These Are the Essential Hip-Hop Producers to Look Out for in 2021

Take A Daytrip, a super-powered duo composed of David Biral and Denzel Baptiste, has been steady on the rise over the last few years. And 2020 cemented their most supreme twelve months thus far. Pandemic and all, the two co-produced Travis Scott and Kid Cudi’s top-charting effort “The Scotts,” Big Sean’s “Wolves” and Juice Wrld’s Legends Never Die standout “Bad Energy.” Owning a track record that also includes gems from varying artists that ranges from Lil Nas X to NBA YoungBoy, 2021 will be a year where their wide spectrum of sounds remains on display.

For some prominent producers, hearing their tag at the top of a song means that a hit is to follow. Prime example: Quay Global’s “Cook that shit up, Quay!” which was heard in 2020 tracks like “Heatin Up” by the Drip Harder prophets, NLE Choppa’s collaboration with Lil Baby “Narrow Road” and DaBaby’s somewhat melodic single “Peep Hole.” A good chef utilizes plenty of ingredients, some of which others would never even think to pull from. That idea fits perfectly with the beats of Quay Global in mind, whether we’re talking unheard of synths or unconventional drum patterns. Now in full stride, best believe that there will be plenty more five star beats to come this year.

Most people recognize internet superstar Jay Versace from his viral antics of dancing and acting. But he gets busy with the beats as well. Last year, the now 23-year-old Jersey native scored production credits on projects by Westside Gunn, like the Pray For Paris standout “Versace,” and handled the entirety of Boldy James’ The Versace Tape. Jay’s influence of legends like J Dilla and Madlib can be heard in songs “Bentayga,” which features a soul-roping sample that would make heads of any era knock. As far as 2021 goes, Versace has confirmed that he’s slated to release two collaborative efforts from Freddie Gibbs and Westside Gunn. With a roaring buzz like the atmosphere of a barbershop, he’ll only continue to grow hotter.

German-bred producer Ambezza has been reaping the benefits of his musical labor lately. In the past couple of years, he’s assisted in the beat cook-up for artists like DaBaby (“Popstar”) and Baby Keem (“Invented It”). In 2020, he hit the level up again, this time with co-production credits on Future’s multi-platinum hit “Life Is Good” with Drake. And on top of that, he scored credits on Young Thug and Chris Brown’s Slime & B outro “Help Me Breathe” and worked alongside Marshmello to lay the perfect foundation for 42 Dugg to glide over on “Baggin’” That being said, the only direction left to go in now is up.

Atlanta’s own Brandon Phillips-Taylor is establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with. He hasn’t branched out too much yet. But that’s because he’s been focused on propelling the career of Spillage Village’s newest inductee Deante’ Hitchcock. As the rapper’s go-to producer, Phillips-Taylor has crushed beats in songs like the JID-assisted “I Got Money Now,” “How TF” with 6lack and “Growing Up/Mother God.” As evidenced in those songs, this beat-making scene is really his playground and he’s sliding into 2021 with tons of momentum.

The easiest way to earn a major record deal is to have hits under your belt, like Section 8 does. Last year, the Lil Baby affiliate produced the platinum-selling summer anthem “We Paid” with 42 Dugg and the protest song “The Bigger Picture,” a record he also co-wrote with the 4PF head honcho. Bolstered by a few additional cuts on the best-selling album of 2020, My Turn, Section 8 inked a deal with Warner Chappell Music to close the year out. Now that 2021 has arrived, expect for the Grammy-nominated talent to keep that same energy with even more top-tier artists.

Brooklyn drill music was the biggest sub-genre to emerge out of 2020. Among the leading acts are the obvious—Pop Smoke and Fivio Foreign—but longtime friends Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow are steadily elevating as well with a handful of undeniable hits crafted by Great John. Last year, the New Jersey native gifted his signature sound to projects like Sleepy's Sleepy Hallow Presents: Sleepy For President (“Molly”). And three Sheff joints One and Only (“No Suburban, Pt. 2”), Just 4 Yall (“Black Sheep”) and Proud of Me Now (“Mistakes”). Merging staticky 808s and guitar strings, Great John has been generating something unique with his drill-centric beats. As the style continues to blossom, his tag and imprint will remain essential.

ATL Jacob not only reps his hometown in his name, but in his beats as well. He’s certified when it comes to trap production, making sense of the fact that an artist like Future would draft him to build an indisputable catalog. Last year, Jacob co-produced Hndrxx’s High Off Life hit “Ridin Strikers.” But he also extended his reach to that of Trippie Redd’s for the Pegasus cut “Spaceships” with Young Thug and Lil Yachty’s for the LB3 bonus “Flex Up” assisted by Playboi Carti and Pluto. Looking forward to this year, it would be foolish to assume that he doesn't have more ammo in the chamber. Bet that he'll again unload the clip.

In order to properly build up his Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment label, DaBaby had to recruit some gifted people, like DJ K.I.D. In 2020, the North Carolina-born musician produced six records off of Blame It On Baby, including the single “Find My Way” and co-production on songs like “Jump” and the title track. His working relationship with the man formerly known as Baby Jesus has earned them both a slew of platinum plaques. But more recently, he’s taken his talents to other artists like Brooklyn’s Smoove’ L ("Get Married”) and Georgia’s Foogiano (“Yano”). He shows no signs of slowing down in 2021.

