Best Producer?

the king of the golden era

Thanks for all the responses to the curry GOAT post.

But what abou the producer, composer, beatmaker - whatever we want to call them.

A lot of these MC's wouldn't be what they are without the right producer behind them.

Chuck without the Bomb Squad

Paid In Full w/o Marley

Kane w/o Marley

De La w/o Prince Paul

So who are the greatest and what are your criteria.

Here are mine:

Originality and Influence

The best always have a style that is their own. You have to have put beatmaking on a new plane.

Dilla was probably the most copied (non mainstream) producer. He made everyone change their style.

Same with Skateboard P and the Neptunes

A Students: Dilla, Kanye, Primo, Pete Rock, kay Gee, Neptunes, Timbaland

Longevity

Can your beats stand the test of time? Will it bump the same way in 2007 that it did in '87.

Primo gets an A+ here. I can listen to the 2nd and 3rd Gangstarr albums with strictly the instrumentals.

A Students: Primo, Pete Rock, Marley Marl

Fundamentals

Can your beats stand on their own. Do you lean on great MC's to make your name.

I think Erick Sermon is guilty of this. He was blessed with MC's like Parrish, himself, and Redman. They always made him look good. A beat tape from him may have been suspect.

A Students: Primo

Songwriting/Producing

Do you make beats or songs? Can you humble yourself for the sake of the song. Let the MC breathe and enhance the song.

As great as Pete Rock is some of his beats simply overwhelm the MC's he owrks with. ADOR, anyone? They are great songs at first then you look back and say that was really a great beat.

A Students: Dr. Dre, Bomb Squad

My vote goes to Primo based on the numbers.

But I do think Pete at his best (TROY, Mecca and The Soul Brother - the song) is more epic than Primo.

What do y'all think? This list is very East Coast.

Help me balance it out