Top Ten best producers on the mic (according to XXL)

I copped the newest issue of XXL magazine and inside they had an article about who they selected as the best 10 producers on the mic (actual name of the article is top 10 producers turned rappers, but work with me here, lol). The 10 they selected were:

Kanye West
The RZA
Dr. Dre
Diddy
Jermaine Dupri
Diamond D
Pharrell
Timbaland
Mannie Fresh
Swizz Beatz

Now, after reading that article, some choices I agree with, some I don't, but then again, there aren't too many producers who excelled on the mic. So what I decided to do here is match these 10 producers up against each other, and in your opinion, who is the superior producer not only behind the boards but on the mic as well?

The RZA vs. Dr. Dre

Diddy vs. Jermaine Dupri

Kanye West vs. Diamond D

Pharrell vs. Timbaland

Swizz vs. Mannie Fresh

Large Professor>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Anyone on this list lyrically

Big Daddy Kool wrote:

Large Professor>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Anyone on this list lyrically

I'm surprised they didn't mention him. But then again, in a way, I'm not surprised, lol.

Wayne wrote:

Big Daddy Kool wrote:

Large Professor>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Anyone on this list lyrically

I'm surprised they didn't mention him. But then again, in a way, I'm not surprised, lol.

Yeah XXL sucks as bad as The Source and Vibe. Half the guys on that list don't even write all their rhymes.

lmao @ most of that list

Big Daddy Kool wrote:

Wayne wrote:

Big Daddy Kool wrote:

Large Professor>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Anyone on this list lyrically

I'm surprised they didn't mention him. But then again, in a way, I'm not surprised, lol.

Yeah XXL sucks as bad as The Source and Vibe. Half the guys on that list don't even write all their rhymes.

Remember how GOOD The Source was in its prime?

Shaun wrote:

lmao @ most of that list

I can only imagine the one you laughed out loud at, lol.

Wayne wrote:

Big Daddy Kool wrote:

Wayne wrote:

Big Daddy Kool wrote:

Large Professor>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Anyone on this list lyrically

I'm surprised they didn't mention him. But then again, in a way, I'm not surprised, lol.

Yeah XXL sucks as bad as The Source and Vibe. Half the guys on that list don't even write all their rhymes.

Remember how GOOD The Source was in its prime?

Yeah, in the pre-Benzino era it was awesome.

Big Daddy Kool wrote:

Wayne wrote:

Big Daddy Kool wrote:

Wayne wrote:

Big Daddy Kool wrote:

Large Professor>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Anyone on this list lyrically

I'm surprised they didn't mention him. But then again, in a way, I'm not surprised, lol.

Yeah XXL sucks as bad as The Source and Vibe. Half the guys on that list don't even write all their rhymes.

Remember how GOOD The Source was in its prime?

Yeah, in the pre-Benzino era it was awesome.

Yes indeed. I was a faithful reader of that magazine, but never did have a subscription

I laughed out loud at all of them that weren't RZA, Diamond D, and possibly Kanye. Dre, too, if he wrote his own rhymes. The rest are terrible on the mic.

Shaun wrote:

I laughed out loud at all of them that weren't RZA, Diamond D, and possibly Kanye. Dre, too, if he wrote his own rhymes. The rest are terrible on the mic.

Agreed

Shaun wrote:

I laughed out loud at all of them that weren't RZA, Diamond D, and possibly Kanye. Dre, too, if he wrote his own rhymes. The rest are terrible on the mic.

Well, JD never impressed me on the mic. Diddy can be hit or miss (his best verse ever remains his verse from "Victory"). Pharrell, eh. Swizz, never should touch a mic ("I'll put your face where you muthaf***** back was/Tired of y'all n***** actors!" Seriously Swizz?????). Mannie never impressed me on the mic, obviously. I've always liked Timbaland on the boards, but on the mic, not so much.

