Producers work just as hard, if not harder, than the singers whose hits they help make.
That should seem obvious, but being "behind the console" means being behind the faces of the songs too, even if some producers are helping singers with their hooks as well.
Take Adey for instance, whose voice we can hear on Ycee’s Juice’ and Olamide’s ‘Wavy level’. This year, Pulse takes a look at some of the best producers of the year.
These are people who worked behind the scenes to make the beats your favourite singers and rappers record over. They all have emerged as being instrumental to the success of the songs they made.
Tekno
Tekno is popular for his career as a recording and performing artist. But the incredibly talented young man is pretty good behind the scenes. When he isn’t being your favorite singer in your speakers and on stage, he is working hard at creating records for himself and others. That’s how he scored the biggest Nigerian song of 2017, ‘If’ by Davido.
Kiddominant
While he moves about his business with calm and aplomb, it’s easy to forget how great Kiddominant is as a producer. Just check out his credits which roll off as a confirmed set of top hits. In 2017, he’s gotten some great groove back with helping craft Davido’s ‘and Mayorkun’s ‘Mama’. Two dope records which influenced the charts.
Oscar Heman-Ackah
Oscar is as quite as they come. A true gentleman of the art, the music producer, song writer, vocal instructor and sound designer, is born to Ghanaian-Nigerian parents. He has written and produced evergreen songs for some of the most talented artists, like P-square, Simi, Adekunle Gold, Darey Art-Alade and Chidinma; including international celebrities, like Rihanna, Marian Mereba, Akon, Chris Brown and many more. In 2017, he cemented his place by being responsible for “Simisola” album, the best body of work Nigeria produced in 2017.
Young Jonn
It’s almost feels like the wicked producer stands at the front of the line, beats in hand waiting to race into this list. While he has been mostly quiet this year, he raced into contention for top honors with Olamide’s ‘Wo’, a record that inspired the creation of “Lagos Nawa” album. He’s also scored some loose wins elsewhere with Lil Kesh’s ‘Rora’, 9ice’s ‘Living things’, and more.
Spax
You don’t know a lot about Spax due to his insistence to keep things private. But if you consumed Show Dem Camp’s “Palm Wine Music: Vol. 1” EP, then you know that here is a genius who doesn’t get as much credit as he deserves. One of 2017’s standout projects.
Sarz
Sarz won the year with ‘Come closer’, a record by Wizkid featuring Drake. He was also largely responsible for Wizkid’s Sony debut, “Sounds From The Other Side,” where he brought some big tunes together such as ‘African Bad Gyal’ with Chris Brown, and ‘Sweet love.’ Also, check out Niniola’s ‘Maradona’ and ‘Sicker’.
Adey
For producer Adey, who has been behind the scenes for far too long, 2017 was a blessing. Where he won 2016 with Dremo’s ‘Ojere’, 2017 brought another level of it. Finding good form with Olamide on ‘Wavy level’, he carried through that magic to Ycee’s ‘Juice’, which is in contention for one of the records of the year.
Spellz
Spellz already won the year when he gave Africa ‘Isakaba’, a song by Wande Coal and DJ Tunez. But there’s also his work on Wizkid’s ‘Sexy’, off “Sounds From The Other Side”, and Tiwa Savage’s buzzing record with Wizkid, ‘Ma lo’.
2T Boiz
While they don’t get enough mainstream coverage, the recording and production duo of 2T Boiz continue to be the best at what they do in the streets. From working on Junior Boy’s ‘Irapada’, to scoring Small Doctor’s ‘Penalty’, they have held down the Lagos mainland, creating a subgenre of street records that defy classification.
Del’B
For his efforts on Wizkid’s “Sounds From The Other Side”, Del’B already had one foot in the door. But when you consider that he was in charge of creating another great tune, Runtown’s ‘Mad over you’, then he’s got to make every available list this year.
Sess
Sess continued his good work this year with Falz. He’s mostly the guy who put together Falz’s impressive third studio album “27”. Sess also began his push to be a recording artist, releasing solo efforts such as ‘Bestest’ featuring Vector, ‘Don’t worry’ with Spax, and ‘Don’t worry’ which had Terry Apala as a guest. He was also a part of Simi’s impressive album, he produced