Billboard has released its comprehensive list of the best in several different music categories. A particularly surprising finding I made on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Producers for 2007 are the top 4 on the list:

1. Polow Da Don
2. Stargate
3. T-pain
4. Timbaland

 
Sorry but I have major issue with this list. How is Timbaland is beneath any of these guys? I'm not sure what the criteria was for this list but honestly what did Polow Da Don do that would have put him at the top of this list? I don't even want to have to talk about Stargate anymore; you can read my separate article on them and see what I think about that. I will give T-pain his credit as he did have some big songs drop this year and I know he is one of the few that find major success in being an artist and a producer. Let's look at some facts real quick.

Wikipedia any one of these producers and this is what you'll get for 2007:

1. Polow Da Don: A bunch of songs produced yet none that have had any major impact on the charts and no awards.
2. Stargate: Clearly some major hits ("Because of you" by Ne-Yo, "Irreplaceable" by Beyonce, "Hate that I love you" by Rihanna) yet no awards
3. T-pain: Was nominated for numerous awards but only took home Song of the year at the Vibe Awards for "Buy u a drank". He could also be heard on numerous singles but more as an artist and usually not the producer ("Kiss Kiss" by Chris Brown, "Good life" by Kanye West, "Shawty" by Plies and "Outta my system" by Bow Wow)
4. Timbaland: Nominated for a slew of awards and took home Best Producer at the BET Hip-Hop Awards, Best Dance Recording "Sexy Back" at the Grammy Awards, Best International Urban at the Belgium TMF Awards, Choice Rap Artist and Choice Rap Track "The way I are" at the Teen Choice Awards and last but not least the Best Producer award at the Vibe Music Awards. Remember these are only the awards that he won, it shows he was nominated for 14 awards and not to mention already nominated for 5 awards at the 2008 Grammys. Though I could mention more all I need to say is ("The way I are" and "Apologize").

With the facts stated how can anyone honestly say that Timbaland should not be at the top spot? And where is Danja his protégé?

"I'm just sayin"



Aaron Fields is the Sales Marketing Coordinator for KSTW-TV in Seattle. All opinions expressed in this column are strictly his.