A transformative mentorship with Dr. Luke catapulted Cirkut to stardom in the early 2010s. He made his chart breakthrough in 2011 with Flo Rida’s “Good Feeling” and quickly established himself as a fixture on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Over the years, Cirkut has lent his hitmaking prowess to four chart-topping tracks on the genre list: Nicki Minaj’s “Only,” featuring Drake, Lil Wayne and Chris Brown; Usher’s “I Don’t Mind,” featuring Juicy J; and The Weeknd’s “Starboy,” featuring Daft Punk, and “Die for You,” with Ariana Grande. The hits reflect his ability to seamlessly bridge the worlds of pop and hip-hop. —Mack Cummings-Grady

Prior to making a name for herself as a clever rapper and artistic visionary, Ms. Supa Dupa Fly partnered with fellow Virginia native Timbaland as a songwriting-production duo. The pair’s credits include a string of hits for Aaliyah (“One in a Million,” “If Your Girl Only Knew”) plus songs on projects by 702, Destiny’s Child and Total. Over the last 25 years, the four-time Grammy winner has landed four No. 1s on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in a production role: her own “Work It”; via her feature with fellow guest Lil Kim on Keyshia Cole’s “Let It Go”; Jazmine Sullivan’s “Need You Bad”; and Monica’s “Everything to Me” — all marked by Elliott’s trailblazing mix of unconventional beats, electro-funk and other futuristic sounds in her unique brand of R&B/hip-hop. —Gail Mitchell

Jim Jonsin’s synthy melodic trap style led to a scorching run for the South Florida producer in the 2000s and ‘10s. Jonsin’s ledger boasts four Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs No. 1s: Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III anthem “Lollipop,” featuring Static Major; T.I.’s braggadocious “Whatever You Like”; and sensual, seductive anthems from Usher (“There Goes My Baby”) and Kelly Rowland (“Motivation,” featuring Lil Wayne). His wide-ranging ability and crossover appeal includes a swerve into pop-friendly crossover magic for Beyoncé’s “Sweet Dreams” and Soulja Boy’s twinkly “Kiss Me Thru the Phone,” featuring Sammy, while also delivering for the underground with Lil Wayne mixtape favorite “I Feel Like Dying.” —Michael Saponara

While Louis Bell counts Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Halsey among his impressive roster of collaborators, he’s worked with his main ace — Post Malone — on each of the genre-hopping superstar’s albums. The pair’s magic enjoyed its strongest success on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with its blend of moody, drum-heavy R&B loops laced with pop sensibilities, resulting in four No. 1s for the producer, all with Post Malone. Three were collaborative efforts: “Rockstar,” featuring 21 Savage (2017-18); “Psycho,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign (2018); and “Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse),” with Swae Lee (2019), while solo cut “Wow.” (2019) completes the collection. —Trevor Anderson

Working alongside Boi-1da, Vinylz contributed to smash hits early in his career, including Drake’s “0 to 100 / The Catch Up” in 2014, which put him on the map. From there, he continued to build monumental records for other rappers such as J. Cole (“No Role Modelz”), Travis Scott (“Antidote”) and others, peaking in 2022-23 so far, when Vinylz achieved all four of his No. 1s as a producer on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, all with Drake: “Jimmy Cooks”; “Rich Flex,” both with 21 Savage; “First Person Shooter,” featuring J. Cole; and Travis Scott’s “Meltdown,” featuring Drake. —MC-G

In his rise from king of the underground alt-R&B playground to stadium headliner, The Weeknd has remained an active creator in every step of his evolution. After his earliest chart appearances — some with fellow Torontonian Drake as they collaborated on the latter’s LP Take Care — centered on moody, melancholy musings, the range expanded to post-disco, dance and 1980s influences on his albums Starboy and After Hours, beginning in the mid-2010s. Of his nine No. 1s on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs as a performer, The Weeknd shares production credit on four: “Starboy,” featuring Daft Punk (2016-17); “Heartless” (2019); “Blinding Lights” (2020); and “Die for You,” with Ariana Grande (2023). Beyond his production success, the superstar features prominently on the R&B/hip-hop quarter-century recaps — he’s the No. 3 artist, while “Blinding Lights” is the top song. —TA

Polow Da Don made a lasting mark on the music industry through his impeccable run of crossover rap and R&B hits in the late 2000s, resulting in four No. 1s as a producer on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs through the end of the quarter-century. Usher’s “Love in This Club” and Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” are just a few of the spellbinding juggernauts Polow crafted. Beyond hip-hop, Polow has since transitioned into country, launching his own country/hip-hop radio station (WYCZ-AM in Nashville) in 2019. —MC-G

