Nigerian music producers the brains behind many great sounds that lovers of music enjoy. With little to no significance of the job they have done, a particular beat they have created to make the songs interesting, producers still keep striving and doing what they know how to do best. Producers are literally underrated composers, unsung heroes. This list is about top Nigerian producers that are the genius behind recent hit songs vibed to on a daily. They are the producers who crafted the hits currently making waves on Nigerian airwaves.
1. Don Jazzy
Don Jazzy is arguably the greatest Nigerian producer, with a very good eye for young talents, collaborating with virtually every A-list artist in the industry since he and D’Banj burst onto the scene in 2004. Jazzy is blessed with knowing how to hand-pick up-and-coming artistes and rebranding them into becoming stars, with a lot of proof to back the claim up. Born Michael Collins Ajereh and known professionally as Don Jazzy, the music boss’s catalogue of production credits is filled to the brim with endless smash hits. His sound signature “It’s Don Jazzy Again” has adorned upbeat club hits by Tiwa Savage and D’Banj as well as Korede Bello’s highlife hymnal Godwin. Don Jazzy has also had international collaboration, most notably his work with Jay Z, Kanye West and Beyoncé’s Lift Off, a high-wattage collaboration on which Jazzy’s pulsing, filtered techniques stand out.
Lately, it seems the veteran producer has left much of the producing to younger producers like his in-house producer, London and Babyfresh, but he still remains the very best at what he does. Some of the latest hits songs produced by Jazzy are Burna Boy’s Question, Rema’s Bounce, Arya Starr’s Sare and many more.
2. Rexxie
You know it’s going to be a smashing hit when the tag “Yo, Rexxie Pon this one (PonDits)” comes up at the intro of a song. Ezeh Chisom professionally known as Rexxie is the originator of the addictive Zanku sound. He is the one number hit making producer of the Marlian community who knows his onions and has worked with the likes of Naira Marley, Zlatan, Lyta, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage and Mohbad to name a few. He has produced hit songs like Soapy, Tesumole and Gbeku.
In 2018, he produced the Detty December soundtracks, Able God for Chinko Ekun, Lil Kesh and Zlatan Ibile, Logo Benz for Lil Kesh and Olamide and Zanku (Legwork) for Zlatan. Earlier in 2018, the producer also crafted the hit, Jogor for Zlatan featuring Lil Kesh and Japa for Naira Marley.
2019, he produced Am I A Yahoo Boy? for Naira Marley featuring Zlatan, as well as Soapy, Pxta and Mafo for Naira Marley. He also produced Bolanle and Yeye Boyfriend for Zlatan. Breaking the mould, he produced On God for DMW featuring Davido, Mayorkun and Dremo. At the end of the year, he produced most of the songs on Zlatan’s debut album Zanku and four songs from Naira Marley’s debut EP, Lord of Lamba.
In 2020, Rexxie produced Naira Marley’s major 2020 hit song, Aye. This multi-talented producer is the one responsible for one of the hottest and most addictive songs of late 2020, Ko por Ke (KPK) by Himself and Mohbad.
Rexxie didn’t just produce a street song, he took sweet time in crafting out unforgettable beats for the song. Ko por ke is a song full of vibes and its beats will make any lover of dance music burst into sweet dance moves. Some of the lyrics of the song even became among the top slangs that trended in 2021. Its was also the number 1 song used for Tiktok challenges. Rexxie bagged the African producer of the year award at Soundcity MVP Awards Festival 2020.
3. Tempoe
Tempoe is a producer that knows how to produce highly infectious tunes that easily becomes a fans favourite. When it comes to having ears for great sound, Michael Chigozie Alagwu aka Tempo is unrivalled for miles. The 24-year-old music producer, is a core part of the recent milestones in Afrobeats’ global takeover. He has produced for the likes of Ckay and Blaqbonez before emerging as beneficiary of the Sarz Academy. He staked a claim in Nigerian music with Godly by Omah Lay and Door, one of the standout records off Joeboy’s debut album, Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic.
From having produced multiple number one songs on Apple Music’s chart, to having Billboard record-breaking songs.
