Unsung Hitmakers: Female Music Producers

BET.com gives props to ladies creating their own sound.

Giving Credit Where It's Due - It’s no secret that music production is a man’s world. The talented women behind the boards mixing, mastering, arranging and composing the R&B and hip hop hits we love, rarely receive the props they deserve. BET.com gives credit where it’s due to female producers –– from vets like Missy Elliott, who just celebrated a birthday (July 1) and lit up the 2014 BET Awards stage with her V.A. boardsmith brethren Pharrell, to the newcomers like WundaGurl, who got her first big break with none other than Jay Z. Read on to see which ladies deserve a long-awaited big up. — Natelege Whaley (@Natelege_)  (Photos from Left: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images, Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images, Charley Gallay/Getty Images for GREY GOOSE)

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Giving Credit Where It's Due - It’s no secret that music production is a man’s world. The talented women behind the boards mixing, mastering, arranging and composing the R&B and hip hop hits we love, rarely receive the props they deserve. BET.com gives credit where it’s due to female producers –– from vets like Missy Elliott, who just celebrated a birthday (July 1) and lit up the 2014 BET Awards stage with her V.A. boardsmith brethren Pharrell, to the newcomers like WundaGurl, who got her first big break with none other than Jay Z. Read on to see which ladies deserve a long-awaited big up. — Natelege Whaley (@Natelege_)  (Photos from Left: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images, Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images, Charley Gallay/Getty Images for GREY GOOSE)

WondaGurl - WondaGurl had a sweet 16 in 2013 when rapper/producer Travi$ Scott told her her "Crown" beat would be included on Jay Z's Magna Carta... Holy Grail. Scott and Mike Dean built upon her sample and drums, adding synth sounds, for the final track. The Brampton, Ontario, teen then became the center of media attention for her major break. Previous to this, WondaGurl produced Scott's "Uptown."(Photo: Lucas Oleniuk Toronto Star/Getty Images)

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WondaGurl - WondaGurl had a sweet 16 in 2013 when rapper/producer Travi$ Scott told her her "Crown" beat would be included on Jay Z's Magna Carta... Holy Grail. Scott and Mike Dean built upon her sample and drums, adding synth sounds, for the final track. The Brampton, Ontario, teen then became the center of media attention for her major break. Previous to this, WondaGurl produced Scott's "Uptown."(Photo: Lucas Oleniuk Toronto Star/Getty Images)

Crystal Caines - Meet Crystal Caines. The Harlem-born newcomer is a triple threat: songwriter, producer and engineer. Caines made a buzz after lacing A$AP Ferg with a trippy bass-style beat for "100 Million Roses." Ferg later tapped Caines again for his Trap Lord track "Lord," featuring rap veterans Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. With her foot in the door on a Top 10 album, Caines can only go up from here. (Photo: Courtesy Crystal Caines)

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Crystal Caines - Meet Crystal Caines. The Harlem-born newcomer is a triple threat: songwriter, producer and engineer. Caines made a buzz after lacing A$AP Ferg with a trippy bass-style beat for "100 Million Roses." Ferg later tapped Caines again for his Trap Lord track "Lord," featuring rap veterans Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. With her foot in the door on a Top 10 album, Caines can only go up from here. (Photo: Courtesy Crystal Caines)

Syd Tha Kyd - L.A. native Syd Tha Kyd was born into music, as her mother aspired to be a DJ and her Jamaican father was a reggae producer. At 14, she built a recording studio in her house. Syd rose to fame as producer of the Odd Future sub-group The Internet. She was also the lead producer of Mac Miller's Live From Space (2013). As a vocalist, keyboardist and DJ, Syd is committed to her craft.(Photo: Rahav Segev/Getty Images for BET)

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Syd Tha Kyd - L.A. native Syd Tha Kyd was born into music, as her mother aspired to be a DJ and her Jamaican father was a reggae producer. At 14, she built a recording studio in her house. Syd rose to fame as producer of the Odd Future sub-group The Internet. She was also the lead producer of Mac Miller's Live From Space (2013). As a vocalist, keyboardist and DJ, Syd is committed to her craft.(Photo: Rahav Segev/Getty Images for BET)

