The Bay Area’s vibrant hip-hop and R&B scenes include a wealth of talented MCs and singers, but it’s often easy to forget the important, behind-the-scenes role that music producers play. A skilled producer doesn’t just provide a instrumental backdrop for an artist to showcase their craft; instead, the best producers elevate their artists, adding depth that demands repeat listens.
This mixtape showcases a dozen songs from local hip-hop and R&B artists working with local producers. Some of the MCs in this set — including Elujay, Versoul (fka Babii Cris), and Shy’An G — are impressively pulling double-duty as producers themselves. And increasingly, talented producers like Ian McKee, Drew Banga, JULiA LEWiS, and Mikos Da Gawd are establishing identities as solo artists, not just skilled sonic craftspeople behind the boards.
Listen to the mixtape to learn more about all 12 producers spotlighted in this mix.
Track Listing
Ian McKee, “Plans (feat. Beejus, Mani Draper & Turk)”
Produced by Ian McKee
