While being a relatively new producer deliverthecrush’s sound is instantly recognizable once you’ve heard one of his beats. In less than a year the St. Louis native has racked up credits for Five Finger Posse, Chris Travis, Starfoxlaflare and Duwap Kaine as well as fellow Philadelphia artist RIP ETERNAL. His production is defined by it’s smoothness, forcing melodies out of any rapper that steps on his beats. He is bound to make great music with anyone willing to dive into his world.
6. Callari
Callari is definitely underrated, the Florida producer has been making beats for Famous Dex, CHXPO, ATL Smook, and several members of Gayboiclique(now Prettyboiclique) and collaborating with producers like Gin$eng and XanGang. While he hasn’t exactly popped yet I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a hit record within the year. His sound mixes a lot of typical elements of the plug style with occasionally sugary bouncy synths and a knack for catchy melodies.
5. ʎpoqou
Houston native ʎpoqou is almost like a band made to go behind other artists, his sound revolves heavily around guitars and realistic snare sounds, his 808’s take a quieter tone. The overall atmosphere is like listening to a midwest Emo band practice with FL Studio in place of a drummer. His production has fallen behind artists like OmenXIII, Dylan Ross, and Horse Head while also collaborating with fellow producer killedmyself. His style is more reminiscent of Greaf or Surrenderdorothy than the typical trap drums most producers on this list use, and while sounding similar to them he still manages to be unique. Hopefully great things are in store for him in 2018.
4. 4evr
Minnesota producer 4evr burst onto the scene with memorable credits for Shinigami, angst and Coldhart. 4evr’s sound is often defined by guitars smothered in cute synths and big 808s. Easily one of the most diverse producers to use guitar samples out right now, 4evr has turned the guitar from depressed to almost adorable. His music is more like listening to a video game soundtrack than a midwest Emo band. 4evr has been blazing his own trail with his own artists and shows no signs of slowing down.
3. tothegood
Kazakhstan’s tothegood has destroyed the SoundCloud guitar scene since his emergence in 2016 on Lil Lotus and YungJZAisDead‘s track, “Afterlife”. Racking up credits for everyone within the scene from fats’e to 93feetofsmoke to underdogs like ℋoly ℳountain. tothegood has even killed it solo with his song, “I Am a Liar“. His sound is defined by pounding drums, atmospheric synths, and guitars that are sampled so smoothly that you would think they were originally written to be wailing over his his 808s. tothegood has been slightly quiet in the later half of 2017 but in 2018 I’m sure he will bring more innovation to the underground community.
2. Jay Vee
Jay Vee has quietly been building a good following around him, secretly shaping sounds for artists like nothing,nowhere., Bones, Eric North and even collaborating with other producers like Drew The Architect and Mike Frost. The close nothing,nowhere. associate has slowly defined himself as someone to look out for in the guitar scene and someone that can quietly shape a whole scene.
Los Angeles teen Charlie Shuffler has been creating a sound for himself somewhere between the plug and guitar scenes. He has worked with everyone from Lil Peep to Lil Yachty to Pollari and even fellow producer Misogi. Charlie is at the forefront of producers that have the ability to easily pop in 2018. His production is melodic and well executed, with his synth work being some of the cleanest within the plug scene and his guitar samples always being recognizable and not afraid to go places people would think wasn’t allowed. He has gone as far as sampling things like Wonderwall and Weezer’s Say It Ain’t So. Appearing in Lil Yachty’s birthday playlist this year alongside Misogi should be an indicator of what he’ll be able to accomplish in 2018.