2012 Top 50 Hip Hop Music Producers Year End List

I know I've been missing in action this year. I did want to close out the year with the annual Hip Hop Music Producers list for 2012. Have a safe and pleasant New Year. Hope to see everyone in 2013!

1. Hit-Boy 
Kendrick Lamar - Backseat Freestyle
Kid Cudi ft. Hit-Boy - Old School Caddy
Hit-Boy with Kanye West
G.O.O.D. Music ft. Kanye West, Big Sean & Jay-Z - Clique
2. T-Minus 
Kendrick Lamar - Swimming Pools (Drank)
T.I. - Go Get It
Slaughterhouse - Frat House
3. Mike WiLL 
Juicy J ft. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz - Bandz A Her Dance
Future - Neva End
Chief Keef - No Tomorrow Young Jeezy ft. Trey Songz - Tonight
4. Cardiak 
T.I. ft. Meek Mill - G Season
DJ Drama ft. Young Jeezy, Jadakiss, Cee-Lo Green & Nipsey Husle - Never Die Meek Mill - Polo & Shell Tops Rick Ross ft. Wale and Drake - Diced Pineapples Lloyd Banks - Live It Up
5. Sounwave 
Kendrick Lamar - Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe
Kendrick Lamar ft. MC Eiht - m.A.A.d. city
6. Harry Fraud
Smoke DZA - Rugby Thompson (album)
Maybach Music ft. Wale, Omarion, Stalley and Rick Ross - The Zenith
7. Lifted
G.O.O.D. Music ft. Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz - Mercy
8. Ryan Lewis
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis - The Heist (album)
9. Jake One
The Game ft. Jamie Foxx - Halleujah
Rick Ross ft. Dr. Dre & Jay-Z - 3 Kings
Freeway ft. Peedi Crak,Neef Buck, Young Chris, Memphis Bleek - Roc Re-loaded
Brother Ali - Mourning In America (album)
10. The Alchemist
Sean Price - The Genesis of Omega
Sean Price - Bar-barian
Action Bronson - Rare Chandeliers (album)
The Alchemist - Russian Roulette (album)
11. Statik Seletah
Sean Price ft. Freddie Gibbs - Remember
Joey Bada$$ - Don't Front
Strong Arm Steady - Stereo Type (album)
12. Salaam Remi
B.o.B ft. Andre 3000 - Play The Guitar
Nas - A Queen's Story
Nas ft. Amy Winehouse - Cherry Wine
Miguel - How Many Drinks?
13. No I.D.
Nas - Daughters
T.I. ft. A$AP Rocky - Wildside
Slaughterhouse - Get Up
14. Kanye West
G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer (album)
15. Big K.R.I.T.
Big K.R.I.T. - Live From The Underground (album)
Curren$y ft. Big K.R.I.T. and Wiz Khalifa - Jet Life
16. J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League
Rick Ross ft. Ne-Yo - Maybach Music IV
Curren$y ft. Marsha Ambrosius - Take You There
Slaughterhouse - The Other Side
17. Jahlil Beats
Styles P - I Know
Meek Mill ft. Kirko Bangz - Young & Gettin' It
18. Sonny Digital
Future - Same Damn Time
Sonny Digital with Kanye West
2 Chainz ft. Kanye West - Birthday Song
19. AraabMuzik
Styles P - Araab Styles
Slaughterhouse - Hammer Dance
20. Clams Casino
A$AP Rock - Lord$ Never Worry
21. Boi-1da
The Game ft. Kendrick Lamar - See No Evil
Slaughterhouse - Goodbye
Meek Mill - Traumatized
Meek Mill - Tony Story (Pt. 2)
22. Flying Lotus
Flying Lotus - Until Quiet Comes (album)
23. Oh No with The Alchemist
Gangrene - Vodka & Ayahuasca (album)
24. S1
The Game - Blood Diamonds
50 Cent ft. Eminem & Adam Levine - My Life
Talib Kweli ft. Curren$y & Kendrick Lamar - Push Thru
25. Noah "40" Shebib with Omen
Usher - What Happen To U?
26. Rico Love
T.I. - Ball Rick
Ross ft. Usher - Touch N You
Trey Songz - Heart Attack
27. J. Cole
J. Cole - Miss America
28. Madlib
MadGibbs (Madlib and Freddie Gibbs) EP
29. KeY Wane
Big Sean ft. J. Cole - 24k of Gold
KeY Wane and Young Chop
Big Sean - Guap
30. 9th Wonder
MURS & 9th Wonder - The Final Adventure (album)
9th Wonder & Buckshot - Solution (album)
Sean Price - Straight Music
31. Noah "Xaphoon Jones" Beresin
Chiddy Bang - Breakfast (album)
32. Pop Wansel
Miguel - Where's The Fun In Forever?
33. 1500 or Nothin'
T.I. - The Way We Ride
Lupe Fiasco - ITAL (Roses)
34. The Neptunes
Frank Ocean - Sweet Life
T.I. ft. Cee-lo Green - Hello
Curren$y - Chasin' Paper
35. Stargate
Rihanna - Diamonds
Ne-Yo - Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself)
36. Scoop Deville
Kendrick Lamar ft. Drake - Poetic Justice
Kendrick Lamar ft. Dr. Dre - The Recipe
37. Anthony Lee
French Montana ft. Rick Ross, Drake & Lil Wayne - Pop That
38. Doc McKinney & Illangelo
The Weeknd - Trilogy (album)
39. Young Chop
Chief Keef - Love Sosa
40. Black Metaphor
Meek Mill - In God We Trust
Young Jeezy - Get Right
41. Benny Blanco with Stargate
Wiz Khalifa - Work Hard, Play Hard
42. The Runners Lupe Fiasco ft. Poo Bear - Braveheart
DJ Khaled ft. Wale, Tyga, Mack Maine & Kirko Bangz - Don't Pay For It
43. Seven
Tech N9ne - Boiling Point - E.B.A.H. (Eps)
44. The Smeezingtons
Bruno Mars - Unorthodox Jukebox (album)
45. Swizz Beatz with Dr. Dre
Alicia Keys - Brand New Day
46. Apollo Brown
Apollo Brown & Guilty Simpson - Dice Game (album)
47. StreetRunner
Slaughterhouse ft. Cee-Lo Green - My Life
48. !llmind Skyzoo ft. DJ Prince - Give It Up
49. Alex Da Kid
Slaughterhouse ft. Eminem and Skylar Grey - Our House
50. DJ Premier with J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League
DJ Khaled ft. Scarface, Nas & DJ Premier - Hip Hop

