Over the last four decades, Dancehall music has been one of the most profound and addictive genres of music to swirl around the surface of the earth. The gigantic success of this genre isn’t just attributed to it’s artistes alone, Dancehall music producers have also played immense roles in catapulting the genre to the pinnacle it has found itself today.
The new generation of Dancehall music has also churned out some of the finest music acts and producers around today. Though this genre of music emanated from Jamaica, it has propagated across every Nook and Cranny of the world, becoming one of the most adored style of music for decades, thanks to icons of the early Dancehall era such as Shabba Ranks, Beenie Man, Shaggy, Sean Paul, Chaka Demus & Pliers Et al.
In recent times, the world has witnessed a rather beguiling evolution of the genre, a total redefinition and modernization of the sounds and elements entailed on the original vintage Dancehall rhythms and vibrations. New age of uber-talented producers have emerged on the scene, bringing new life to the sound and incorporating various new school synthesis with their respective unique individual ideas. These new set of beatsmiths were instrumental in the birth of some of the most groundbreaking Dancehall records we have had in recent years.
So journey with us as we pinpoint 6 of the hottest Dancehall Music Producers currently.
RVSSIAN
Undeniably one of Dancehall music most prolific record producers around, Rvssian (real name: Tarik Johnston) is from a musical background in Jamaica, picking up an interest in music from an early age. He learnt to play the piano and drums from his dad. He’s very well known to be a frequent collaborator with Vybz Kartel whom he met through fellow producers Jordan McClure and Di Genius.
At age 17, Rvssian established his own production imprint in 2007 named Head Concussion Records, a music production studio located in Kingston, Jamaica. He didn’t find great success until 2010 after producing the song ‘Life Sweet‘ for Dancehall heavyweight Vybz Kartel, the record marked a positive turnaround in the young producer’s budding career, working with the likes of Sean Paul and Konshens in the same year.
Also, In the wake of 2010, Rvssian and Vybz Kartel teamed up on the single “Straight Jeans and Fitted” ,The song received over 25 million views on YouTube. Asides Dancehall, the iconic producer as also been involved in other genres. Rvssian produced the song “Ring Ring“, by Juice Wrld off the rapper’s second studio album, Death Race for Love, prior to the Juice’s untimely death.
He also produced and featured on the French Montana single, “Writing on the Wall”, which also featured Post Malone and Cardi B. In November 2019, he collaborated with Tyga, YG, and Carlos Santana on their track “Mamacita“. Rvssian has been the brain behind a lot of the biggest Dancehall records to emanate from Jamaica since the early 2010’s, his works in music does not go unrecognized.
At the Youth View Awards in February 2011, He scored a win for Favorite Local Music Video for the Year alongside Vybz Kartel for their hit single “Straight Jeans and Fitted“. In 2014, the producer received a platinum plaque for his Reggaetón single “Passion Whine“. He was also recognized at the 21st Digital Awards for his musical contributions, while also bagging a win for Favorite Producer at the 2015 YVA Awards.
Dre Skull
If you are an avid listener of Dancehall music, particularly Popcaan‘s , then you must have heard the name Dre Skull being chanted more times than one by the singer. Born Andrew Hershey, Dre Skull is an American record producer, songwriter, DJ, and the founder of Mixpak Records.
He was born in United States and began his career as Record producer in his early life after completing his formal education. Although Dre has described himself as a producer that sees beyond categories, some of his most outstanding works over the span of his career has been Dancehall records.
Dre Skull also establishes the same genius touch on other genres, moving effortlessly between the worlds of Dancehall, Hip-Hop, Afrobeats, Pop and Electronic music. Known best for his work overseeing critically acclaimed album projects with Vybz Kartel and Popcaan, he has also worked with international stars Wizkid, Mabel, Burna Boy, Future, Lily Allen, Santigold, J Hus and Snoop Lion, and racked up writing credits on gold & platinum singles by PartyNextDoor, Drake & Rihanna.
His label Mixpak Records is home to dancehall MCs Popcaan and Vybz Kartel as well as other dance music, ambient and experimental producers.
NotNice
Ainsley Morris, better known as NotNice is a Billboard-charting dancehall producer who has established himself as one of the most sort after music producers by both old and new school Dancehall acts. A self-taught rhythm creator whose intense interest in music drove him to learning the art of music production on his own.
In the mid-2000’s a young NotNice, (a name given to him by a high school girlfriend), signed a one-time album deal contract with Vybz Kartel which he did not attempt to read. Soon after, memorable songs with Shawn Storm, Jah Vinci, Gaza Kim, Popcaan, Alkaline, and Spice helped to cement his career as a bona fide Dancehall rhythm producer extraordinaire.
Between 2009 and 2011, he became a household name as an integral part of Dancehall star Vybz Kartel’s Portmore Empire, scoring a string of Number 1 singles for Kartel, including “Last Man Standing,” “Cake Soap,” “Mama,” “Get Wild,” and “Benz Punany.