From 2016 when he created Ckay’s summer jam, Nkechi Turnup, to 2019 which heralded the Billboard-charting record, Love Nwantiti, Tempoe has kept one rule that has guided his sonic mastery: if he doesn’t feel it, he doesn’t spill it. And this trait, which is submarined by his personal affinity for perfection, is also the recipe behind other hits such as Joeboy’s Alcohol, Omah Lay’s Understand, and, most recently, AV’s Confession.
4. P.Priime
Peace Emmanuel Oredope professionally known as P.Priime is one of Nigeria’s youngest producers.
Known by his signature Tag “P-P-Priimeee, Giddem!!!”, P-priime has successfully created some of the dopest trending beats. He started producing songs at 15. From being a student at Sarz Academy, to working with some of Nigeria’s best artists like Fireboy, Cuppy, Zlatan, Naira Marley, Olamide to create some of the best tunes in the music industry.
He produced
Zlatan’s Shomo and Unripe Paw Paw ft Jamopyer
Olamide’s Eru, Green Light, Loading, Infinity
Peruzzi’s Southy Love
Zlatan’s Lagos Anthem remix
Portable’s Zazu Zeh ft Olamide and Pocolee
His ultimate production for 2021 was Portable’s Zazu Zeh which was released close to the end of the year. The song saw many Nigerians vibing to the beat and even picked up slangs from the title of the song. It’s still being used in many comedy skit as the song its yet to be forgotten.
5. Blaise Beatz
Blaise Beatz is popular for his sound tag “It’s blaize on the beat baby” or “OBAH”. This music producer came into spotlight when he produced L.A.X debut album Rasaking in 2018. He started out as Larryblaise, but later upgraded to BlaiseOnTheBeat as his brand name. He has worked with Outstanding Nigerian artists like Wizkid, Adekunle Gold, Tiwa savage,Tekno, Skiiibi and Reekado Banks and has been able to identify his unique beat/sound.
He is the genius behind the beats for AdeKunle Gold’s Something Different which is the biggest pop record of 2020. How he managed to interpret Adekunle Gold’s transition from alternative folk sound to the modern trending pop sound is truly impressive. He worked with AG Baby on his AfroPop Vol.1 album and produced 2 hits; Something Different and Okay.
He also worked on Tekno’s debut album and produced Slow Whine, Omaema, Suru and Enjoy by Tekno. And then on Davido’s A Better Time album, the hit song LaLa featuring CKay. He produced the singe Pami by Dj Tunez Featuring Wizkid, Adekunle Gold and Omah Lay.
Blaise Beatz is the brain behind many of 2021’s hit songs like Kizz Daniel’s Pour me water, Lie, he co-produced with Philkeyz and Buju’s Outside, to mention a few.
6. Telz
Alli Odunayo popularly known as Telz is a Grammy nominated producer. His mainstream sound mark at the intro of songs is usually “Funkula”. Although many are guilty of referring to his producer’s tag as “Born Killer”, “Fun Killer” and “Porn Killer”. Telz started producing professionally in 2017. He is responsible for the hottest tunes of 2020. He originally came up with the beats for Patoranking’s Hit song Abule, Do Me and Mon Bebe featuring Flavour. On Burna Boy’s Grammy award winning album, Twice as Tall, he produced Wonderful, Onyeka and Wetin Dey Sup.
7. Pheelz (Mr Producer)
Phillip Kayode Moses popularly known as Pheelz or his producer tag “Rii! Riddimacoolayor!!” is a multi talented, award winning producer, songwriter cum musician. He is signed to Olamide’s YBNL Nation record label and has been in the music scene since 2012 but was known as “Pheelz Mr Producer” before he rebranded to “Riddimacoolayor”. Over the years, Phleez has worked with some of Nigeria’s best artistes to produce some of the hottest tunes in the country. He Produced on Olamide’s Baddest Ever Album, Street, OT, 2kings, MI’s The Chairman Album, Ghetto University by Runtown and the Hit singles like; Billionaire by Teni, Scatter by Fireboy and 49–99 for Tiwa Savage to mention a few.