Mustard reemerged in 2024 with Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy-winning anthem “Not Like Us,” but his reign began a decade earlier. The L.A.-bred producer cemented the 2010s with his signature bouncy, minimalist beats, soundtracking hits including Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs No. 1s in Rihanna’s “Needed Me” and Big Sean’s “I Don’t F–k With You,” featuring E-40. Combine those with his other two chart-toppers — modern-day classics “Not Like Us” and “TV Off” — Mustard has solidified his status as a true West Coast legend. —Carl Lamarre

Though Timbaland traces his roots to the mid-’90s, he erupted into a wrecking ball across R&B and hip-hop in the 2000s. A sonic daredevil, his beatboxing quirks and thunderous drums redefined how records hit on his way to collecting four No. 1s on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs as a producer. Two came from Missy Elliott, with whom he forged one of music’s most electric producer-artist duos and helmed Elliott’s chart-topping hits “Hot Boyz” and “Work It.” The other two were the result of Timbo’s sharp eye for talent, shaping early moments for Tweet with “Oops (Oh My)” and even Drake with “Say Something,” further solidifying his forward-looking genius. —CL

The rare producer who boasts two instantly recognizable shout-out tags, Metro Boomin was a pivotal architect behind trap music’s explosion in the 2010s. Known for his gothic, orchestral-like precision, Metro Boomin linked with Atlanta’s biggest names — Future, Young Thug, Migos and 21 Savage, for starters — for production credits on 31 top 10 hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart (through 2024). Among them, four No. 1 smashes: Migos’ “Bad and Boujee,” featuring Lil Uzi Vert (2017); The Weeknd’s “Heartless” (2019); his collaboration with The Weeknd and 21 Savage, “Creepin’ ” (2022); and “Like That,” a 2024 joint effort with Future and Kendrick Lamar that poured gasoline onto one of hip-hop’s most impactful feuds. And while Metro Boomin began as a contributor to others’ projects, he’s since moved to recruit his fellow stars for projects under his own name, further enriching his legacy. —TA

Scott Storch’s wizardry made him a powerhouse in the 2000s. Known for his masterful use of piano and synths, he worked his magic on five Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart-toppers, including 50 Cent’s “Candy Shop” and Fat Joe’s “Lean Back.” Beyond rap anthems, Storch left an indelible stamp on R&B, producing Beyoncé’s breakout, genre-fusing “Baby Boy,” featuring Sean Paul, Mario’s timeless “Let Me Love You” and Chris Brown’s breakout hit “Run It!,” serving as proof that his melodic touch helped define the millennium. —CL

While public opinion of Dr. Luke has been divisive for over a decade following Kesha’s sexual assault claims in 2014, the super producer undeniably had the Midas touch when it came to crafting hip-hop hits. His accolades include five No. 1 hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart: Nicki Minaj’s “Only,” featuring Drake, Lil Wayne and Chris Brown; Usher’s “I Don’t Mind,” featuring Juicy J; Latto’s “Big Energy”; Minaj’s “Super Freaky Girl”; and Lil Durk’s “All My Life,” featuring J. Cole. While his impeccable run has slowed in the wake of Kesha’s claims (the parties’ long legal battle was settled in 2023, with the producer denying her allegations), Dr. Luke’s influence over today’s hip-hop landscape remains undeniable. —MC-G

T-Minus is one of the only producers to be behind catalog-defining hits for the big three of rap in the 2010s — Kendrick Lamar (“Swimming Pools [Drank]”), Drake (“HYFR,” “The Motto”) and J. Cole (“Middle Child”) — while bringing something different to the table to elevate each artist. In all, the OVO Sound producer notched five Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart-toppers, including Nicki Minaj’s “Moment for Life” and Lil Wayne’s “She Will,” both of which feature Drake and highlight T-Minus’ punchy drums and minimalist style that made him one of rap’s sonic builders the 2010s. —MS

