This has taken some thought sorry for any delay, but I am going to filler any catagory.

1) Alchemist - What else can be added for this man this year. He helped make Mobb Deep good again. Yes, Havoc had a big hand too, but an Alchemist beat is that good. Neighborhood Watch. Dilated came with their strongest album ever. Infamous Mobb and Planet Asia got their voces heard through Alchemist beats. NaS would only use a certain few and he is one. Plus he had a potential album of the year with 1st Infantry.

2) Kanye West - I was going to not add him. I decided to because he did leave the groundwork in a good album, worked with Kweli, Def, ROC, Mobb Deep. He was in basically every album from Febuary to August. That is a testament to his work and respect for it. He has become the in house producer for a top label by the way.

3) ?uestlove - The Tippin' Point was amazing. HE constructed True Notes Volume 1. That is a compilation of the year candidate. He oversaw the Black Album. He had input in The Beautiful Struggle and New Danger. He is at work for the new Roots album, Common's album, Les Nubienes album, so on and so on. A producer's producer.

4) 9th Wonder - The Das Wunderkind of Hip-Hop. He has been able to be on some critically acclaimed albums this year. And Little Brother work this year naturally. He will be the best in 5 years time, but damn he is so good right now. His blend albums alone are works of art.

5) MF Doom - He has been consistant and his edgy and avant garde work is amazing. He is another work rat that is always in a studio creating. He is a musician and that is hard to be when you are the producer. Slowly getting good attention now as well.