Top 10 Producers of 2014
The best of the best from behind the boards.
1 / 10
Top Producers of 2014 - Music had peaks and valleys this year. Some artists took chances with their sound and material, while others simply stuck to what they do best. Some artists hit the streets, most hit the clubs. Others gave fans thought-provoking material that they can sit with. Through it all, producers cooked up their bangers behind the boards. Here's the best that did it in 2014.(Photos from Left: DJ Dahi via Instagram, Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET, Christopher Polk/Getty Images for CBS Radio Inc.)
2 / 10
Timbaland - Timbaland was "Timbo the King" yet again in 2014, lacing everything from Michael Jackson's Xscape album with executive production to sliding behind the boards for Rick Ross's collaboration with Jay Z, "Movin' Bass," jumping on Jennifer Hudson's "Walk It Out," and going "Bubblegum" for Jason Derulo.(Photo: Danny Clifford/Hottwire.net/WENN.com)
3 / 10
Big K.R.I.T. - Not only did Big K.R.I.T. body the production on his own Cadillactica album, but he also spread love to others, like Rick Ross on the Boss's "Brimstone" cut. Big K.R.I.T. — definitely a producer and MC to be reckoned with.(Photo: Brad Barket/BET/Getty Images for BET)
4 / 10
J. Cole - J. Cole has no shortage of confidence. He doesn't suffer from a lack of skills either. The MC/producer handled most of the beats for his own 2014 Forest Hills Drive album, which dropped Dec. 9 without a single. You know you're confident in your rhyming and ability on the boards when you don't drop a single.(Photo: PA Photos/Landov)
5 / 10
Detail - All Detail did was cook up the year's biggest club banger in Wiz Khalifa's "We Dem Boyz." That alone would warrant his spot on 2014's Top Producers list. But he also worked the boards for Nicki Minaj's "Lookin' A**" and helped write Jennifer Lopez's "I Luh Ya Papi." Both female superstars used his records to set off their 2014 musical waves. Nice year for Detail.(Photo: Detail via Instagram)
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6 / 10
Boi-1da - Drake's "0-100" was one of the biggest rap tracks of the year and Boi-1da was the man responsible for it. He also co-produced Drizzy's "How About Now" and "6 God," in addition to working the boards for Tinashe's "Cold Sweat" and ScHoolboy Q's "Yay Yay." It's what the Toronto-bred producer does!(Photo: John Ricard / BET)
7 / 10
Mike WiLL Made It - After a huge 2013, Mike WiLL Made It kept it going this year, lacing Future's "Move That Dope" with Pharrell and helping break the group Rae Sremmurd with their anthem "No Flex Zone." Except Mike WiLL was flexing all year long.(Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images)
8 / 10
DJ Dahi - Not familiar with the name DJ Dahi? Well, you probably bopped your head to his beats this year at some point, as the producer was the architect behind sounds for the likes of Ab-Soul, Logic, Big Sean, Tinashe, Big K.R.I.T. and Ty Dolla Sign this year alone. Big year!(Photo: DJ Dahi via Instagram)
9 / 10
Pharrell - Pharrell's "Happy" was such a blockbuster record, it was released in 2013 but lived for a huge chunk of this year. Skateboard P then returned to his hip hop roots, lacing Future's "Move That Dope." 2014 and P is still moving in these streets. Heavy too.(Photo: KCS Presse / Splash News)