This topic has probably been beaten to death, but I didn't see it in any of the recent active threads and wanted to get yall's opinions.

So who's your top 10 and why?
Emphasis on YOUR because this is a completely subjective topic.
Your list also doesn't have to be strictly hip-hop focused. (Although mine will )

1. Pete Rock - Best drums in hip hop ever. One of the most influential producers of all time

2. Premo - Classic NY sound. Minimalism done right

3. Marley Marl - The FIRST superproducer. The FIRST to sample drums from diff records. Responsible for some of the best artist to come out the 80s. Even his later stuff is crazy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nabJTO3NRgQ)

4. Madlib/Dilla - I put both these dudes here because it's really hard for me to pick which I like more. Their production style is very similar. I placed Lib over Dee though because he's the only cat on this list who producer a live jazz album to my knowledge.

5. Alchemist - Al would probably be number 1 on this list if I were talking about the last 5-10 years. He has had the underground on lock working with artist like Earl, Boldy James, the Griselda crew, Action Bronson, etc.
His ability to fit the pocket of almost any rapper is unmatched- a million different styles. His older work is dope too.

6. RZA - Wu Tang. nuff' said

7. Ye - I look at Kanye like a conductor for a hip hop orchestra. He knows who to get in the room to make the best material be the driving force behind that.

8. Neptunes - I encourage you to listen to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9899coNG-0o If you were born in 97'-03', then these dudes were part of the soundtrack of your life.

9. Knx - I highly credit knxwledge to pioneering this new generation of """"lofi boom bap""""

10. Fly-Lo - I will admit I haven't listened to much of Fly-Lo since You're Dead!. But I just love his wonky, psychedelic like grooves and rhythms.

This is all I could think of this morning I'm stoned to the bone

The Bomb Squad would be at the top of my list personally.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bomb_Squad

No particular order, but tiered...

1st Tier, influenced my tastes the most: DJ Screw, Madlib, Death Grips

2nd Tier, made some of my favorite records: Aesop Rock, J Dilla, MF DOOM, DJ Smokey

3rd Tier, enjoyed everything I've heard: Tommy Wright III, Alchemist, Preservation

I think my honorable mentions list is over 15 names

edit: after some though, the most honorable mention is Clams Casino and he'd be in the 3rd Tier

my top 10

1) Dilla/Madlib
2) Kanye
3) Q-Tip
4) Timbaland
5) Dr Dre
5) 9th Wonder
6) J Swift
7) Tyler, the Creator
8 ) RZA
9) Beatnuts

in no particular order, alchemist, samiyam, dilla, madlib, jonwayne, JFilt/VerySickBeats gotta be in here for how much I learnt in early days from him, Daringer, 9th Wonder, FlyLo, Ras G bc his creativity was crazy

TOUGH TO NARROW IT DOWN TO TOP 10 BECAUSE I HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT ERAS OF MY LIFE WHERE IT WOULD CHANGE

THESE HAVE BEEN MY BIGGEST INFLUENCES SINCE I STARTED GETTING INTO THINGS

ODD NOSDAM
RZA
PRINCE PAUL
DIL WITHERS
BOARDS OF CANADA
QTIP/TRIBE
DILLA
MADLIB
BUCK 65
DJ SHADOW
EL-P
BUN
TOBACCO
TEEBS
DOOM
RASG
DELOFI
FLYING LOTUS
AVALANCHES
OHBLIV
TMCT
DJ CAM
PETE ROCK
NO ID
KNX
TEAMCANADA - CULP, DP, ANTOJE
LORD BEATJITZU
DONGOLDMAN
EL SERENO DUDES
PARKER JORDAN
MARK AUBERT
MR DIBIASE
SELFISH.
DAN THE AUTOMATOR

i dont have a top 10 but ill name a few i like.

01. Dj premier - I feel like he is a roll model for boom bap sample based beats. If you want to make traditional, 4 elements, NY style, hardcore hip hop beats then his approach is what you should try to copy. I honestly probably like him as a producer way more than i like any other producer.

02. J dilla - Similar to premier i feel like he has a good traditional style although he does synth style beats as well. Hes influential as far as the beat compilations with many short beats which a lot of SP users seem to do. grandfather of microwave beats.

03. RZA - i like his use of martial arts film soundtracks in his beats. It was an original sample choice which is something a lot of beat makers who sample want to do when picking stuff to use.

04. Havoc - I like the dark moods he creates with a lot of his beats especially on the infamous. There is a fresh style to it that i dont think many people have made beats like. He also has done some pretty great boom bap stuff on the album hell on earth which i like as well.

05. Necro - Necro i think is sort of underrated for his beats. His subject matter as far as rapping might make people not pay attention to the fact that he makes some pretty rough sounding, sample based, boom bap beats. His album i need drugs has a lot of this style on it. Heres a track i just found out about recently from him that has a great beat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLtjTmDscM8

I guess i have some favoritism towards new york style boom bap.

1. Dilla
2. Madlib
3. Flying Lotus
4. Alchemist
5. Pete Rock
6. Q-Tip
7. MF DOOM
8. Knxwledge
9. MNDSGN
10. DJ Premier



Something like that.

Pete rock
Dj premier
El-P
MF Doom
Stoupe
Tame one
Evil Dee
Madlib
J dilla
Danger mouse
I am sure I have forgotten someone..

This is in no particular order of hierarchy or genre, this list will probably change in a couple months

1. Rhythm & Sound
2. Fat Jon
3. Stephen Hitchell
4. Ron Benjamin
5. Alchemist
6. ELIZA
7. Robert Rich
8. Roc Marciano
9. J Dilla
10. SpaceGhostPurrp

no order
rock,premier,hanck shock lee,prince paul,madlib,dilla,el-p,rza,odd nosdam,dj shadow