1. Mannie Fresh – Simply put, one of the pioneers of Southern hip-hop. Mannie’s beats elevated Cash Money Records to national stardom. Fresh has produced such classic albums as Juvenile’s 400 Degrees, and Hot Boy$’ Get It How You Live, to name a few. Since then, Mannie has moved on and worked with such hip-hop heavy hitters as T.I., Chamillionaire, and Young Jeezy. 2. KLC – KLC put his stamp on all of the No Limit sound in the 90s with bangers like Mia X’s Mama Drama, Soulja Slim’s Give it to em Raw, Master P’s Ghetto D and Mystikal’s Unpredictable. KLC has to be one of the South’s best beat makers.
3. Just Blaze – As one of the many in-house producers for the Roc, Just Blaze stood out. Just has laced beats for some of hip hop’s best such as Jay-Z, Kanye West, Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss, Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel, The Game, DMX, T.I., Fat Joe, Juelz Santana, Rhymefest, Ghostface Killah, Fabolous, Joe Budden, and MF DOOM. Blaze is so hot he even produced a song for Kanye West’s Late Registration, that is an accomplishment in itself.
4. Swizz Beatz – He is one of the main reasons that the Ruff Ryders ran the hip-hop industry in the late 90s. He has production credits on classic albums such as DMX’s It’s Dark and Hell is Hot, Flesh of my Flesh; Blood of my Blood, Ryde or Die Vol.1, and L.O.X: We Are the Streets. Swizz has also ventured outside of hip-hop and produced songs for Madonna and Britney Spears. This resume puts Swizz in the elite of hip-hop producers.
5. Organized Noise – The Atlanta-based American hip-hop production company made up of Rico Wade, Ray Murray, and Sleepy Brown. The driving sound behind the ATL movement starting with Outkast’s classic Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, ATLiens, Aquemini, and Stankonia. Organized Noise has also made hits for TLC, Goodie Mob, Ludacris, Bone Thugs N Harmony, and Curtis Mayfield. Organized Noise has definitely made their mark on the game.