Janelle Monáe  - The retro-inspired Janelle Monáe is a creative commander behind the scenes of her music. The pompadour-rocking entertainer has numerous production credits: as arranger on her debut, The ArchAndroid (2010); as the executive producer, songwriter and engineer on her follow-up, The Electric Lady, and for playing the hammon organ on her 2007 EP, Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase). Monáe has brought funk, rock, soul and theatrical performance together to create her own musical niche that no one can copy. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)

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Janelle Monáe  - The retro-inspired Janelle Monáe is a creative commander behind the scenes of her music. The pompadour-rocking entertainer has numerous production credits: as arranger on her debut, The ArchAndroid (2010); as the executive producer, songwriter and engineer on her follow-up, The Electric Lady, and for playing the hammon organ on her 2007 EP, Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase). Monáe has brought funk, rock, soul and theatrical performance together to create her own musical niche that no one can copy. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)

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Alicia Keys  - As a classically-trained pianist who successfully bridged these stylings with R&B and hip hop, Alicia Keys has stood out among contemporary artists during her career. The songbird arranged, composed and programmed her debut album, Songs in A Minor (2001), and her four releases that followed. She is one-half of the production duo KrucialKeys Enterprises with Kerry "Krucial" Brothers. Outside of music, the singer also co-produced and composed music for the short-lived Broadway play Stick Fly in 2011. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NARAS)

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Alicia Keys  - As a classically-trained pianist who successfully bridged these stylings with R&B and hip hop, Alicia Keys has stood out among contemporary artists during her career. The songbird arranged, composed and programmed her debut album, Songs in A Minor (2001), and her four releases that followed. She is one-half of the production duo KrucialKeys Enterprises with Kerry "Krucial" Brothers. Outside of music, the singer also co-produced and composed music for the short-lived Broadway play Stick Fly in 2011. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NARAS)

Missy Elliott - A young Missy Elliott got her big break as a writer and producer on “That’s What Little Girls Are Made Of” for a then-seven-year-old Raven-Symoné in 1993. The rapper/songwriter went on to produce and write hits such as the G-funked up "Heartbreaker" remix (1999) for Mariah Carey; tracks on Whitney Houston's My Love Is Your Love; and worked with her right-hand producer Timbaland on Aaliyah's One in a Million.The Supa Dupa Fly-hitmaker also took charge as producer on her commercially successful solo efforts Miss E… So Addictive (2001), Under Construction (2002), This Is Not a Test! (2003) and The Cookbook (2005). (Photo: Cindy Ord/BET/Getty Images for BET)

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Missy Elliott - A young Missy Elliott got her big break as a writer and producer on “That’s What Little Girls Are Made Of” for a then-seven-year-old Raven-Symoné in 1993. The rapper/songwriter went on to produce and write hits such as the G-funked up "Heartbreaker" remix (1999) for Mariah Carey; tracks on Whitney Houston's My Love Is Your Love; and worked with her right-hand producer Timbaland on Aaliyah's One in a Million.The Supa Dupa Fly-hitmaker also took charge as producer on her commercially successful solo efforts Miss E… So Addictive (2001), Under Construction (2002), This Is Not a Test! (2003) and The Cookbook (2005). (Photo: Cindy Ord/BET/Getty Images for BET)

Rock It Out - You betta call Tyrone, because she’s ready to rock! The songstress loves experimenting with over-the-top hair pieces, and this spiked and bleached Mohawk is definitely a scene stealer. (Photo: WENN)

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Erykah Badu - Soulquarian Erykah Badu is a veteran in R&B, but her skills go beyond her jazzy, soulful vocal ability. The Dallas native has production credits for keyboards on her debut album Baduizm (1997); drum programming, arranging, engineering and art direction on Worldwide Underground (2003), New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) (2008) and on New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) (2010). You can also find Badu occassionally spinning records at parties under the moniker DJ Low Down Loretta Brown.  (Photo: WENN)

