The Nigerian sonic landscape has always been flush with ace Nigerian music producers who punctuate the sands of time with their ability to weave sounds together and create unique experiences that champion hits and careers.
For this era, the late OJB Jezreel, Paul Play, Don Jazzy and ID Cabasa started the era of celebrity producers who were as popular as the artists. Since their reign, there have been numerous celebrity producers who have gone on to carve a niche for themselves.
While the current day has more producer tags and producers as much as artists themselves with careers at the risk of fleeting than they are likely to blossom, some producers stand out with the quality of their work. Since the Don Jazzy era, Sarz (as an immortal), Sossick, Jay Sleek, Samklef and so forth have done themselves proud.
Over the past year, Killertunes, Speroach, Fresh VDM, and a few others have marked themselves out as a special bunch. This bunch might have been around for a longer period of time, but 2019 has smiled on them more than ever before and that’s why they get this recognition.
For the top music producers of 2019 so far, here is Pulse’s list;
5. Yung Willis
Willis is a Nigerian music producer doing great things. During Falz’s listening party for his album, Moral Instruction, the rapper and his longtime collaborator, Sess Tha Prblm Kid called Willis, “a young man you will soon know about.”
The tag ‘Wi… wi… wi… Willis Giddem!’ is now becoming a powerful identifier. I first knew of Willis when he produced the beautiful ‘Shomolele’ for Xtreme Musik act, Praiz in the final quarter of 2018. I later discovered that he produced ‘Sweet Boy’ for Falz – the single that caused a stir on Twitter.
Since then, the young man has produced the politically-charged, controversial single, ‘Talk’ for Falz as well as the massive bop, ‘Feel Good’ on which Ice Prince featured Falz and Phyno.
4.Ozedikus
‘Ozedikus Nwanne,’ is one of the in-house producers at Mavin Records. According to a Mavin statement, he was instrumental in the signing of the label’s new act, Crayon.
But asides that, the producer is beginning to do great things for himself in a set that houses Baby Fresh, Altims and the legend himself, Don Jazzy. If not for anything, the producer slammed us with the emerging phenomenon of Rema EP and its pilot track, ‘Dumebi.’
3. Cracker Mallo
‘Cracker, cracker, cracker.’ The Ilupeju-based producer might be the most slept-on in Nigeria at this time. He has produced ‘Sope’ for Mayorkun, ‘Antidote’ for Mr. Real, and ‘Otumba Lamba’ for Slimcase.
Even more importantly, he produced the biggest song in Nigeria at this moment, ‘Jealous’ by Fireboy DML. Like that is not enough, he produced ‘Azaman’ for Slimcase featuring Peruzzi, 2baba and Larry Gaaga.
2.Kel P
Ladies and gentlemen, you probably don’t know him, but you know, ‘It’s Kel P viiibes.’
I first knew of the producer when I heard ‘Biggest’ by Smile in 2016 or 2017. The producer has since waxed stronger by producing ‘Eleganza’ for Solidstar and ‘On The Low‘ for Burna Boy in 2018.
Like that was not enough, the producer has owned parts of 2019 with its biggest song, ‘Killin Dem‘ by Burna Boy featurin Zlatan. He also followed with another hit, ‘Dangote‘ again by Burna Boy.
1. Rexxie
Okay, maybe Rexxie has been popping since last year, but hold on, his biggest songs blew up around the final quarter of 2018, and then spilled onto 2019 for significant success.
He is one of the most-trusted producers for the Agege contingent and the larger Lagos Mainland when a commercially viable hit needs to be crafted. In fact, his beats can be said to be soundtrack for the ZANKU/shepeteri 2.0 era.
He produced the Detty December soundtracks, ‘Able God’ for Chinko Ekun, Lil Kesh and Zlatan Ibile, and ‘Zanku (Legwork)’ for Zlatan. Earlier in 2018, the producer also crafted the sleeper hit, ‘Jogor’ for Zlatan featuring Lil Kesh and ‘Japa’ for Naira Marley
Even though Rexxie’s major hit at this time is Naira Marley’s controversial ‘Am I A Yahoo Boy?’featuring Zlatan, he has done enough to top this list. Killertunes might have owned 2018, but Rexxie’s run suggests 2019 will be his year.