Pheelz majored on Fireboy’s Apollo Album in 2020, Some of his buzzing productions off album includes Fireboy’s hottest hits Champion, Remember Me and Spell which received rave reviews from fans. Pheelz is the genius behind 2021’s High by Adekunle Gold. He released an EP titled Hear me out in 2021 with 5 tracks and no feature.
8. Fresh VDM (Very Disturbing Music)
Fresh VDM is an in-house producer for DMW records owned by Davido. You would have heard his producer tag on many of Davido’s hit songs “Damn Fresh on the Beat or Fresh!!!!”. Yes, those tunes were produced by Bello Emmanuel Adeshina professionally known as Fresh VDM (Very Disturbing Music). He is a Togolese-born Nigerian music producer who is fond of combining unusual sounds to come out with banging beats. Aside from producing DMW records, he has worked with other artists like; Olamide, Burna Boy, Mr Eazi, Stefflon Don and YCee. Some of his earlier productions Include Mind by the DMW stars, Doe by Larry Gaaga, Mata by peruzzi, Aje by DMW ft Davido, Peruzzi, Yonda and Aza by DMW stars ft Duncan Mighty.
In 2020, Fresh VDM created magic with Davido’s hit song The Best from A Better Time album featuring Mayorkun, Of Lagos and Your Body by Mayorkun, E Be Tinz and some trending songs of 2020.
In 2021 produced top chart songs Nakupenda by Maryokun, Somebody baby by Peruzzi to mention a few.
8. London
London is also an in-house producer for Mavins Records. Popularly known with his producer tag “London!!!”, this British-Nigerian producer joined the music scene in 2019 and has been making waves by producing some of the biggest hits of all time. Born Michael Ovie Hunter as an only child in in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria, London did an amazing work with Tiwa savage‘s 2020 hit single Koroba and also on Wizkid’s Made in Lagos. He also produced impressive singles like; Grayte for Wizkid, Temptation for Tiwa Savage featuring Sam Smith, Mystery Girl for Johnny Drille and Do Me for Crayon.
In 2021 he produced Rema’s Soundgasm, Arya Starr’s Bloody Samaritan, a song Nigerians are not ready to let go of anytime soon. It trended on TikTok as a challenge with fans vibing, miming and creating dance steps with the beat.
10. Sarz
Osabuohien Osaretin (born March 17, 1989), better known by his stage name Sarz, is a Nigerian record producer cum musician. Sarz needs little to no introduction as I’m sure music lovers know the song is going to be a hit once it’s “Sarz on the beat.”This list would be incomplete without one of the leading and foremost producers in Africa. In June 2015, Sarz created his production school for young talented called Sarz Academy. An academy that has seen to the success of many star producers; Tempoe, P.Prime and so on. Sarz is top gun in the Nigeria entertainment scene, with many top stars using his service. Aside production, he has featured in some hit songs with various artists and he is the one of the most followed producer in Nigeria on social media with a verified account. He has created many hit jams like Gil’s with Trobul by him and Wurld, Oja and Instagram for Reminisce, Gimme Love for Seyi Shay and Bana and Desiigner for his serial collaborator, Niniola and has done lots of jamz for Wizkid and other top artists in Nigeria. His creative acuity as a producer and singer is evident in his 2021 masterpiece Monalisa by Lojay featuring him.
The list is endless because there are many talented music producers who are not given the accolades they deserve for a job well-done.
Worthy Mention:
Niphkeys
Killertunes
Kel P
MasterKraft
Napji (Napji Killing this One)
Mansa Jabulani
Speroach (Speroachbeatzz)
Cobhams Asuquo
Louddaaa
Young John (the wicked producer)
Rewards beat
Jaysynths
Northboi Oracle
Cracker Mallo
Dera
GuiltyBeatz
Eskeez
Shizzi
Semzi
Segun Michael Ajayi
Kukbeat
Andre Vibez
Legendury beatz P2j
Vtek
Chopstix
Virgo Deep
Tuzi
Spax
Ozedikus
GMK
TeckZilla
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