Urban New Release Schedule 4/1/2012

All dates, titles, releases and time frames are subject to change.

April 3, 2012
Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday: Roman Holiday (Universal/Republic/Young Money)
Obie Trice - Bottoms Up (Black Market Entertainment)
De La Soul's Plug 1 & Plug 2 Present First Serve (Duck Down)

April 10, 2012
Moka Only & Ayatollah - Bridges (Greenstreets)
Lucky IAM - Time To Get Lucky
Eyedea & Abilities - E&A (Rhymesayers)
Kev Brown - Random Joints (Low Budget Music)
Atmosphere - Seven's Travels (Rhymesayers)
Monica - New Life (RCA)

April 17, 2012
K'Jon - Moving On (E1)

April 24, 2012
Prozak - Paranormal (Strange Music)
Death Grips - The Money Store (Epic Records)
8-Ball - Life’s Quest (E1)
REKS - Straight, No Chaser (Showoff)

Spring 2012
Q Parker - THE Manual (NeWFAM Entertainment)

May 2012
Tyler, The Creator - Wolf (XL Recordings)
Santigold - Master of My Make Believe (Downtown/Atlantic Records)

May 1, 2012
B.o.B - Strange Clouds (RebelRock/Grand Hustle/Atlantic)
K’Naan - Country, God or the Girl (A&M/Octone)
Apollo Brown & OC - Trophies (Mello Music Group)

May 8, 2012
Bobby Brown - The Masterpiece (Bronx Bridge)
Chris Brown - Fortune (RCA)