While Tay Keith nabbed credits on tracks by Blac Youngsta and Moneybagg Yo, the producer graduated to a new level in 2018 with BlocBoy JB’s breakout hit, the Drake-assisted “Look Alive.” Later that year, the hitmaker produced his first No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart: Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode,” which features an uncredited verse from Drake. The relationship turned into a goldmine, with all five of Tay Keith’s No. 1 production titles either through a Drake or Scott song, or both: In addition to “Sicko Mode,” Drake’s “Jimmy Cooks,” featuring 21 Savage (2022), “Rich Flex,” with 21 Savage (2022), and “First Person Shooter,” featuring J. Cole (2023), along with Scott’s “Meltdown” featuring Drake (2023), all spent time at the summit. —TA

Mike Dean’s impact on hip-hop can be traced all the way back to the 1990s when he helped craft the bones of the Dirty South sound with Rap-A-Lot Records. Dean, now known as the “Synth God,” got his start crafting Scarface’s signature sound before pivoting to work closely with Ye; the duo has collaborated in some capacity on every Ye album. Outside of the Chicago titan, Dean has also worked alongside other superstars such as Jay-Z, The Weeknd, Beyoncé and more, upping his total to five No. 1s on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs as a producer in the quarter-century. —MC-G

Hailing from Sweden, OZ’s crispy hi-hats and moody melodies have made him one of the sonic trailblazers and hitmakers in hip-hop for the 2020s. OZ has made chart magic with Drake, ranging from the viral “Toosie Slide” to “First Person Shooter” with J. Cole. He’s also been able to mesh his cinematic production with Travis Scott’s world-building, producing massive hits including the beat-switching rollercoaster ride of “Sicko Mode” and the atmospheric “Highest in the Room.” With five Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs No. 1s to his name — all four aforementioned songs, plus Jack Harlow’s juggernaut “Lovin on Me” — it feels like OZ’s run has only just begun. —MS

Though 40 will forever be Drake’s right-hand man, Boi-1da isn’t far behind. Their Canadian brotherhood kicked off with “Best I Ever Had,” the record that launched Drake into superstardom and introduced Boi-1da’s hard-hitting bounce as the first of his five Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs No. 1s as a producer. The duo never lost stride, later connecting on fellow chart-toppers “God’s Plan” and “First Person Shooter,” the latter featuring J. Cole. But Boi-1da’s reach extends well beyond core rap records. Take his biggest cultural flex, when he supplied Rihanna and Drake with the No. 1 hit “Work” in 2016, a dancehall-fueled heater that scorched clubs and airwaves worldwide. —CL

Her stage name perfectly symbolizes the 17-time Grammy winner’s multifaceted skillset as a singer, songwriter, musician and producer. In the latter role, she’s crafted six of her own No. 1s on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Those half-dozen fan faves are “Fallin’,” “You Don’t Know My Name,” “If I Ain’t Got You,” “No One,” “Like You’ll Never See Me Again” and “Un-Thinkable (I’m Ready).” Keys’ production style is rooted in her training as a classical pianist, and her chops blend expertly with pockets of R&B/soul, hip-hop, jazz and blues to form lush sonic backgrounds for her emotive stories about life, love and empowerment. —GM

Not only a force on Billboard’s recently revealed list of The Top Hot 100 producers of the 21st Century (No. 3), Norway’s Mikkel Eriksen and Tor Hermansen — aka Stargate — also left their indelible stamp on R&B/hip-hop during the mid-2000s through the 2010s. Beyond writing and producing  R&B-to-pop crossover classics winningly delivered by Beyoncé (“Irreplaceable”) and Rihanna (“Take a Bow,” “Diamonds”), the duo has enjoyed Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart-toppers via collaborations with a diverse list of other artists: Jennifer Hudson (“Spotlight”), Ne-Yo (“Miss Independent”) and Iggy Azalea featuring Rita Ora (“Black Widow”). The dynamic duo’s innate ability to draw out and showcase arresting vocals against simple-yet-catchy melodies stands at the heart of its signature production style. —GM

For more than 15 years, 40 has been Drake’s indispensable co-pilot, helping craft era-defining albums such as Take Care and Nothing Was the Same. His signature “underwater” sound — lush textures, moody filters, fluid beat switches — gave Drake’s music its atmospheric edge. From the aggression of “Summer Sixteen” to the globally appealing “One Dance,” with Wizid and Kyla, 40’s cinematic production has been the hidden force behind Drake’s dominance, resulting in 40’s seven No. 1s as a producer on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. ­—CL