In recent years, the producer has been known to collaborate recurrently with Dancehall’s posterboy Popcaan, with the latter shouting out his name in a number of records. NotNice has garnered such an impressive amount of recognition in his career for his contribution to Dancehall music.
He gained international acclaim with the song “Ramping Shop” a racy and wildly popular duet from Kartel and female Dancehall deejay Spice that became a staple on urban radio in North America. In 2009, “Ramping Shop” peaked at #76 on the Billboard Top 100. In 2011, NotNice was named ‘Producer of the Year‘ by the Excellence in Music and Entertainment Awards. He is the founder and C.E.O of NotNice Records, a record company that is home to popular Dancehall acts Jahfrass and Jah Vinci.
IzyBeats
The name Andron Cross might not ring a bell to many Dancehall music lovers, but when his signature tag echoes “Yo Izy, are you kidding me?” on a song he spearheads, every listener would reminisce on the famous intro to Koffee‘s monster hit ‘Toast‘, a record produced by non other than this genius IzyBeats.
A Grammy-award winning Reggae/Dancehall music producer making strides in the genre right from the streets of Miami, he boasts the title of Grammy-winning producer with Koffee’s debut EP Rapture scoring the win for Best Reggae Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards ceremony.
Izybeats is best known for his international sound, spanning the genres of Afrobeat, Reggae, Dancehall, R&B, and Hip-hop, but it’s his tag line — “Yo Izy, are you kidding me?!” that catches listeners attention the most, a signature which actually happens to be the voice of his three-year-old nephew. The producer’s signature beats have found their way on to hearts of Jamaica, spewing out collaborations with the likes of Vybz Kartel, Tarrus Riley, Lila Ike, Protoje, Naomi Cowan, Sevana and Bling Dawg.
As someone who came from true humble beginnings, IzyBeats went from beating on the desks at his school to teaching himself how to work Fruity Loops via YouTube. Fast forward to 2022, he’s regarded as a decorated music producer with a Grammy to his name. His all-star catalog of smash records also include Jorja Smith’s “Be Honest” featuring Burna Boy, Bad Gyal’s “44,” and Masego’s “Silver Tongue Devil” (which deemed him his second Grammy nomination).
Di Genius
Being the son of reggae legend Freddie McGregor, Di Genius who is originally named Stephen McGregor, is no newbie when it comes to music in totality. The highly talented music genius has been producing professionally since he was 12.
At 15, he ushered in a new era of dancehall with tracks like Mavado’s “Weh Dem Ah Do” which peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Hip-Hop/R&B Charts in December 2006, bringing forth a darker-hued, orchestral approach to the genre. Now based in Miami, he has proven his versatility on other music genres, living up to his name “Di Genius”.
He has worked with superstars like Ne-Yo, Estelle, Nelly Furtado, Lianne La Havas and Shakira , while still remaining one of Dancehall’s most sought-after rhythm makers. In 2016, Di Genius scored his highest-charting credit with Drake‘s “Controlla,” off Drizzy’s 2016 chart dominating album ‘Views‘. The record was birthed during a group beat-making session in Miami’s Circle House Studio with Supa Dups and OVO producer including Boi-1da.
In the words of Di Genius; “Me and Boi-1da got into a room together, and made a ton of tracks, maybe five, six beats. “When we made the beat for ‘Controlla,’ I remember he(Boi-1da) put it aside and said, ‘I think Drake is gonna like this one“. He is undoubtedly one of the most successful and influential Dancehall music producers of the new era.
Dunw3ll
Mario Dunwell, known professionally as Dunw3ll, went from teaching himself Fruity Loops as a hobby while being a timid high school kid, to becoming one of Dancehall’s most prolific young producers. Working with Vybz Kartel, Popcaan, Alkaline, Rvssian, and more, Dunw3ll has contributed to a number of the mid-2010 Dancehall hits, including the now gold-certified “Fever” by Vybz Kartel. He grew up in and amongst music lovers which is where his interest in music first formed.
The young and vibrant Dancehall music producer had once stated that he listens to a lot of different genres of music, adding that it has been his typical way of consuming music right from a young age. It’s no wonder his productions are some of the most exceptional, this can be attributed to his range as a music maker. He combines a lot of diverse musical elements into his sounds, giving his listeners a feel of everything.
Dunw3ll was the brain behind the 2019 Dancehall monster hit record ‘Leader‘, a collaborative number by Masicka and Dexta Daps. He’s worked with a wide roster of Dancehall’s big leaguers, including Popcaan, Jahvillani, Masicka, Shensea, Dexta Daps, Ding Dong and Munga Honorable. Reggae/Dancehall music fanatics will be sure to find a production or two made by Dunw3ll included in their respective playlists.
