![]() Legacy: Wu-Tang Clan leader and producer. RZA is one of seven successful members of the Wu-Tang Clan, but he clearly is the mastermind behind many of their hits – both solo and as a collective.ġ9. But, despite that lack of originality, the number of hits with his name on it are more than enough to push him into this top 20 producer list. Combs’ critics accused him of borrowing too liberally from other artists’ songs – with very little variation – to create his artists’ biggest hits. In a career that dates back to the late 1980s during an internship with fledgling hip-hop label Uptown Records, Combs had a knack for knowing what people wanted to hear, which for the better part of his heyday were hits from yesteryear fashioned into contemporary hip-hop tunes by the artists of the day. The entrepreneur with the many names made hits for himself as well as the other artists on his Bad Boy label, including the Notorious B.I.G., Mase, 112, Faith Evans and Carl Thomas. ![]() So now here they are – the 20 Greatest Music Producers/Songwriters of the Past 55 years (Since 1960): Sean Combs was the King of Sampling back in the 1990s, but he added just enough of his own touch to give the songs new life – and generate millions in sales.Ģ0. Before you pull the double-standard card, I know all of those artists performed or recorded their own songs, too, but they were far more recognized for what they did behind the boards and on pen and paper for other artists. Instead, artists like Ashford & Simpson, Chic founders Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards, Narada Michael Walden and Sean “Diddy” Combs were eligible. Kelly, Lionel Richie, Curtis Mayfield and George Clinton are not included on this list because they made names for themselves as singers or rappers, and their accomplishments as songwriters/producers – while certainly legendary and able to stand alone – were factored into their rankings on the overall 100 Greatest Artists list. So people like Smokey Robinson, Prince, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Rick James, Kanye West, R. Namely, it is limited to those who were more known for their behind-the-scenes work than for their own recordings. This list recognizes those three legendary songwriter/producers and 17 more. The O’Jays and Teddy Pendergrass certainly would not be on the 100 Greatest Artists list if it were not for the collective creative genius of Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff. Think of where Janet Jackson would be without the writing and production talents of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, or if Whitney Houston would have been pop music royalty without the sugary confections conjured up by Narada Michael Walden in the 1980s. These are the song creators without whom many of the greatest artists wouldn’t reside in our collective musical memories. What follows is a ranking of the songwriters and producers who’ve given those artists’ songs life. But before I publish Part 4 of that countdown, I promised readers I’d produce a special list of the top behind-the-scene guys (and gal) – particularly of the past 55 years – who’ve been responsible for the hits recorded by those famous artists. Album DescriptionAs Black Music Month 2015 – now formally known as African-American Music Appreciation Month – races through its home stretch, I’ve been completing the last installment of my four-part countdown of the 100 Greatest Black Musicians of all Time. See More Your browser does not support the audio element. Apart from the surprisingly brash "Step the F*** Off" and the Michael Jackson tribute "I Miss the King," not much sticks out, but the album is consistently likeable, filled with comfortable, mid-wattage grooves, yearning ballads (including the Teena Marie-sampling "Closer I Get to You"), and a couple diversions into racier content (such as "You Know" and "Ride This"). Forever is even closer to being a one-man show than 2010's Lyrics, with Jones performing every instrument but guitar, and he gets only a little songwriting assistance (and no guest appearances from MCs). More should be made of Jones' versatility. There's no denying that his fan base is devoted and significant in size each one of his albums has peaked within the R&B Top Ten, and he really is more of an album artist than a singles artist, since his releases tend to sustain a steady mood and have never seemed concerned with crossing over. ![]() The sticker on the front of Donell Jones' sixth album - his second release for veteran R&B-artist sanctuary eOne - refers to the singer as an "R&B superstar." For someone who has reached the Billboard R&B Top 20 only four times (the last time was in 2002), that's probably a stretch. ARAABMUZIK SAMPLING DONELL JONES FOREVER DOWNLOADPurchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
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