May 15, 2012
Rye Rye - Go! Pop! Bang! (Interscope/N.E.E.T. Recordings)
Lil Scrappy - The Grustle (Bonzi Recordings)
Psycho Realm - Psycho Realm Presents Sick Jacken & Cynic: Tapes 2 (SMC Recordings)
Krizz Kaliko - Kickin' and Screamin' (Strange Music)

May 22, 2012
Statik Seletah & Termanology - 2012 (Showoff/Traffic)

May 29, 2012
Traxamillion - My Radio (SMC Recordings)
PSD Tha Driver - Bullets and Bouquets (SMC Recordings)

June 2012
Usher - TBA (RCA)
J. Cole - TBA (Roc Nation/Columbia)

June 5, 2012
Big K.R.I.T. - Live From The Underground (Cinematic Music Group/Island/Def Jam)
Beanie Sigel - The Untouchable
Cam’ron - Less Gunz More Butta (E1)
Eric Benet - The One

June 12, 2012
Bow Wow - Underrated (Cash Money/Universal Motown)

June 19, 2012
Juvenile - Rejuvenation (Young Empire Records)

July 3, 2012
50 Cent - Black Magic (Interscope/Aftermath/G-Unit)

Fall 2012
Qwote - L.U.S.T. (Living Under Sin Truthfully) (Ultra Records)
Death Grips - No Love (Epic)

2012
Rick Ross - God Forgives, I Don't (Maybach/Island/Def Jam)
Keyshia Cole - Woman to Woman (Geffen)
Tamia - Beautiful Surprise
V.V. Brown - TBA (Capitol)
Mario - Restoration (RCA)
Brother Ali & Freeway - TBA (Rhymesayers)
Kendrick Lamar - TBA (Top Dawg Ent/Aftermath)
Curren$y - The Stoned Immaculate
Asher Roth - Is This Too Orange? (Island/Def Jam/Loud Records)
T.I. - Troubled Man (Atlantic/Grand Hustle)
DMX - Undisputed (United Music & Media)
Priscilla Renea - TBA (Capitol)
Slaughter House - TBA (Shady/Interscope)
Willow Smith - Willow (Roc Nation/Columbia)
Lupe Fiasco - Food And Liquor 2 (Atlantic Records)
Jadakiss - Top Five, Dead or Alive (Island/Def Jam/Roc A Fella)
Big Boi - Daddy Fat Sax: Soul Funk Crusader (Island/Def Jam)
Young Money V.2 - Various (Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Republic)
Lil Twist - Don't Get It Twisted (Young Money/Cash Money/Universal)
Raekwon - Only Built 4 For Cuban Linx...Pt. 3 (Ice H2O/EMI)
Maxwell - (Black) SUMMERS' (Night) (Columbia)
Sean Price - Mic Tyson (Duck Down)
Buckshot & 9th Wonder - The Solution (Duck Down)
N.O.R.E. - S.U.P.E.R.T.H.U.G. (SMC Recordings)
Redman - Muddy Waters 2 (Island/Def Jam/Gillahouse)
Juelz Santana - Born To Lose, Built To Win (Diplomats)
The-Dream – Love IV: Diary of a Madman (Island/Def Jam/Radio Killa)
K-os - Black On Blonde
Taio Cruz - TY.O (Mercury Records)
Jon B - Comfortable Swagg
Talib Kweli - Prisoner of Consciousness (WB/Blacksmith)
will.i.am – #willpower (Interscope)
Master Ace / MF Doom - MA DOOM: Son of Yvonne
Kreayshawn - TBA (Columbia)
Wish - TBA (Jive/Zomba)
Flo-Rida - Only One Rida (Part 2) (Atlantic)
Swizz Beatz - Haute Living (Everest Entertainment)
Nas - Life Is Good (Island/Def Jam)
Outkast - TBA (LaFace/Epic Records)
Jay Sean - Freeze Time (Cash Money/Universal Republic)
Birdman - Bigga Than Life (Cash Money/Universal Republic)
Amerie - Cymatica Vol. 1 (Island/Def Jam/Feenix Rising)
Twista - The Dark Horse
Akon - Stadium (Motown/Universal/Konvict/SRC)
G.O.O.D. Music - V/A (Island/Def Jam/G.O.O.D.)
Jeremih - TBA (Island/Def Jam)
Chrisette Michele - TBA (Island/Def Jam)
Wax - TBA (Island/Def jam)
YG - Freshman On Campus (Island/Def Jam)
E-40 & Too $hort - The History Channel
(Heavy On The Grind Ent./Sick Wid It/Up All Night/EMI)
Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele Presents: Blue & Cream: The Wally Era (Island/Def Jam)
Ludacris - Ludaversal (Island/Def Jam/DTP)
GZA - Liquid Swords 2: The Return Of The Shadowboxer (Babygrande)
Trina - TBA (Slip-N-Slide/EMI)
Aloe Blacc - TBA (Sony)
CyHi Da Prynce - The Hard Way Musical (Island/Def Jam/G.O.O.D.)
Birdman & Lil Wayne - Like Father
Like Son pt.2 (Cash Money/Universal)
Timbaland - Shockvalue III (Blackground/Interscope)
Redman/Method Man - Blackout 3 (Island/Def Jam)
Fabolous - Loso's Way 2: Rise to Power (Island/Def Jam/Desert Storm)
Busta Rhymes - E.L.E. 2 (Cash Money/Conglomerate Records)
Mobb Deep - TBA (Infamous)
Dawn Richards - GoldenHeart (Bad Boy/Interscope Records)
Fat Joe - TBA (E1/Terror Squad)
Donnis -TBA (Atlantic Records)
Fashawn - The Ecology (The Orchard)
Raheem Devaughn - A Place Called Loveland (Jive/Zomba)
Shyne - Gangland (Island/Def Jam)
Shyne - Messiah (Island/Def Jam)
Teedra Moses - The Lioness (Maybach Music)

