In 2024, when many producers are becoming stars in their own right, the phrase “let him cook” feels tailor-made for the FL Studio and Appleton chefs who cook the beats for glorious rappers to lay their verses down. Like five-star Michelin chefs, they experiment with 808s, hi-hats, splicing samples, melodies, and loops until they’ve perfected their recipe, and it’s up to the artist to do the rest.
End of Year Awards inevitably spark debates, as tastes and preferences are deeply subjective. A dedicated collective of us deliberated, discussed, and ultimately crowned the winner based on who had the explosive formula of quality, cultural impact, and momentum in a calendar year.
There are great producers who may never win Producer of the Year, and that doesn’t take away from their greatness. They just got edged out by a producer having a bigger moment, captivating a larger audience, and wielding more influence over the rap game.
Below, find out why our winner and the three other nominees were historically significant for 2024.
Producer of the Year: Metro Boomin
Presented by Splice
Qualifying work: We Don’t Trust You, We Still Don’t Trust You, “BBL Drizzy,” and American Dream
Over a decade after Metro and Future fed generations with the 2014 mixtape Monster, the duo set social feeds ablaze when they announced their 2024 double collab album We Don’t Trust You and We Still Don’t Trust You.
They didn’t meet expectations—they blew them out of the water, outdoing the grandiose of their 2015 run. Metro’s prolific production shines throughout, uniquely flipping samples to preserve their soulfulness while taking them to new futuristic heights.
On “Everyday Hustle,” his chipmunk soul beat blooms with layered intricacy, rising and falling in heavenly peaks. Meanwhile, on “Like That,” Metro channels pure, unfiltered rage, giving the “Everlasting Bass” sample the intensity and reverence it deserves.
Similarly, Metro delivered elite production that complimented 21 Savage’s versatility on American Dream. On “just like me” ft. Burna Boy, Metro bodied the complexity of a smooth beat that seamlessly blends Afrobeats and rap, making the unlikely collaboration sound organic.
Lastly, we can’t forget Metro’s contributions to the rap civil war. Before the laughs could subside from Drake’s diss (“Metro, shut yo hoe ass up and make some drums), Metro fired back with the “BBL Drizzy” beat, which eclipsed Drake’s “Push Ups” in terms of virality and influence (it was remixed in genres like house and Bollywood).
These moments solidified Metro’s status as Producer of the Year, showcasing a level of production genius not seen since Ye’s peak while carving out his own enduring legacy in hip-hop history.
Nominee: Mustard
Qualifying work: “Not Like Us,” Faith of a Mustard Seed, and GNX
2024 was a landmark year for West Coast rap, with Mustard and Kendrick Lamar leading the charge. Before “Not Like Us” was a scathing diss track, it was a beat Mustard produced in 30 minutes and one of many he sent to Kendrick in hopes of collaborating (unrelated to the rap beef).
The infectious West Coast bounce of “Not Like Us” became Mustard’s magnum opus, earning him his first No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 and sparking a historical victory lap. At every turn, from the Compton music video to Kendrick’s “Pop Out” show in LA, Mustard was present, asserting his contributions to the culture and unity displayed by his hometown.
Mustard’s run continued with his producer album Faith of a Mustard Seed, churning out memorable tracks like “Pressued Up,” “Parking Lot,” and “Up Now.” His influence reached new heights when Kendrick dropped GNX, producing “tv off” and “hey now,” the former turned Mustard into an internet meme so widespread it felt symbolic of his impact in 2024.
Nominee: Cardo
Qualifying work: “luther,” “euphoria,” “EVILJ0RDAN,” “BACKR00MS,” “Ketamine,” and “H00DBYAIR”
Playboi Carti’s right-hand producer, as of late, known as Cardo or Cardo Got Wings, is often left out of conversations about rap’s biggest beatmakers. But in 2024, you couldn’t ignore his impact, going on an impressive run with Carti and Kendrick Lamar.
Unlike Cardo’s platinum-certified beats for Drake, Travis Scott, and many other heavyweights, anything Carti decides to spit over is unconventional, boundary-pushing, and gritty. Cardo balanced that with a beat that felt intuitive for a La Flame verse on “BACKR00MS” and helped shape Carti’s new sound with three other singles.
Cardo is expected to play a big role in Carti’s I AM MUSIC album, which, if released, will solidify him as a producer who not only makes hits but reinvents the wheel. However, his work for Kendrick Lamar couldn’t be a further cry from a Carti beat. “Euphoria” was chilling yet triumphant, and “Luther” was soulful and lush, showcasing Cardo’s range of talent.
Nominee: The Alchemist
Qualifying work: “meet the grahams,” “Ruby Rosary,” “Stickz N Stonez,” The Genuine Articulate, and Black & Whites
Three things are certain in life—death, taxes and The Alchemist dropping new music. 2024 was no exception, and his unmatched style of immersive and soulful beats showed up in many ways.
Black & Whites saw him link up with Hit-Boy and Big Hit for chill West Coast vibes. In The Genuine Articulate, a solo release, he stepped into the spotlight as a rapper alongside a handful of collaborators like ScHoolboy Q. His atmospheric loops and minimalist touch elevated tracks like A$AP Rocky’s “Ruby Rosary” and J. Cole’s “Stickz N Stonez.”
However, The Alchemist’s big one was Kendrick Lamar’s “meet the grahams.” His production was as gripping as Kendrick’s ominous storytelling. Eerie and haunting piano keys intertwined with a bassline dripping with anticipation, creating a soundscape that felt like a horror film. Ironically, the beat was originally conceived as a gospel record—proof of The Alchemist’s ability to craft timeless, multi-dimensional productions that defy expectations.