Artists Who Use Auto Tune

Friday, December 18th, 2009 at 7:36 pm

Train horn samples, old soul records and live drums: The best urban music producers pt. 2

If you're looking to make that cheddar and buy those new Mercedes Benz rims you could do worse than work as a music producer selling your beats for thousands of dollars to rappers.

Shawty Redd

A close friend of Young Jeezy, Shawty Redd made his mark producing the majority of Young Jeezy’s early albums as well as young up and comer Guicci Mane before he hit the big time. In 2008 he had his biggest hit with the retro auto-tune stomper “Sexual Eruption” for Snoop Dogg, that saw both artists harkening back to the classic 70s and early 80s G-funk style filtered through today’s modern hip-hop production effects. Most recently, Redd was arrested and charged with murder after a scuffle at his Georgia home. If convicted that could the end to a career that seemed to be just getting off the ground.

J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League

This Tampa, Bay trio of producers are known for creating some of the most orchestra and large sounding hip hop beats around with their intricate and clever use of old soul and R&B records. With hits for Juelz Santana and Young Jeezy, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League are the guys to call when rappers are looking for a smooth, yet heavy beat. The have recently spread their wings working with Lil’ Wayne on his rock project “Rebirth” as well as with R&B singer Mary J. Blige. Look for them to continue their run of success and set the hip hop production world on fire.

Boi-1da

This young Canadian kid from Toronto is currently one of the most sought-after producers in Canada, but pretty soon it will be the world. After the smash success of friend Drake’s song “Best I Ever Had” Boi-1da’s become a household name, following up his success with a song with Drake featuring Kanye West, Lil’ Wayne and Eminem, some of the biggest names in rap. He has gone on to produce for Gucci Mane, Birdman and Young Jeezy, showing that he is not stuck to working only with Canadian artists anymore, but is set to breakthrough to America.

About the Author

Alan McGee is a freelance writer from MN.

What do you think of musicians excessively using auto tune?

I was listening to Party in the USA which I think is a catchy song, and I really like it, but it sounds REALLY auto-tuned. Do you think that artists who have naturally pitch perfect (or as close to it as you can get) voices should get more credit and auto tune should be discouraged?

I think that would be more fair but to be honest I would rather listen to the auto-tuned version of a song than a really awesome song sung with wrong notes being sung...

I have to question your use of the word "musician."
Really, if you can't sing a note and rely on a computer program to do the work for you, can you really be called a "musician?"
Performer, maybe.
Entertainer, maybe; although I don't find them entertaining.
MUSICIAN? Sorry, but I'm going to have to say no.

Or you could go with the sure sign of lack of talent... "vocal stylist!"
"Well, I can't sing a note and I'm completely tone deaf, but I CAN grunt, growl, and scream into a microphone."

Lil Ru keeps it Nasty about Auto-Tune and Album Sales