Top 10 Nigerian Music Producers 2015 by @disturbingafrik

These few months have been a hell of a buzz for me after I “visited” Cassper Nyovest in South Africa and the upcoming artistes all over Africa with my previous articles, ‘Open Letter to Cassper Nyovest’ and ‘7 Needs of Upcoming Artistes in Africa’, respectively. I missed my flight down to Nigeria so I had to take Chisco’s night bus (coughs). Back to Nigeria, I made this annual top 10 chart – Top 10 Nigerian Music Producers 2015 – a popular demand as a result of the low recognition shown to ‘The Game Umpires’ behind most quality songs in Nigeria. I had to call up Paul, CEO of High-speed Media and popular Nigeria’s music and entertainment website, Topnaijamusic to access the 1st edition of Top 10 Nigerian Music Producers (#Top109jaProducers) 2015. Criteria for selection were dependent on number of quality songs produced and their achievements from 1st January – Decemeber 2015. This year saw a couple of masterpiece productions in songs like ‘Godwin’, ‘Duro’, ‘Soke’, ‘Reggae Blues’, ‘Bobo’ and ‘High Notes’ just to mention a few. In no sentimental order, the following producers below exceptionally made a mark for Nigerian music in Africa this year.

10 – Dr. Amir
The Five Star Music producer behind Harrysong’s street pop hit song that suddenly turned to a national anthem, ‘Reggae Blues’, Dr. Amir is a sound engineering doctor. If you like represent ‘Deeper Life’, your body must move to the tune. Dr. Amir was responsible for Kcee’s ‘Talk and Do’, featuring Uhuru and Dj Bucks, and ‘Alkayida’, featuring Timaya. He also featured in Orezi’s ‘Ghen Ghen’, and Iyanya’s ‘Applaudise’ albums with ‘Baby Abeg’ and ‘Pschology’, featuring Harrysong respectively.

9 – Orbeat
The new sensation when it comes to hit making in Nigeria, Orbeat made a quick impression in Nigeria and South Africa with his handy ‘Soke’ production. If I’m allowed to say, Orbeat is diverse in creativity. The next generation producer in our time was behind Skales’ ‘I Am For Real’, Ketchup’s ‘Pam Pam’ and ‘Moniegram’ by Mr. 2kay, featuring Timaya. For me, Orbeat is the people’s choice amongst other fast-rising producers out of Nigeria this year.

8 – Cobhams
Producer extraordinaire, Cobhams was responsible for top notch RnB productions in Banky W’s ‘High Notes’, Timi Dakolo’s ‘Wish Me Well’ and Bez’s ‘You Suppose Know’. He was one of the leading producers from Nigeria for the Coke Studio Africa mash ups with notable master in ‘All I Need To Know’ by 2Face and Vanessa Mdee of Tanzania. Cobhams also produced ‘Rain On Me’ by Ugovinna, one of the finalists in the recently concluded MTN Project Fame. He is a contender for Headies 2015 Producer of the Year.

7 – Maleek Berry
Star Boy’s consistent producer, Maleek Berry enjoyed a successful year in 2015 with credits in Wande Coal’s ‘Wanted’ and Runtown’s ‘Ghetto University’ albums. Maleek Berry produced 9 songs in ‘Wanted’ and 5 songs in ‘Ghetto University’ albums. Maleek Berry showed exceptional quality productions in D Prince’s ‘Nonso’, BOJ’s ‘Phantom’ and Runtown’s ‘Walahi’, ‘Lagos To Kampala’, and ‘Sarki Zaki’.

6 – Pheelz
Another sound engineering practitioner for YBNL Nation, Pheelz a.k.a Mr. Producer was one of Olamide’s pillars this year with notable productions in Lil Kesh’s ‘Is It Because I Love You’ co-produced by Young John, Olamide’s ‘Matters Rising’, ‘Lagos Boys’, ‘Melo Melo’ & ‘Eyan Mayweather’, ‘Shoro Niyen’ Runtown’s ‘Tuwo Shinkafa’, and Adekunle Gold’s ‘Pick Up’. Pheelz produced 16 magnificent songs out of Olamide’s recent 21-track album ‘Eyan Mayweather’.

