, Fat Joe and Dr. Dre. Just ask Mac Miller, who spit over one of his old beats for his mixtape cut "Kool Aid and Frozen Pizza" — and was served a lawsuit by Finesse as a result.  (Photo: Courtesy of Lord Finesse/Facebook)

DJ Quik - Compton rapper/producer DJ Quik is a bonafide West Coast legend thanks to his early-'90s solo albums and beats for 2Pac, Snoop, Dr. Dre, Jay Z and others.   (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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DJ Quik - Compton rapper/producer DJ Quik is a bonafide West Coast legend thanks to his early-'90s solo albums and beats for 2Pac, Snoop, Dr. Dre, Jay Z and others.   (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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Eminem - Eminem's "Lose Yourself" is one of the most celebrated underdog-turned-hero anthems to hit airwaves. He and it were featured in the comeback commercial of the year in 2011, when an extended spot for the Chrysler 200 debuted during the Super Bowl.(Photo: Scott Gries/PictureGroup)

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Eminem - Eminem made the opposite progression of most on this list, starting out as a dominating MC before stepping behind the boards under the watchful eye of Dr. Dre. After producing signature cuts for himself ("Way I Am"), he lent his beat-making skills to bangers by 50 Cent ("Patiently Waiting"), Jay Z ("Moment of Clarity") and select others.  (Photo: Scott Gries/PictureGroup)

18. Pete Rock - As half of one of the greatest DJ-rapper duos of all time, Pete Rock brought dexterous cuts and his deeply soulful signature production to classics with C.L. Smooth, and also crafted unforgettable beats and remixes for legends including Public Enemy and Nas. (Photo: Courtesy of WIkiCommons)

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Pete Rock - Pete Rock's production work behind Nas, Public Enemy and others made him a legend, but he's no bum on the mic either, rhyming on his own Soul Survivor albums and alongside C.L. on their acclaimed Mecca and the Soul Brother and Main Ingredient LPs. (Photo: Courtesy of WIkiCommons)

Q-Tip Performs at PRE - Musical mastermind Q-Tip reminded folks of his genius as he performed at Debra Lee's PRE dinner.(Photo: Mark Davis/Getty Images For BET)

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Q-Tip - As frontman of golden-era icons A Tribe Called Quest, Tip produced many of their influential classics and shared mic duties with Phife. When he's not working on his forthcoming solo album, The Last Zulu, he's been landing production credits for Kanye and Jay Z. (Photo: Mark Davis/Getty Images For BET)

Erick Sermon - As one half of Hall of Fame duo EPMD, Erick produced and rapped on all of their classics, including "Chill" and "Crossover." He later sprinkled his signature funk dust on beats for Redman, Keith Murray and others.   (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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Erick Sermon - As one half of Hall of Fame duo EPMD, Erick produced and rapped on all of their classics, including "Chill" and "Crossover." He later sprinkled his signature funk dust on beats for Redman, Keith Murray and others.   (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Play That Funky Music - B.E.P. frontman and producer extraordinaire, will.i.am, rocks the crowd as resident DJ for the Universal Music Brits party hosted by Bacardi at the Soho House Pop-Up at the Tate Modern in London, England. (Photo: Tony Attille/Soho House via Getty Images)

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will.i.am - will.i.am is producer and lead rapper for the currently-on-hiatus Black Eyed Peas, and he's also crafted beats for Nas ("Hip Hop Is Dead"), Estelle ("American Boy") and others. (Photo: Tony Attille/Soho House via Getty Images)

Dr. Dre - Dr. Dre partnered with Chrysler in 2011 for the unveiling of the Chrysler 300S series, fitted with Beats by Dre speakers. The commercial also featured a cameo from Dre protégé Kendrick Lamar.(Photo: Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella)

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Dr. Dre - Billionare Dre produced and rapped for gangsta-rap trailblazers N.W.A and his own game-changing album The Chronic, and has created an as yet unrivaled career of classic work since, with behind the boards hits for Snoop, Eminem, 50 Cent, Tupac and others. Recently, he's gotten back on the mic for some features on songs with Marsha Ambrosius. Does this mean Detox might finally be on its way? Fingers crossed. (Photo: Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella)