Top 10 Hit-making Producers in Nigeria

Producers have added a massive amount of value to the quality of music that we enjoy in Nigerian music today. One of the reasons many of us love the current Nigerian music is due to the quality of work the producer puts into making beats and coming up with the vision or sound of the HIT song that we love so much. Once this sound is created, the producer then hands it to the Artist or assists the artists as they deliver their lyrics over the naked instrumental.

In the past 1 year, a lot of producers have contributed their vision and skill to making some of the biggest songs that have come out of Nigeria. These producers are highly sought after by both established and upcoming artists in the hopes of getting a smash, overwhelming single.

These highly sought after producers are the hottest in the industry right now. Please note that this list is based on The number of Hits created, Media awareness, and Diversity (not the same beat pattern everytime).

10. Leriq

Its Leriq Call the Paramedic
This genius is the brain behind BurnaBoy‘s album.
His level of creativity makes me wonder what type of Kush he’s smoking. After thrilling us with Hits like Like to party, Tonight, Touch your toes and Run my race, he’s set to make his mark on the nigerian music industry.
He displayed his artistic talent when he produced Imposter and Ukwu nka for Pucado earlier this year. He has also worked with artistes like Waje, Wande Coal, Kamar, Ozone & Others.

9. Maleek Berry

Before we knew Maleek Berry, most of us had been dancing to beats and instrumentals he crafted on Sinzu’s Carolina featuring Davido which was a huge tune in the party scene and on radio in 2012.
Shortly after the success of Carolina, Wizkid got closer to the British raised producer and signed him to his Starboy Ent imprint, but prior to signing, Maleek Berry got Wizkid to feature on his own single The Matter which is doing well commercially. He really impressed me when he produced the subtle Love song Lagos to Soweto for Wizkid.

Maleek also blessed another artist, Wande Coal by producing My Way. Other notable songs delivered by Berry include the very catchy New Bounce ft Wizkid & Phenom and Wande Coal’s latest single Kilaju. He also released his follow up single titled Love You which features Wizkid.

I knew this dude was sick when I heard him jump on a re-make of Beyonce’s End Of Time.

8. Pheelz

This 19 year old beat Maestro is one to look out for in 2014. Olamide’s in house producer who blessed him with production for Durosoke, Arabambi, Rayban Abacha, Baddo Love, Going to Heaven, Turn Up, E sarewole and countless other hits for Baddoo himself.

Pheelz showed his diversity when he produced the monster track Popular for Vector.

7. MasterKraft

Most of you keep dancing to tunes like Ukwu by Timaya and Jasi by Banky W, but most of you don’t know that the instrumentals of theses great hits was put together by Materktraft.

He’s really proved that he’s a prolific beat maker capable of making music lovers dance.

6. Del B

Del B’s work speaks for itself. His work on KCEE’s overwhelming hit single, Limpopo which may end up being the single of the year was exceptional. Del B also produced the smooth single Oko Mi by Waje, Irawoo by Seyi Shay, Baby Mo by Tiwa Savage, Kcee’s Give It 2 Me featuring Flavour and the monster single Shake by Flavour.

5. Legendury Beatz

The duo producers, Legendury Beatz were involved in creating the beat and instrumental to a single that was supposed to be a mere freestyle but became an undeniable hit for Wizkid’s Azonto. They also laced some beats on the EME Allstar album and scored the first single, Baddest Boy. Recently Legendury Beats produced the debut Star Boy single Caro which is slowly becoming a party favorite. Other key productions include Brymo’s Ara, Chidinma’s Emini Baller, Drop by Wizkid featuring Wale, to name a few.

4. Sarz

Sarz is probably everyone’s favorite producer and if we compiled this list with sentiments, he would have easily made number 1. Other than the fact that he produced major hits for superstars such as Wizkid on his hit single Jaiye Jaiye and majority of eLDee’s most recent album.

Sarz also has a massive single of his own out now titled Beat of Life (Samba) which has been killing airwaves and clubs for the past year.

3. Shizzi

Shizzi proves that he is not a fluke and continues to provide the right sounds to produce hot records. Although he mostly produces for the HKN gang, he delivered 2 stand out singles in 2013 alone, Gobe and Skelewu for the HKN general, Davido which set him apart from many good producers out there.

He also produced songs for other notable acts such as May D on his debut album and Wizkid (Body) off the EME All Star Compilation album

2. Don Jazzy

Oliver Twist which is arguably the biggest exported song directly out of Africa in recent memory was produced by none other than Don Jazzy. After the separation from D’banj and the demise of the Mo’hits brand, Jazzy went on to start Mavin records which housed Tiwa Savage, D’Prince, Dr SID and Wande Coal (who has since moved on to start up his own label, Black Diamond Ent). Don Jazzy produced about half of Tiwa Savage’s debut album, blessed his blood brother, D’Prince with his Goody Bag single and the Frenzy album. Another notable single he produced is Wande Coal The Kick which continues to grow in the minds of Music lovers.

1. D Tunes

When this hot talent won the award for the best producer at the Headies, he deserved it. This young talent has succeeded in making over 14 hits in the past 14 months. He produced 4 hit tracks from Iyanya‘s album (Kukere, Ur waist, Flavour, Sexy mama ft Wizkid).

After that he went on to produce other hit tracks for Sean Tizzle, EFA, Axterix, Mbryo and others. There is no doubt that he has made his mark on the nigerian music industry.

Worthy Mentions
Chopstix
Spellz
Fliptyce
Young D
Chordratics
Jay Sleek
Deevee
Baby Fresh
GospelOnTheBeat
Altims Mavin
Jesse Jagz
Sossick