Patrice Rushen - Grammy-nominated Patrice Rushen is a musical genius who has had success in the jazz, R&B and pop realms. Her funky grooves off Straight From the Heart (1982) can be heard in multiple hip hop and R&B classics. Her biggest hit, "Forget Me Nots," was sampled by Will Smith on "Men in Black" (1997). Mary J. Blige also sampled Rushen's "Remind Me" in 1992.   The classically-trained pianist plays the flute, clarinet and percussion. Mentored by Quincy Jones, Rushen was the first woman to be musical director for the Grammys. She also directed the Emmys, the NAACP Awards and Janet Jackson's janet World Tour. Rushen has written and produced for a long list of soulful stars, including Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan and Prince. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Patrice Rushen - Grammy-nominated Patrice Rushen is a musical genius who has had success in the jazz, R&B and pop realms. Her funky grooves off Straight From the Heart (1982) can be heard in multiple hip hop and R&B classics. Her biggest hit, "Forget Me Nots," was sampled by Will Smith on "Men in Black" (1997). Mary J. Blige also sampled Rushen's "Remind Me" in 1992.   The classically-trained pianist plays the flute, clarinet and percussion. Mentored by Quincy Jones, Rushen was the first woman to be musical director for the Grammys. She also directed the Emmys, the NAACP Awards and Janet Jackson's janet World Tour. Rushen has written and produced for a long list of soulful stars, including Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan and Prince. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Joyce Irby - Joyce Irby, aka "Fenderella," had her shining moment as co-lead vocalist and bassist in the 1980s all-girl band Klymaxx –– although she sung with Parliament and George Clinton prior. She co-produced, arranged and provided vocals on Meeting in the Ladies Room (1984) and their eponymously-titled record in 1986. Besides landing her Top 10 R&B hit "Mr. DJ" featuring Doug-E. Fresh, she produced records for other groups, including Troop, Shalamar and The Braxtons. Irby also gave a 16-year-old Dallas Austin his start, signing him to her entertainment company, and signed and developed a young Sammie and Lloyd.(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Joyce Irby - Joyce Irby, aka "Fenderella," had her shining moment as co-lead vocalist and bassist in the 1980s all-girl band Klymaxx –– although she sung with Parliament and George Clinton prior. She co-produced, arranged and provided vocals on Meeting in the Ladies Room (1984) and their eponymously-titled record in 1986. Besides landing her Top 10 R&B hit "Mr. DJ" featuring Doug-E. Fresh, she produced records for other groups, including Troop, Shalamar and The Braxtons. Irby also gave a 16-year-old Dallas Austin his start, signing him to her entertainment company, and signed and developed a young Sammie and Lloyd.(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Angela Winbush - One of the biggest hitmakers in 1980s R&B was Angela Winbush. The singer, songwriter, musician and producer grew up singing in the church and honed her skills as a member of Stevie Wonder's Wonderlove group. While in the duo René and Angela, she scored her first Billboard No. 1 R&B song with "Your Smile."Winbush used synthesizers to give her soulful sound a modern electronic feel. After going solo, she wrote and produced her No. 1 record "Angel" in 1987. She also penned and produced "Something in the Way You Make Me Feel," a No. 1 hit for Stephanie Mills, and Lalah Hathaway's "Baby Don't Cry." Winbush launched Angela Winbush Productions in 1990. She later produced several records for The Isley Brothers. (Photo: Leon Morris/Redferns)

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Angela Winbush - One of the biggest hitmakers in 1980s R&B was Angela Winbush. The singer, songwriter, musician and producer grew up singing in the church and honed her skills as a member of Stevie Wonder's Wonderlove group. While in the duo René and Angela, she scored her first Billboard No. 1 R&B song with "Your Smile."Winbush used synthesizers to give her soulful sound a modern electronic feel. After going solo, she wrote and produced her No. 1 record "Angel" in 1987. She also penned and produced "Something in the Way You Make Me Feel," a No. 1 hit for Stephanie Mills, and Lalah Hathaway's "Baby Don't Cry." Winbush launched Angela Winbush Productions in 1990. She later produced several records for The Isley Brothers. (Photo: Leon Morris/Redferns)

Sylvia Robinson - Known as the "Godmother of Hip Hop," the late Sylvia Robinson was the force behind the first major rap records "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang and "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.Earlier in her career Robinson played the guitar, produced and wrote most of her music, including her 1973 Hot 100 hit "Pillow Talk." She originally wrote the record with Al Green in mind, but after no response from him, released it with her vocals.Her legacy carries on as the visionary behind what has become a global music movement. (Photo: Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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Sylvia Robinson - Known as the "Godmother of Hip Hop," the late Sylvia Robinson was the force behind the first major rap records "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang and "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.Earlier in her career Robinson played the guitar, produced and wrote most of her music, including her 1973 Hot 100 hit "Pillow Talk." She originally wrote the record with Al Green in mind, but after no response from him, released it with her vocals.Her legacy carries on as the visionary behind what has become a global music movement. (Photo: Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)