Would a song like They Reminisce Over You(T.R.O.Y.) still be considered a classic if CL Smooth didn't have Pete Rock's soul-tugging beat to lace his crispy rhymes to? Or just imagine what"Takeover" would sound like without that grimy anthem-like sample-infested beat underneath the vicious lyrics. Bottom line: producers, though under-appreciated by everyone ranging from fans to BET, help make the music happen. So, in this 'Producer Appreciation Post', I've put together a list of Hip Hop's 25 most powerful beat-makers of all time, and I aint talking about tinkerbell beats.

25. Stoupe (of Jedi Mind Tricks)
24. Rockwilder
23. Megahertz
22. Jay "Waxx" Garfield
21. ?uestlove
20. Salaam Remi
19. Havoc
18. Kanye West
17. DJ Clark Kent
16. Madlib
15. Rick Rubin
14. Hi-Tek
13. The Alchemist
12. L.E.S.
11. DJ Jazzy Jeff
10. RZA
09. Jay-Dilla
08. Marley Marl
07. Diamond D
05. Pete Rock
04. Dr. Dre
03. DJ Quik
02. Large Professor
01. DJ Premier


Other Producer-Related News:
Recall that rumor about Eminem hanging up his mic? Well Eminem denies retirement, and says he's only taking a break in order to produce his artists. Does this remind you of a certain west coast producer/rapper?
Speaking of Em, his newly-hired DJ, Alchemist is said to have been seriously injured in the tour bus crash that affected other Shady/Aftermath artists including Stat Quo. Looks like it's gon be a while before Al returns to the boards.


Song of the Moment: I See Now - Little Brother ft Kanye West
(Chitlin Circuit 1.5 in stores now! Cop that shit!)