5. The Neptunes
Circa early millennium, the jingling of a Neptunes beat was virtually inescapable. While the Virginia duo (Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo) flooded hip-hop with singles like Noreaga’s “Superthug,” Jay-Z’s “I Just Wanna Love You,” Mystikal’s “Danger” and Snoop Dogg’s “Beautiful,” an impeccable résumé earned them three Grammys, overflowing clientele and crossover appeal (Britney Spears, ‘N Sync). Moonlighting as artists, the pair sold respectably as two-thirds of NERD. Waning dominance aside— and a poor Pharrell solo effort— The Neptunes remain active, recently producing for Common’s Universal Mind Control, Mos Def’s Ecstatic and Jay-Z’s The Blueprint 3. Sky’s no limit.
XXL’s Top 10 Producers
10 – Scott Storch
09 – Wyclef Jean
08 – The RZA
07 – Swizz Beatz
06 – Jermaine Dupri
05 – The Neptunes
04 – Timbaland
03 – Kanye West
02 – Sean ”Puffy” Combs
01 – Dr. Dre