Hitmen: Producers Killing it in 2018

Killertunes, Fresh VDM, Speroach Beatz / amped illustration

The work of a music/record producer is simply to bring to life a songwriter’s idea. The job of the Record Producer gets complicated & unpredictable when they’re involved in the crteative process of the songwriter, by being the catalyst to providing the hit record that the songwriter(s) need to flourish in their music career. The record producers may come and go, but their works can stand the test of time in building their legacy & fan base. These “works” also sort them out financially, through the royalties agreement that they sign off in the music production process.

This year has blessed us with outstanding songs that we can’t get tired of listening to. However we attach these good records to only the musicians on them. Here we show love to the individuals “behind the boards”, who spend countless hours on the console in perfecting the sounds we listen to and make the trip of the artiste to & from the studio, a memorable one. The list below includes:

Killertunes: He started his music production craft as far back as in 2009 when he used to produce records for his friends. Fast-forward to 2017-2018, when you hear a record with the music tag shaballistica, you know the song is going to burst your speakers and be a very good record. Signed by DJ Spinall, Killertunes has become a household name in the industry, as his label Boss has shopped around his protégé’s best work to his music industry friends, who have also not regretted their action on taking DJ Spinall’s advice to work with his producer. With a discography to drool over, Killertunes is arguably the number 1 record producer of the year 2018. The list is endless, like Kiss Daniel who doesn’t have a bad song to his name, the lad Killertunes has not been the producer behind any bad song that we have out right now. He solely masterminded Wizkid’s new rise in the music making space in Nigeria. A feat that has made him become the record producer given with the task to produce the Starboy Imprint upcoming album, (Made in Lagos). Already tagged as the Prince of Afrobeats-Making, Killertunes has the star power that precedes his talent which rightly overshadows the humble presence he’s mostly accustomed with.

Fresh VDM: The Official Music Director Of the hottest music label in Nigeria (DMW). Fresh is a record producer who is of Nigerian & Togo descents. He speaks French fluently and heknows how to infuse that West African highlife style of music into the modern-day culture of making the smooth savory attractive sound that every music lover gets over the top to. Already a popular name in the music industry, his big break came when he masterminded the lowest point of Davido’s music career by uplifting the spirit of the front man of the DMW crew, into creating his biggest record (FIA) till date since Dami Duro in 2011. Fresh isn’t to be regarded as just the ordinary record producer, He is also brilliant and intelligent with his art in music composition. Fresh is like the music teacher that knows what he is doing. He has transformed mediocre lyrics behind the booth and giving the artistes better songs to work with. His discography is generally filled with the biggest songs out of the DMW HQ.

Speroach Beatz: Previously under the tutelage of his elder brother GospelOnTheBeatz, Speroach is one talented record producer, that most likely learned from his brother, who is a renowned record producer, music composer and one of the most respected band leaders out of Nigeria, as he leads the most exciting music live band in Africa (The Alternate Sound). Speroach can be regarded as a chip off the old block, as he decided to put out his name and sound out there, at the very moment the industry was loving the traditional eastern tunes filled with strings and percussion instruments, which were everywhere during the initial up rise of Masterkraft. First onto the scene as he produced the song, (for your pocket) which led to Peruzzi, getting his record deal with Davido’s DMW label. He and Peruzzi form a superb songwriting team, that deliver the goods the right way. No wonder he is at this point regarded as an affiliate producer to the DMW record company. His recent work includes, the biggest and most popular song out of Nigeria this year (Amaka) which was performed by 2face and has production & songwriting credits of him and Peruzzi. Adding a few points to his discography, will have him been the music producer behind Davido’s lover boy resurgence, in making heartthrob love songs like Assurance & the newly released NwaBaby.

Phantom: This young man is the true definition of less is more. Already a household name at Shina Peller’s owned Aquila Records, Phantom gained his proper introduction onto the music scene as the man behind one of the biggest Burnaboy’s records, (Ye) which is often regarded as the official Nigeria national anthem and the record with the ideal Nigerian dream locked in it. Simple sound and simple beat, Phantom samples his own vocals, in making the introduction of Ye an unforgettable one and garnishing the background sound to match Burnaboy’s sample of Fela’s sorrows tears and blood. I don’t think it gets better than this, with having such a song that has so much clout internationally and locally on your discography.

Spellz: The Popular music & record producer who was once represented by TeeBillz and signed to Tiwa Savage’s 323 Entertainment imprint is not new to the music production space of Nigeria, as he has far & beyond, fantastic production credits before the current year in view. Spellz this year, has been unpredictable with his sound as you can easily find him creating very lovable tunes that you may not naturally characterize him with. A notable mention, will be Askamaya, which is already the record that provides the necessary foundation to sky rocket Teni to turn out to be one of the greatest Songwriters & Performers of her time, as he has handed her the first hit record to build upon, going forward. Spellz has this special skill to modernize that Galala & Konto Sound, by giving it the necessary treatments it deserves to prosper in this Era of the music industry.

Commendable mentions who still have a point to prove this year include: North Boi, Mutay of Legendury Beatz, Pheelz, Ckay, Sess, E-kelly, Sarz, DelB Micon Beatz, LUSH & Young D.

Rounding off this list is British-Ghanaian Music Producer - Juls, who is arguably the current distinct wave of Afrobeat. Juls is the Afrobeat sensation within the music production space; that knows how to optimally utilize his drums and he isn’t afraid to be adventurous with his kicks & snares. He understands the technical know-how in been able to combine his percussion instruments, that are reminiscent of the old Afrobeat that is familiarized to the Legendury Fela Anikulakpo Kuti. Juls already has a decent and internationally recognized discography to his name, as a record producer who can boast of chart topping singles & multiple albums to his name. No wonder he was the man behind the board in creating one of the fan favorite singles of the year, in SoMiSo, which was written and performed by Wande Coal.

Having a playlist with production credits from the above listed music producers in 2018 will surely get you pumped and in a groovy mood. Which is as endorsed & Certified by Amped!