Wayne wrote:

Shaun wrote:

I laughed out loud at all of them that weren't RZA, Diamond D, and possibly Kanye. Dre, too, if he wrote his own rhymes. The rest are terrible on the mic.

Well, JD never impressed me on the mic. Diddy can be hit or miss. Pharrell, eh. Swizz, never should touch a mic ("I'll put your face where you muthaf***** back was/Tired of y'all n***** actors!" Seriously Swizz?????). Mannie never impressed me on the mic, obviously. I've always liked Timbaland on the boards, but on the mic, not so much.

Yeah I agree with all of those assessments. Pharrell is a dope singer but a horrible rapper.

Big Daddy Kool wrote:

Wayne wrote:

Shaun wrote:

I laughed out loud at all of them that weren't RZA, Diamond D, and possibly Kanye. Dre, too, if he wrote his own rhymes. The rest are terrible on the mic.

Well, JD never impressed me on the mic. Diddy can be hit or miss. Pharrell, eh. Swizz, never should touch a mic ("I'll put your face where you muthaf***** back was/Tired of y'all n***** actors!" Seriously Swizz?????). Mannie never impressed me on the mic, obviously. I've always liked Timbaland on the boards, but on the mic, not so much.

Yeah I agree with all of those assessments. Pharrell is a dope singer but a horrible rapper.

I think the ONLY times Pharrell was good on a verse was on the original and remix of "Drop It Like It's Hot".

Swizz Beatz is the worst rapper ever.

KJ, did you laugh, shake your head, or both at the Swizz line, lol?

The absence of Doom is just plain retarded.

Shaun wrote:

Swizz Beatz is the worst rapper ever.

I don't think this guy ever had one quotable line.

I doubt anyone at XXL even knows who Doom is... lol

Shaun wrote:

I doubt anyone at XXL even knows who Doom is... lol

They probably don't.

Wayne wrote:

KJ, did you laugh, shake your head, or both at the Swizz line, lol?

LMAO, funny thing is that's probably not even Swizz's worst verse.

Big Daddy Kool wrote:

Wayne wrote:

KJ, did you laugh, shake your head, or both at the Swizz line, lol?

LMAO, funny thing is that's probably not even Swizz's worst verse.

You're right, lol. In that same verse, he also came back and said "I'm the n**** that'll make ya miss Christmas" or some nonsense, lol

Shaun wrote:

Swizz Beatz is the worst rapper ever.

Nah, I'd say Vanilla Ice, Souljah Boy, or Waka Flocka has that title.

Big Daddy Kool wrote:

Shaun wrote:

Swizz Beatz is the worst rapper ever.

Nah, I'd say Vanilla Ice, Souljah Boy, or Waka Flocka has that title.

Can't believe all the attention "Waka Flocka" is getting. I have a funny story about this guy. A few months back, my family had a small gathering. His song "O Let's Do It" came on the radio. My younger cousin Trevon, who's about 9 or 10 (or 11, lol) was singing this song word for word, and here's the actual conversation, no BS, lol (I remember it like it was yesterday):

Wayne: You really like that song don't you?
Trevon: Yeah man! Don't you like it?!
W: Who is that anyway?
T: Waka Flocka!
W: WHO?????!!!!! (Remember how Carlito in "Carlito's Way" said who to Saso when he mentioned Steffie belonged to Benny Blanco? I said it in the EXACT SAME WAY, lol.)
T: (Laughing) Waka Flocka, don't you know him?
W: Who is that?!
T: That's my boy!

I actually felt a little old right there, lol.

Wayne wrote:

Big Daddy Kool wrote:

Shaun wrote:

Swizz Beatz is the worst rapper ever.

Nah, I'd say Vanilla Ice, Souljah Boy, or Waka Flocka has that title.