Discovered by Teddy Riley, The influence of the Neptunes — Chad Hugo and Pharrell — is embedded in the DNA of today’s music. With a unique blend of spacey synths, thumping drum patterns and funky basslines, Hugo and Pharrell feel as if they were born decades into the future and recalled to the turn of the century to share their gifts. The Neptunes redefined rap’s sound and have earned eight No. 1s as producers on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, notably lending their expertise behind the boards to Jay-Z (“I Just Wanna Love You”), Clipse (“Grindin’ ”), Nelly (“Hot in Herre”) and Snoop Dogg (“Drop It Like It’s Hot”), to name a few. —MS

Given Beyoncé’s meticulous dedication to her art, it’s hardly a surprise that she’s had a hand in producing nearly all her hits. That includes her Destiny’s Child days, when she helmed hits including her first No. 1 as a producer on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, “Independent Women Pt. 1.” Following her solo breakout, eight more leaders arrived on the list: “Crazy in Love,” featuring Jay-Z, “Baby Boy,” featuring Sean Paul (both 2003); “Deja Vu,” featuring Jay-Z (2006); “Irreplaceable” (2006-07); “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” (2008-09); “Love on Top” (2012); “Drunk in Love,” featuring Jay-Z, “7/11” (2014); and “Break My Soul” (2022). Despite incorporations of other sounds — Afrobeats, rock and, most recently, country — Queen Bey’s involvement remains the same. Look no further than the 2024 Hot Country Songs No. 1 “Texas Hold ‘Em” as recent proof that no matter the genre, Beyoncé’s production participation is certain. —TA

Before the days of designing Yeezys, headlining Coachella and stepping foot into the Oval Office, Ye’s chipmunk-soul production style made the former Kanye West a key cog in the Roc-A-Fella arsenal. He picked up his first Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs No. 1 in 2003 with Ludacris’ thumping “Stand Up,” featuring Shawna, and continued to push his sound across genres, helping artists including Alicia Keys (“You Don’t Know My Name”) and Big Sean (“I Don’t F–k With You”) top the chart, alongside his own hits, such as “Gold Digger,” featuring Jamie Foxx, and “N—as in Paris,” with Jay-Z. With unmatched versatility, Ye weaved into the electro-pop era of 808s & Heartbreak and constructed the maximalist My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy to open the 2010s, before a zag to reset rap’s sound with Rick Rubin on the abrasive Yeezus in 2013. Ye’s notched 10 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, while the next generation has latched onto his avant-garde production in the 2020s, with Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow’s “Industry Baby” and collaborative Vultures 1 standout “Carnival” topping the chart. —MS

Cox honed his writing and production skills in partnership with fellow songwriter-producer Jermaine Dupri, earning credits on blockbuster R&B (and Hot 100-chart-topping) hits in the early-to-mid-2000s such as Usher’s “U Got It Bad,” “Burn” and “Confessions Part II” and Mariah Carey’s “Don’t Forget About Us.” Additional credits include projects with Jagged Edge, Toni Braxton and Bow Wow, but Cox clocked his biggest hit on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs with Mary J. Blige’s masterpiece “Be Without You,” which reigned for 15 weeks on the throne in 2006. Bringing suave, sophisticated grooves to his fresh take on contemporary R&B, Cox produced or co-produced a total 11 No. 1s on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs over the first quarter century. The producer’s skills remain as sharp as ever, scoring him hits in recent years via Ari Lennox’s “Pressure” and Muni Long’s “Made for Me.” —GM

Jermaine Dupri first drew industry and fan attention in the early ‘90s with the backwards-dressing Kris Kross (“Jump”), the first act signed to Dupri’s So So Def Recordings. The roster soon expanded to other Dupri-produced hitmakers, such as Xscape, Bow Wow, Da Brat and Jagged Edge. Prefaced by Usher’s No. 1 outings on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in 1997 (“You Make Me Wanna,” “Nice & Slow”), his and Dupri’s fortuitous pairing catapulted the duo into the Billboard charts stratosphere in the 2000s with “U Got It Bad,” “Burn” and “Confessions Part II.” That’s not counting other Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart-toppers including Mariah Carey’s “Don’t Forget About Us” and “We Belong Together,” the Usher and Alicia Keys duet “My Boo” and Jagged Edge’s “Let’s Get Married,” among the classics that comprise Dupri’s 13 No. 1s as a producer on that genre tally over the last 25 years, the most among all creators in that span. Dupri’s estimable string of hit productions (including next-gen singer Muni Long’s “Made for Me”) traces to his unerring ear for creating infectious fusions of R&B, hip-hop and pop with catchy hooks that stand the test of time. —GM