5 – Shizzi
The single man that got Davido a better rank in world music this year with his key production in ‘Fans Mi’, Shizzi is an honourable hit-studio scientist. Shizzi didn’t do any job twice this year. He tried everything new at it’s peak and simplicity. He made a successful experiment with Mc Galaxy’s ‘Kolomop Cholop’, to Davido’s ‘Fans Mi’ through ‘Izzue’ featuring Dammy Krane down to Niyola’s ‘Go On’, then rested on Runtown’s ‘Ghetto University’. He is a contender for Headies 2015 Producer of the Year.

4 – Don Jazzy
The hit maker over all Mavin hit songs, Don Jazzy was quite consistent this year with masterpiece productions in Koredo Bello’s ‘Godwin’ & ‘Somebody Great’, Reekado Banks’ ‘Katapot’, and Dr. Sid’s ‘Kabiyesi’. Don Jazzy’s productions on Koredo Bello’s ‘Godwin’ attracted a lot of recognition and awards for the Mavin’s young vocalist. His productions also attracted Jay Z’s cousin and US rapper, Jay Electronica, to Nigeria for a serious collaboration that resulted to ‘Get Down’ featuring Mavin’s young stars. Don Jazzy was on a bunsen burner all year.
He is a contender for Headies Producer of the Year award.

3 – Dj Coublon
Known for his low-tempo afro pop productions, Dj Coublon didn’t relent or rely on one master-job but several from several artistes all over Nigeria. ‘The Incredible’ Dj Coublon single-handedly made new superstar, ‘Kiss Daniel’, popular in Nigeria and beyond with master productions in ‘Woju Remix’, ‘Laye’, and the latest radio favourite, ‘Good Time’. Dj Coublon’s productions for Kiss Daniel in return got Kiss Daniel on the Mtv Base Hottest Nigerian Artistes’ list and several deals, nominations, and awards. Aside that, Dj Coublon was MMMG’s favourite featured producer this year with notable productions in ‘Duro’, ‘Wash’ by Tekno and ‘Applaudise’ by Iyanya. Dj Coublon produced 6, out of the 20 songs in Iyanya’s recent album ‘Applaudise’, leaving 14 songs for the remaining 9 producers, recruited for the project.

2 – Young John
Young John a.k.a The Wicked Producer is just a genius when it comes to hit making in Nigeria. The young warlock behind every successful hit from YBNL Nation was responsible for hit tracks like ‘Gbese’, ‘Efejoku’ & ‘Is It Because I Love You’ co-produced by Pheelz; songs that kept Lil Kesh’s flag flying.
‘Bobo’, ‘Confam Mi’, ‘Koba Koba’ and ‘Ladi’ were some of the hit songs Young John produced for Olamide this year. Lil Kesh and especially Olamide should share half of everything they got this year with Young John – I reserve my reasons. Young John was also behind ‘Gbawo’ by Jaywon featuring YQ. He is a contender for Headies 2015 Producer of the Year.

1 – Masterkraft
No dobut, the Tooxclusive-tagged ‘most sought after’ and Jaguda-stamped ‘best export’ producer in Nigeria this year, plus credits on dancehall, afropop, afro-soul, afrohiphop and hiphop beats, were part of what earned Masterkraft the number 1 spot on this year’s Top 10 Nigerian Music Producers list. It looked like the first thought of a producer every artist had in mind when thinking of having a hit track this year was Masterkraft as long as African music was involved. Masterkraft was fierce with his skills with significant productions in ‘Indomie Remix’, ‘Finally’, Naeto C’s ‘Oluwaloseyi’, Flavour’s ‘Power to Win’ & ‘Sexy Rosey’, Capital Femi’s ‘National Anthem’, Dj Xclusive’s ‘Cash Only’ featuring Sarkodie, Anatii and Cassper Nyovest, CDQ’s ‘Salaro’ and recent club banger, ‘Nowo E Soke’, featuring Wizkid. Masterkraft was inside a blast furnace through out this year waiting for heat seekers. He is a contender for Headies 2015 Producer of the Year award.

By Disturbingafrik