Can't believe all the attention "Waka Flocka" is getting. I have a funny story about this guy. A few months back, my family had a small gathering. His song "O Let's Do It" came on the radio. My younger cousin Trevon, who's about 9 or 10 (or 11, lol) was singing this song word for word, and here's the actual conversation, no BS, lol (I remember it like it was yesterday):

Wayne: You really like that song don't you?
Trevon: Yeah man! Don't you like it?!
W: Who is that anyway?
T: Waka Flocka!
W: WHO?????!!!!! (Remember how Carlito in "Carlito's Way" said who to Saso when he mentioned Steffie belonged to Benny Blanco? I said it in the EXACT SAME WAY, lol.)
T: (Laughing) Waka Flocka, don't you know him?
W: Who is that?!
T: That's my boy!

I actually felt a little old right there, lol.

I wish I didn't know who he was either, dude is straight up manure on the mic.

Apparently, he came to some local club around here last weekend. A bunch of people I know were talking about how he put on a dope show or something irrelevant like that.

Shaun wrote:

Apparently, he came to some local club around here last weekend. A bunch of people I know were talking about how he put on a dope show or something irrelevant like that.

Probably was irrelevant if it was about him.

Big Daddy Kool wrote:

Wayne wrote:

Big Daddy Kool wrote:

Shaun wrote:

Swizz Beatz is the worst rapper ever.

Nah, I'd say Vanilla Ice, Souljah Boy, or Waka Flocka has that title.

Can't believe all the attention "Waka Flocka" is getting. I have a funny story about this guy. A few months back, my family had a small gathering. His song "O Let's Do It" came on the radio. My younger cousin Trevon, who's about 9 or 10 (or 11, lol) was singing this song word for word, and here's the actual conversation, no BS, lol (I remember it like it was yesterday):

Wayne: You really like that song don't you?
Trevon: Yeah man! Don't you like it?!
W: Who is that anyway?
T: Waka Flocka!
W: WHO?????!!!!! (Remember how Carlito in "Carlito's Way" said who to Saso when he mentioned Steffie belonged to Benny Blanco? I said it in the EXACT SAME WAY, lol.)
T: (Laughing) Waka Flocka, don't you know him?
W: Who is that?!
T: That's my boy!

I actually felt a little old right there, lol.

I wish I didn't know who he was either, dude is straight up manure on the mic.

Shows you the unfortunate state of hip hop if someone like him can get a deal.

Wayne wrote:

Big Daddy Kool wrote:

Wayne wrote:

Big Daddy Kool wrote:

Shaun wrote:

Swizz Beatz is the worst rapper ever.

Nah, I'd say Vanilla Ice, Souljah Boy, or Waka Flocka has that title.

Can't believe all the attention "Waka Flocka" is getting. I have a funny story about this guy. A few months back, my family had a small gathering. His song "O Let's Do It" came on the radio. My younger cousin Trevon, who's about 9 or 10 (or 11, lol) was singing this song word for word, and here's the actual conversation, no BS, lol (I remember it like it was yesterday):

Wayne: You really like that song don't you?
Trevon: Yeah man! Don't you like it?!
W: Who is that anyway?
T: Waka Flocka!
W: WHO?????!!!!! (Remember how Carlito in "Carlito's Way" said who to Saso when he mentioned Steffie belonged to Benny Blanco? I said it in the EXACT SAME WAY, lol.)
T: (Laughing) Waka Flocka, don't you know him?
W: Who is that?!
T: That's my boy!

I actually felt a little old right there, lol.

I wish I didn't know who he was either, dude is straight up manure on the mic.

Shows you the unfortunate state of hip hop if someone like him can get a deal.

EXACTLY!!!

Big Daddy Kool wrote:

Wayne wrote:

Big Daddy Kool wrote:

Wayne wrote:

Big Daddy Kool wrote:

Shaun wrote:

Swizz Beatz is the worst rapper ever.

Nah, I'd say Vanilla Ice, Souljah Boy, or Waka Flocka has that title.

