Here’s a great list of the Chicago music producers top producers in the Chicago area and featured below is a highlight of our top five production specialists from the list.
- Young Chop
- No I.D
- The Legendary Traxster
- Boi-1da
- Kanye West
- The Twilite Tone
- DJ Pharris
- The Heatmakerz
- Zaytoven
- The Neptunes
We’ve profiled five of these producers below that have helped shape the Chicago music scene.
Who Are The Best Chicago Music Producers?
Young Chop
Young Chop (born Tyree Pittman) is an American rapper and music producer from Chicago, Illinois. He is best known for producing records for artists such as Chief Keef, Lil Durk, and Soulja Boy. He is also the founder of his own record label, Chop Squad Records.
Young Chop began producing music at the age of 16 and released his first mixtape, Precious, in 2011. In 2012, he produced Chief Keef’s hit single “I Don’t Like”, which peaked at number 73 on the Billboard Hot 100. He has since produced a number of other songs for Chief Keef and other artists, including “Love Sosa” and “3Hunna”.In 2013, Young Chop released his debut album, Still, which peaked at number 53 on the US Billboard 200. His skills cross over to sound engineering, working in several recording studios in Chicago.
He has since released two more albums, King Chop (2015) and King Chop 2 (2016). Young Chop has also collaborated with a number of other artists, including Kanye West, Wiz Khalifa, and 21 Savage.
He has also produced music for television and film, including the soundtrack for the 2018 film Superfly.
No I.D
No I.D (born Dion Wilson) is an American hip-hop and R&B music producer from Chicago, Illinois. He is best known for producing hit singles such as “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)” by Jay-Z, “Run This Town” by Jay-Z, Rihanna, and Kanye West, and “My Last” by Big Sean.
He is also a former executive vice president of A&R at Def Jam Recordings and has worked with many of the biggest names in hip-hop, including Kanye West, Drake, Common, and Jay-Z. No I.D. has also won multiple Grammy Awards for his production work among the greatest Chicago Music Producers.
The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster is an American music producer and rapper from Chicago, Illinois. He is best known for producing hit songs for artists such as Twista, Do or Die, Crucial Conflict, and Ludacris.
He has also produced for major labels such as Def Jam, Atlantic, and Universal. Traxster is also the founder of the Chicago-based independent label C.O.D. Music Group. He has won multiple awards including a Grammy Award, a BET Award, and two ASCAP Awards. His production style is characterized by hard-hitting drums, deep bass lines, and unique samples.
He has also been credited with helping to popularize the Chicago rap sound.
Boi-1da
Boi-1da is a Canadian hip-hop producer and songwriter originally from Toronto, Ontario. He has produced for some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Drake, Eminem, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, and Jay-Z.
Boi-1da’s production style is characterized by its hard-hitting drums and heavy bass lines. He often uses samples from classic soul and funk records to add a unique flavor to his beats.
His production credits include some of the biggest hits of the last decade, including Drake’s “Started From The Bottom,” Rihanna’s “Work,” and Eminem’s “Not Afraid.” Boi-1da has won multiple Grammy Awards for his work and has been credited with helping to shape the sound of modern hip-hop.
Kanye West – Formerly One of The Most Iconic Chicago Music Producers
Kanye West is a Grammy Award-winning American hip-hop producer, rapper, and fashion designer. He rose to fame in the early 2000s with his hit single “Through the Wire” and has since gone on to become one of the most successful and influential producers in the music industry.
West has produced for a wide range of artists, including Jay-Z, Beyonce, Drake, and Rihanna. He has also released several critically acclaimed albums of his own, including The College Dropout, Late Registration, Graduation, and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
In addition to his musical career, West has also ventured into fashion design, launching his own clothing line in 2011. He is widely considered one of the most influential figures in hip-hop and pop culture.
Summary Of The Best Chicago Music Producers
When it comes to award-winning producers, there is a host of top-notch professionals in Chicago, in fact, you are spoilt for choice.