11 Atlanta Producers Who Are Killing it Right Now

Check out some of the hottest producers in Atlanta right now, including Childish Major, Metro Boomin, Dun Deal, and London on da Track.

Atlanta is a hotspot for hip-hop, and that's nothing new, but there's a wave of fresh talent coming out of the ATL right now that's defined by production just as much as the rapping. Breakout stars often get all the credit, but coming up with artists like Young Thug, Migos, Future, Rich Homie Quan, Rome Fortune, and PeeWee Longway is a crop of prolific producers who play a big role in Atlanta's evolving sound. Here are 11 producers in Atlanta who are killing it right now.

1.

2. Mike Will Made It

Has produced for: Everyone

Whatever you think of Mike Will Made It executive producing Miley Cyrus' Bangerz and being part of the reason "23" was so ubiquitous, the producer is a poster boy for successful Atlanta producers. Whether he's producing for ScHoolboy Q, Future, Kanye West, Rihanna, Jay Z, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, or even Ciara, his production is marked by cavernous, chest rattling bass.

Expect to hear lots more of it in the future, as Mike Will's debut album proper, Est. in 1989 Pt. 3 (The Album), scheduled for release in 2014 and said to feature Kendrick Lamar, Future, and 2 Chainz.

3. London on da Track

Has produced for: Tyga, Young Thug, Gucci Mane, Rich Kidz

London on da Track has next. He came up with Young Thug, but now Young Thug is down with Birdman and the Cash Money team, and so is London on da Track. He knows how to make a dark, heavy beat, but he's got an ear for melody that gives his production an accessibility that most trap producers can't touch. And with "Hookah," he proved his ability to make radio-ready hits that fans of DJ Mustard can get down to. Oh, and don't be surprised if you hear his work on Tha Carter V.

4. Childish Major

Has produced for: Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Rome Fortune, Juicy J, Curtis Williams

Childish Major gained serious momentum in 2013 when the woozy "U.O.E.N.O." became a hit. Part of the buzz around that song was Rick Ross' controversial verse, but it was the production that really made the song a standout. Since then, Childish Major has been busy producing for big-name artists and local talent. He's got a knack for making booming tracks with a touch of instability that keeps things interesting.

5. Southside

Has produced for: Waka Flocka Flame, Young Thug, Gucci Mane, Meek Mill, Pusha T

Southside aka Sizzle is in 808 Mafia, but he's more than capable as a solo producer as well. His beats are in the same vein as a lot of current Atlanta hip-hop, but everything he touches is turned up and stripped down. Instead of adding extra bells and whistles, Southside focuses in on a few key sounds, resulting in beats that always have one or two strong elements that make them stand out from so many of the busy trap backdrops.

6. Dun Deal

Has produced for: Migos, Rome Fortune, Young Thug, Gucci Mane, Kevin Gates

Dun Deal's got the magic touch. From Migos' "Hannah Montana" to Young Thug's "Stoner," Dun's taking the trap sounds that Atlanta is known for and taking them to the next level, making hits that work for radio just as well as the streets and the clubs.

7. Black Metaphor

Has produced for: Young Jeezy, Lil Bibby, Rich Ross, Meek Mill, Game, French Montana, Isaiah Rashad

Black Metaphor had an internship with J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, and he got his first big break with Young Jeezy's "Get Right" in 2012. Avoiding the of-the-moment sounds filled with aggression and militaristic urgency, Black Metaphor's production is usually soulful and euphoric. When he's paired up with high-energy rappers like Meek Mill, the contrast makes these beats sound even better.

8. Gwen Bunn

Has produced for: ScHoolboy Q and Kendrick Lamar

Gwen Bunn doesn't have a stacked track record like a lot of producers on this list. The 20-year-old Decatur-based producer/artist isn't producing for all of Atlanta's rising rappers, but that almost makes it even more impressive that she co-produced "Collard Greens," the Kendrick Lamar-featuring lead single from ScHoolboy Q's Oxymoron.

She co-produced the song with production team THC, and her interview with LA Weekly reveals that she played no small role: "The other THC member, Axel Folie, made a drum beat that I was feeling but I felt it needed something extra on it. He actually threw that beat away and wanted to move on to something else but I stopped him from doing that and added a bassline to his drum kick beat. After I put the bassline in, I added the synthesizers and completed the drum beat."

"Collard Greens" should open up some doors for Gwen, and if she's got more off-kilter ideas like this, we look forward to seeing her name pop up in more production credits. Check out her original music here.

9. Metro Boomin

Has produced for: Future, Waka Flocka Flame, Young Thug, Young Dolph, Migos, Rich Homie Quan

Metro Boomin is only 20 years old, but he's already making big moves. Since moving from St. Louis to Atlanta after high school, he's embedded himself in the scene and become one of the most in-demand producers coming out of ATL right now, working closely with other producers like 808 Mafia, DJ Spinz, Zaytoven, and Sonny Digital. Like his name suggests, his production is deep and heavy, and he's a master of ominous undertones.

10. TM88

Has produced for: Waka Flocka, Future, Que, Gucci Mane, T.I., Young Thug, Future, Meek Mill

It's hard to say exactly what role TM88 plays in all the beats he's produced on, but as a member of 808 Mafia and partner to Southside, he's had his hand in a lot of huge beats. One of the duo's most recent hits is Young Thug's "Danny Glover," and in an interview with Complex, Southside explained, "We do everything together, bro. It ain't really no 'parts.' We fuck with all that shit together."

And "all that shit"  means a lot of shit. In the same interview, TM explains, "Yeah we probably got like 100 more tracks with Thug. Just like how we got with Future, how we got with Waka, how we got with Meek Mill, man we got 100 tracks with everybody."

11. C-Note

Has produced for: Gucci Mane, Young Thug, 2 Chainz, Waka Flocka Flame, Future, B.o.B., Migos

Originally from Michigan, C-Note (also written as C.N.O.T.E. and Da Honorable CNOTE) relocated to Atlanta in 2006, and since the move has worked with established artists like 2 Chainz, Gucci Mane, and even Flo Rida, as well as up-and-comers like PeeWee Longway, Migos, and Young Thug.

You probably recognize his "honorable C-Note" producer tag from various Atlanta anthems, but most of his beats don't go down the all-out, wall of sound route of a producer like Lex Luger. Instead, he uses just a few elements to great effect, pairing haunting, creeping synths with crisp snares—as you can see below, whether it's Gucci Mane, Young Thug, or A$AP Rocky on the track, it's a style that works well.

latest_stories_pigeons-and-planes