Can't believe all the attention "Waka Flocka" is getting. I have a funny story about this guy. A few months back, my family had a small gathering. His song "O Let's Do It" came on the radio. My younger cousin Trevon, who's about 9 or 10 (or 11, lol) was singing this song word for word, and here's the actual conversation, no BS, lol (I remember it like it was yesterday):

Wayne: You really like that song don't you?
Trevon: Yeah man! Don't you like it?!
W: Who is that anyway?
T: Waka Flocka!
W: WHO?????!!!!! (Remember how Carlito in "Carlito's Way" said who to Saso when he mentioned Steffie belonged to Benny Blanco? I said it in the EXACT SAME WAY, lol.)
T: (Laughing) Waka Flocka, don't you know him?
W: Who is that?!
T: That's my boy!

I actually felt a little old right there, lol.

I wish I didn't know who he was either, dude is straight up manure on the mic.

Shows you the unfortunate state of hip hop if someone like him can get a deal.

EXACTLY!!!

Someone like him could move a respectable number of units, and lets say a group like A Tribe Called Quest returned, and with a decent amount of hype, dropped a reunion album on the same day, you know what's going to happen right?

Corporate America decides who moves units and who gets deals. Blind consumerism and materialistic 'values', combined with an overall dumbing-down of the masses is the goal of those running our airwaves.

Kid Joe wrote:

Corporate America decides who moves units and who gets deals. Blind consumerism and materialistic 'values', combined with an overall dumbing-down of the masses is the goal of those running our airwaves.

Can't argue with this answer Kid Joe.

hahahahahah at this list, wow, Swizz Beats is the worst rapper

Where the fuck is DJ Quik?

T. Myers wrote:

Where the fuck is DJ Quik?

Good question.

my list would be something like

DOOM
Rza
Large Professor
Diamond D
Lil Fame
El-P
Lord Finesse
Esham
DJ Quik
Dr. Dre

Slang Editorial wrote:

my list would be something like

DOOM
Rza
Large Professor
Diamond D
Lil Fame
El-P
Lord Finesse
Esham
DJ Quik
Dr. Dre

Lord Finesse is ANOTHER good choice too Slang. Good call on that one.

Rating Mic skills only.

The RZA vs. Dr. Dre
RZA, no ghostwriters needed

Diddy vs. Jermaine Dupri
Dupri, no ghostwriters needed

Kanye West vs. Diamond D
Kanye, cause I listen to him more

Pharrell vs. Timbaland
Pharrell, better vocally all around

Swizz vs. Mannie Fresh
Mannie, when did Swizz spit?


Production
The RZA vs. Dr. Dre
Dre

Diddy vs. Jermaine Dupri
WTF did Diddy, produce really? (add a hi-hat, I like that I like that!)

Kanye West vs. Diamond D
Mr. West

Pharrell vs. Timbaland
Timbaland

Swizz vs. Mannie Fresh
Mannie Fizzle

Slang Editorial wrote:

my list would be something like

DOOM
Rza
Large Professor
Diamond D
Lil Fame
El-P
Lord Finesse
Esham
DJ Quik
Dr. Dre

That's a better list.

TheHazardous wrote:

Slang Editorial wrote:

my list would be something like

DOOM
Rza
Large Professor
Diamond D
Lil Fame
El-P
Lord Finesse
Esham
DJ Quik
Dr. Dre

That's a better list.

I agree.

XXL fucking sucks and I'm sad people choose this as their source for hip hop info. No wonder Drake and Jeezy are at the top of the charts

Half wrote:

XXL fucking sucks and I'm sad people choose this as their source for hip hop info. No wonder Drake and Jeezy are at the top of the charts

Again, when artists like those 2 are at the top, something is wrong in hip hop today. Never been a fan of Jeezy and I don't care for Drake.

Wayne wrote:

Half wrote:

XXL fucking sucks and I'm sad people choose this as their source for hip hop info. No wonder Drake and Jeezy are at the top of the charts

Again, when artists like those 2 are at the top, something is wrong in hip hop today. Never been a fan of Jeezy and I don't care for Drake.