The production on Lil Uzi Vert’s Eternal Atake was elite. And part of that credit goes to 23-year-old producer Brandon Finessin. The Philly-bred beat architect helped craft the backdrop for standouts like “Lo Mein,” “Baby Pluto,” “Venetia” and the deluxe cut, Young Thug-assisted “Got The Guap.” Obtaining a keen ability to bring his otherworldy sounds to life, Finessin was also drafted to produce on the Pluto x Baby Pluto mash up, most notably on “Marni On Me”—a song he co-produced with Outtatown. With Lil Uzi Vert slated to drop twice more in 2021, we’ll probably hear Brandon Finessin all over that if not somewhere else.

KBeaZy had a beasty year last rotation around the sun. In 2020, he had a “google me” moment when he was named as the youngest producer to score a No. 1 record on Billboard for his production value added to 24kGoldn and Iann Dior’s “Mood.” The man who took his talents from the cello to Fruity Loops ended up co-producing a handful of additional tracks to close things out, heard on Tokyo’s Revenge’s “Sorry” featuring 24k, Iann Dior’s “Holding On” and Lil Wayne’s “Drag ‘Em.” Still unable to legally drink, he’s just now finding his footing in not only the world, but in the industry. Looking forward to this year, one thing is evident though: he’s found a lane and in it, hasn’t deterred off track one bit.

Quality Control associate Twysted Genius got an ever bigger taste of the limelight in 2020. His placements on Lil Baby’s My Turn (“Sum 2 Prove,” “Emotionally Scarred” and “Forever”) and Marlo’s 1st & Third (“Street Talk” and “Lit AF”) earned him a top placement on Billboard’s Hot 100 Producers & Songwriters chart. To cap the corona-year off, he teamed up with artists like City Girls for “Come Outside,” the Plutos for “Real Baby Pluto,” co-produced with Zaytoven, and Toosii for assisting efforts on “Right Now.” As a newer talent himself, Twysted Genius continues to spotlight and tag-team music with emerging artists. It’ll be interesting to see who the Mississippi native gifts his saucy beats to this year.

Turn Me Up Josh, a man who hails from the soil of Houston, has already gone platinum and received Grammy nominations from engineering on songs like Drake’s Lil Durk-assisted “Laugh Now Cry Later.” Impressively, he’s gotten all of that but still hasn’t hit his biggest stride yet, though 2020 was major for him. Last year, he continued to lock in with Chicago’s street voice Durkio. Evidenced in his production value added to records like “Backdoor,” “When We Shoot” and “The Voice” just to name a few, he quickly became the go-to guy for trap piano beats. That sound isn’t going anywhere this year, so neither will he. He’ll without a doubt be racking up more accolades in 2021.

Dutch producer Outtatown has been making his rounds in the rap game when it comes to beats. Last year alone, he helped produce records for Lil Uzi Vert (“Sasuke”), DaBaby (“Lightskin Shit”), Future (“All Bad” with Baby Pluto) and Gunna (“MOTW”). If that long list of gems and premiere artists somehow isn’t convincing enough, he also added stellar production on Playboi Carti’s long-anticipated Whole Lotta Red. Exemplified in the added sauce to tracks like "Beno!", Outtatown has been on another level when it comes to coding beats. Why would he let up now?

South Carolina’s own Tahj Money was influenced by Metro Boomin and Zaytoven growing up. So when it comes to 808s and orchestra-like strings and piano keys, it was only a matter of time before he found his own groove. In 2020, the rising producer crafted the beats for Polo G’s The GOAT single “Martin & Gina,” assisted on that of NLE Choppa’s “Moonlight” featuring Big Sean and helped build the foundation on Rod Wave’s sophomore album standout “Letter from Houston.” Though Tahj has plenty of years left, he’s proven to be a prime studio collaborator for many rising artists. It’s only a matter of time before he starts unloading the music he has in the tuck for this year.

Gunna’s DJ Taurus also doubles as a producer. Spending years around the Atlanta rapper has afforded him ample time to not only study Wunna’s sound, but to perfect it. Exemplified in the beats he made for “Skybox,” “200 For Lunch” and his helping hand on “Nasty Girl/On Camera,” it’s safe to say that he’s done just that. Just three days into the new year, Gunna tweeted “New Year New Money New Album.” It can be confidently said that Taurus should be heavily involved in that upcoming effort, as well as Slime Language 2 which could be dropping any day now.

Audio Anthem likes to refer to himself as the Lou Williams of the studio. Like the NBA player, there’s always a fit somewhere for his versatility. In 2020, the Atlanta-residing producer coated Nas’ “Ultra Black,” worked on Big Sean’s La Flame-assisted “Lithuania” with Hit-Boy, lended some assistance on Conway The Machine's Dej Loaf-featured "Fear Of God" and even on an R&B tip, helped put together PARTYNEXTDOOR’s “PGT.” Simply put, he was eating stuff last year. Now in full rhythm, fans can anticipate that he’ll be wiping the plate clean again this year around.

LA-bred songwriter and producer Jasper Harris went off in 2020. Off rip, he snagged production credits on DaBaby’s “Blame It On Baby,” Gunna’s “Do Better,” Russ’ “No Tears Left” and 6ix9ine’s post-prison release “Punani.” During the second half of the year, he added some funk to Ty Dolla $ign’s “Powder Blue” with Gunna and aided in Jack Harlow’s second album single “Way Out” accompanied by Big Sean. Jasper will likely pick back up right where he left off in 2021, which means his flavor is again about to cover a lot of ground.