This morning, driving into work, a recurring idea popped into my head, “Why aren’t I wearing any pants?”  No really, I wondered why don’t producers get more credit?  This isn’t just about producers, in general, getting recognized, because now, more than ever, producers are getting shine. 

Kanye West, Timbaland, Pharrell and others have made sure of this.  But when I see a video on MTV (or at least from what I remember when i DID watch MTV), I don’t see a producers name in the intro credits.  Why is that?  

Producers are responsible for half of a song’s content.  And if the producer is actually a true “producer” and produce the track rather than just make the beat, they’re arguably responsible for more than half the track.  It’s funny, because when Hip Hop really started movin, producers got credit by default.  Eric B. and Rakim, EPMD (Erick Sermon AND Parrish Smith), Gang Starr (Guru AND Premier) all were “groups” with the producer recognized in the group name.  And while the producer didn’t necessarily make all the beats on the CD, he was recognized as one of the creative forces behind the entire project.  What would an emcee be without his producer?  Would “Paid in Full,” have ever been created?  Would “Crossover” ever have gotten on the radio?

Honestly, while I’m not his biggest fan, the man I see as reversing the trend toward a focus on emcees would probably have to be Timbaland.  I mean, what the fuck happened to Magoo?  That dude’s about to end up on the next Surreal Life, roommates with Tina Yothers and Milli.  Timbaland makes Windows beats.  His shit is in everyone’s album.  He’s worked with Hip Hop and R&B greats like Jay-Z and Ginuiwine (you loved “Pony,” dont lie), Pop musicians like Justin Timberlake, and is now working with… drumroll please, Duran Duran!?!  No producer since Rick Rubin has reached quite a broad spectrum of music at the caliber which he delivers.  He has returned peoples’ eyes to the producer and the “sound” of a track.  This is a good thing and a bad thing.

It’s great that producers are getting the attention they deserve.  Is it worth it if it is at the expense of lyrical content?  I would attribute the emergence of lyrically substandard tracks to this refocus on the producer.  Suddenly, everyone’s got a drum machine and Chamillionaire wins a Grammy?  For real?  Chamillionaire?  I live in Florida, a quasi-Southern state.  Rick Ross is heralded as That Dude for his “sound.”  When I first heard his name, I though people were talking about that dude that did, “It wasn’t me,” with Shaggy.  Little did I know that this dude would be even worse.  “Everyday I’m hustlin?”  That’s your hook?  Wait, wait, maybe if you say it four hundred, twenty-five thousand, seven-hundred and twenty three times throughout the song, it’ll be dope.  Everyday you’re hustlin?  Seriously?  Rick Ross must have a pretty serious grind, because whatever he’s “hustlin’”, it’s not his lyrics.

I appreciate the focus on producers, I really do.  There was a time in my life, being the hypocritical jack ass that I am, that I couldn’t listen to beats without rhymes.  It just didn’t sound right to me.  These days, I get beat CDs all the time, and listen to them over and over.  Having developed my ear and tastes, I can now listen to beats the way I have always listened to lyrics.  But I really don’t want to see either one sacrificed for the other… and I don’t think they have to be.  Chamillionaire and Rick Ross are exceptions to a strong, vibrant music that blends beats and lyrics in the most interesting ways, solidly complementing each other.  For now, I’ll just ignore the corny cats… that goes for you too, Lil’ John.  Does this attitude make me a “hater?”  Probably, but that’s fine with me.  Later for these Hater Players.

Keep it Movin!

by Guest Author: Profit