Yeah I agree man, and no offense to people that read XXL but there are some people that probably just buy what mags like XXL give good ratings without thinking and that's a problem.

Half wrote:

Wayne wrote:

Half wrote:

XXL fucking sucks and I'm sad people choose this as their source for hip hop info. No wonder Drake and Jeezy are at the top of the charts

Again, when artists like those 2 are at the top, something is wrong in hip hop today. Never been a fan of Jeezy and I don't care for Drake.

Yeah I agree man, and no offense to people that read XXL but there are some people that probably just buy what mags like XXL give good ratings without thinking and that's a problem.

No offense taken. I mainly buy the mag just to have something to read at work, lol, since we're not allowed to surf the net, except for in an area called "The Business Center".

Wayne wrote:

Half wrote:

Wayne wrote:

Half wrote:

XXL fucking sucks and I'm sad people choose this as their source for hip hop info. No wonder Drake and Jeezy are at the top of the charts

Again, when artists like those 2 are at the top, something is wrong in hip hop today. Never been a fan of Jeezy and I don't care for Drake.

Yeah I agree man, and no offense to people that read XXL but there are some people that probably just buy what mags like XXL give good ratings without thinking and that's a problem.

No offense taken. I mainly buy the mag just to have something to read at work, lol, since we're not allowed to surf the net, except for in an area called "The Business Center".

Yeah that's understandable. Are mags still expensive these days? I haven't bought one in a loooooong time.

Half wrote:

Wayne wrote:

Half wrote:

Wayne wrote:

Half wrote:

XXL fucking sucks and I'm sad people choose this as their source for hip hop info. No wonder Drake and Jeezy are at the top of the charts

Again, when artists like those 2 are at the top, something is wrong in hip hop today. Never been a fan of Jeezy and I don't care for Drake.

Yeah I agree man, and no offense to people that read XXL but there are some people that probably just buy what mags like XXL give good ratings without thinking and that's a problem.

No offense taken. I mainly buy the mag just to have something to read at work, lol, since we're not allowed to surf the net, except for in an area called "The Business Center".

Yeah that's understandable. Are mags still expensive these days? I haven't bought one in a loooooong time.

XXL I know is $4.99. I remember back when The Source, in its prime, was $2.99.

[quote="Half"]

Wayne wrote:

Half wrote:

XXL fucking sucks and I'm sad people choose this as their source for hip hop info. No wonder Drake and Jeezy are at the top of the charts

Again, when artists like those 2 are at the top, something is wrong in hip hop today. Never been a fan of Jeezy and I don't care for Drake.

Yeah exactly. XXL was a dope magazine when they started, just as 106 & Park was a dope show when it first aired. The quality of today's hip-hop scene has diminished the quality of both.

[quote="Big Daddy Kool"]

Half wrote:

Wayne wrote:

Half wrote:

XXL fucking sucks and I'm sad people choose this as their source for hip hop info. No wonder Drake and Jeezy are at the top of the charts

Again, when artists like those 2 are at the top, something is wrong in hip hop today. Never been a fan of Jeezy and I don't care for Drake.

Yeah exactly. XXL was a dope magazine when they started, just as 106 & Park was a dope show when it first aired. The quality of today's hip-hop scene has diminished the quality of both.

Absolutely. Good points.

I kinda miss Rap City The Bassment

[quote="Big Daddy Kool"]

Half wrote:

Wayne wrote:

Half wrote:

XXL fucking sucks and I'm sad people choose this as their source for hip hop info. No wonder Drake and Jeezy are at the top of the charts

Again, when artists like those 2 are at the top, something is wrong in hip hop today. Never been a fan of Jeezy and I don't care for Drake.

Yeah exactly. XXL was a dope magazine when they started, just as 106 & Park was a dope show when it first aired. The quality of today's hip-hop scene has diminished the quality of both.

Absolutely. Good points.