Memories And Recollections Of Whitney Houston

On the eve of the 2012 Grammy’s, our hearts are sadden by the loss of one of the greats, Whitney Houston. Over the years, I’ve been lucky to have some great experiences working in the music industry and being just a ‘fan.’ Here are 2 stories I can recall.

One of times I bumped into Whitney was at the Faith Evans release party for ‘Keep The Faith’ in Beverly Hills in 1998. A whisk of energy flew into the party area when I noticed a group of people with Bobby Brown and Whitney together. They were in their own element, untouchable in a bubble of self protectiveness and considering the time probably fueled by what did Whitney in. Sad to me even back then.

The first time I ran into Bobby Brown was Jan. ’85. I was shopping and sightseeing on Hollywood Blvd. In comes New Edition, fresh off their hit ‘Candy Girl’. All of New Edition came in to shop with their body guards in tow, but there was Bobby dancing and pop locking on the sidewalk with the store’s speaker blasting out Sheena Easton’s ‘Sugar Walls’ out on to the street. Thinking at the time, Bobby sure has loads of energy, this was an early Sunday morning too. I’ve bumped into Bobby several more times after that, but each time I never considered him the monster that the media portrayed him as and especially now with all the backlash. Both Bobby and Whitney were just victims, it’s just that one of them died for it.

I will always remember the things I loved about you Whitney, that’s what I’ll remember.

Urban New Release Schedule 1/2/2012

All dates, titles, releases and time frames are subject to change.

January 10, 2012
Curren$y – Muscle Car Chronicles (DD172)

January 17, 2012
Juvenile - Rejuvenation (Young Empire Records)
Blaque - Blaqueout (Music World Entertainment)

January 24, 2012
Sean O'Connell - Free At First Light (DD172)
Gangrene - Vodka & Ayahuasca (Decon)
40 Glocc - Big Bad 40: New World Agenda (Zoo Life Records)
Tyga - Careless World (Young Money/Universal)

January 31, 2012
W Z R D (Kid Cudi, Ratatat, Dot Da Genius) - (Universal)
Maino - The Day After Tomorrow (Hustle Hard/E1)
Soundtrack for a Revolution Various (E1)

February 2012
Keyshia Cole - Woman to Woman (Geffen)
Tamia - Beautiful Surprise
Yo Gotti - Live From The Kitchen (J-Records/Polo Grounds)

February 7, 2012
V.V. Brown - TBA (Capitol)
Mario - Restoration (RCA)
Melanie Fiona - The MF Life (SRC Records/Universal)
Baby Bash/Lucky Luciano - Playamade Mexicanz (SMC Recordings)

February 13, 2012
Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (Young Money/Universal)

February 14, 2012
Romeo - I Am No Limit (Hollywood Dream Music)
Ski Beatz - 24 Hour Karate School Presents: The Twilight Zone (DD172)
BluRoc Festival V.1 - Various (DD172)

February 21, 2012
Monica - New Life (RCA)

February 28, 2012
Snoop Dogg - Greatest Hits (Doggy Style/EMI/Priority)
Brother Ali & Freeway - TBA (Rhymesayers)
Estelle - All of Me (Atlantic/Home School)
Chiddy Bang- Breakfast (Virgin)
Too $hort - No Trespassing (Up All Night/EMI)
Obie Trice - Bottom's Up (Black Market/INgrooves)

March 2012
Kendrick Lamar - TBA (Top Dawg Ent/Aftermath)
Big K.R.I.T. - Live From The Underground (Cinematic Music Group/Island/Def Jam)
Curren$y - The Stoned Immaculate
Chris Brown - Fortune (RCA)
Asher Roth - Is This Too Orange? (Island/Def Jam/Loud Records)
T.I. - Troubled Man (Atlantic/Grand Hustle)
Ruben Studdard - Letters From Birmingham (Shanachie Entertainment)
Rye Rye - Go! Pop! Bang! (Interscope/N.E.E.T. Recordings)

March 6, 2012
The Alchemist - Rapper's Best Friend 2(Decon)
Ja Rule - PIL 2 (Mpire)

March 13, 2012
Cam'Ron and Vado - Blu Tops (DD172)
Eddy McKenzie - Slow Your Horse Down Son (DD172)
B.o.B - Strange Clouds (RebelRock/Grand Hustle/Atlantic)

March 27, 2012
Dev - The Night The Sun Came (Universal)
E-40 - Block Brochure: Welcome To The Soil V.1 (Heavy On The Grind Ent./Sick Wid It/EMI)
E-40 - Block Brochure: Welcome To The Soil V.2 (Heavy On The Grind Ent./Sick Wid It/EMI)
E-40 - Block Brochure: Welcome To The Soil V.3 (Heavy On The Grind Ent./Sick Wid It/EMI)
DMX - Undisputed (United Music & Media)

April 2012
Priscilla Renea - TBA (Capitol)
Slaughter House - TBA (Shady/Interscope)
K'Naan - TBA (A&M/Octone)

April 3, 2012
Willow Smith - Willow (Roc Nation/Columbia)

April 20, 2012
Curren$y - Covert Coupe (DD172)

Spring 2012
Q Parker - THE Manual (NeWFAM Entertainment)

May 2012
Tyler, The Creator - Wolf (XL Recordings)

June 2012
J. Cole - TBA (Roc Nation/Columbia)
Jadakiss - Top Five, Dead or Alive (Island/Def Jam/Roc A Fella)

Fall 2012
Qwote - L.U.S.T. (Living Under Sin Truthfully) (Ultra Records)

2012
Rick Ross - God Forgives, I Don't (Maybach/Island/Def Jam)
Lupe Fiasco - Food And Liquor 2 (Atlantic Records)
Andre 3000 - TBA (LaFace/Epic Records)
Big Boi - Daddy Fat Sax: Soul Funk Crusader (Island/Def Jam)
Young Money V.2 - Various (Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Republic)
Lil Twist - Don't Get It Twisted (Young Money/Cash Money/Universal)
Raekwon - Only Built 4 For Cuban Linx...Pt. 3 (Ice H2O/EMI)
Santigold - American Dreaming (Downtown/Atlantic Records)
Maxwell - (Black) SUMMERS' (Night) (Columbia)
Sean Price - Mic Tyson (Duck Down)
Buckshot & 9th Wonder - The Solution (Duck Down)
N.O.R.E. - S.U.P.E.R.T.H.U.G. (SMC Recordings)
Redman - Muddy Waters 2 (Island/Def Jam/Gillahouse)
Juelz Santana - Born To Lose, Built To Win (Diplomats)
Statik Seletah & Termanology - 2012 (Showoff)
The-Dream – Love IV: Diary of a Madman (Island/Def Jam/Radio Killa)
K-os - Black On Blonde
Taio Cruz - TY.O (Mercury Records)
50 Cent - Black Magic (Interscope/Aftermath/G-Unit)
Jon B - Comfortable Swagg
Talib Kweli - Prisoner of Consciousness (WB/Blacksmith)
will.i.am – #willpower or Black Einstein (Interscope)
Master Ace / MF Doom - MA DOOM: Son of Yvonne
Kreayshawn - TBA (Columbia)
Wish - TBA (Jive/Zomba)
Flo-Rida - Only One Rida (Part 2) (Atlantic Records)
Blu - Memoirs
Swizz Beatz - Haute Living (Everest Entertainment)
Nas - Life Is Good (Island/Def Jam)
Outkast - TBA (LaFace/Epic Records)
Jay Sean - Freeze Time (Cash Money/Universal Republic)
Birdman - Bigga Than Life (Cash Money/Universal Republic)
Amerie - Cymatica Vol. 1 (Island/Def Jam/Feenix Rising)
Twista - The Dark Horse
Bow Wow - Underrated (Cash Money/Universal Motown)
Akon - Stadium (Motown/Universal/Konvict/SRC)
G.O.O.D. Music - V/A (Island/Def Jam/G.O.O.D.)
Jeremih - TBA (Island/Def Jam)
Chrisette Michele - TBA (Island/Def Jam)
Wax - TBA (Island/Def jam)
YG - Freshman On Campus (Island/Def Jam)
E-40 & Too $hort - The History Channel
(Heavy On The Grind Ent./Sick Wid It/Up All Night/EMI)
Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele Presents: Blue & Cream: The Wally Era (Island/Def Jam)
Ludacris - Ludaversal (Island/Def Jam/DTP)
GZA - Liquid Swords 2: The Return Of The Shadowboxer (Babygrande)
Trina - TBA (Slip-N-Slide/EMI)
Aloe Blacc - TBA (Sony)
CyHi Da Prynce - The Hard Way Musical (Island/Def Jam/G.O.O.D.)
Birdman & Lil Wayne - Like Father
Like Son pt.2 (Cash Money/Universal) (was June 21 was Dec. 2011)
Eve - Lip Lock (EMI)
Timbaland - Shockvalue III (Blackground/Interscope)
Redman/Method Man - Blackout 3 (Island/Def Jam)
Fabolous - Loso's Way 2: Rise to Power (Island/Def Jam/Desert Storm)
Busta Rhymes - E.L.E. 2 (Cash Money/Conglomerate Records)
Diggy Simmons - TBA (Atlantic)
Mobb Deep - TBA (Infamous)
Dawn Richards - GoldenHeart (Bad Boy/Interscope Records)
Skylar Grey - Invinsible (KIDinaKORNER/Interscope)
Fat Joe - TBA (E1/Terror Squad)
Donnis -TBA (Atlantic Records)
Fashawn - The Ecology (The Orchard)
K' Jon - Oxygen (Universal/Republic)
Madvillain - TBA (Stones Throw)
Xzibit - Restless 2 (Hoo Bangin'/Open Bar Entertainment)
Jay Electronica - Act II (Roc Nation)
Raheem Devaughn - A Place Called Loveland (Jive/Zomba)
J-ROCC - Some Cold Rock Stuff (Stones Throw)
J-Love - Acknowledge Greatness
J-Love - Endless Anglez
Curren$y -Pilot Talk 3 (DD172)
Shyne - Gangland (Island/Def Jam)
Shyne - Messiah (Island/Def Jam)
Teedra Moses - The Lioness (Maybach Music)