DJ Dahi: Hip-Hop’s Next Great Producer? Posted by Lucas G. on 03/10/14 | Filed under Opinion, Producers, DJ Dahi

When I wrote about Ryan Lewis followed by an ode to Mannie Fresh, I never really intended to make this producer spotlight a running thing, but low and behold, I keep stumbling across producers who don't get the credit they deserve. Like my dad always said, "With great power comes great responsibility" (yes, my dad is Spiderman), so it is my duty to defend the producers of the world from being marginalized into nothing more than behind-the-scenes players.

While not exactly on the level of Ryan Lewis and Mannie Fresh (in that he hasn't won multiple Grammy's and has never worked with Juvenile), this guy had appeared on some of the bigger projects of the past few years, and has some other, respectable, authentic placements to go with it; his name is DJ Dahi.

That new SZA effort is dope! The first real single off what will be her TDE debut project, Z, is a big thing. She can sing, no question, but for me, this song is much more beat-driven. I love the way it is soft and swaying, but still has this heavier, almost trap-like influence (listen to those drums). I don't often research the names of producers (because I either know or the beat didn't grab me enough to care), but Dahi got me with this one; except I didn't know who he was. I plugged his name into Google expecting meager results (as is always the case when trying to find a new producer not named Dre), but as it turns out, Dahi, is much more than I thought.

It's clear where he met SZA, through Schoolboy. In addition to crafting that crazy beat for "Hell Of A Night" he also produced Q's "Sexting" off of Habits and Contradictions. Even in the small sample size of his work with TDE, Dahi shows some range. After hearing that SZA beat, I thought those slower R&B beats where his thing, but "Hell Of A Night and "Sexting" prove otherwise.  Apparently, cooking up a high-energy banger ("Hell Of A Night") or a grimy beat ("Sexting") is just as easy for him. I love his use of drums and they all really set the tone of the song. It's pretty cool that he can whip up a banger for the gritty Schoolboy as well as the angelic SZA and still have a consistent, drum-driven sound. 

Oh yeah also, you know how we spent all that time breaking down who killed who on "Money Trees"? Well, nobody ever mentioned that Dahi might have killed both of them with that beat. Obviously, he isn't responsible for TDE's success, but when a label like that consistently calls on you to work some magic behind the boards, it really speaks your his talent and ability to create a memorable and successful track. He may be a TDE regular, but those Top Dawg songs are just a drop in the Dahi bucket.

In 2013, Vic Mensa and Drake brought us Innanetape and Nothing Was The Same. You guessed it, Dahi had a beat on both. I was high on Vic for a while, but Innanetape didn't meet my expectations (perhaps they were too high) but "YSNP" was one of the bright spots. Again, Dahi shows his ability to crate a light, (in this case) more poppy number that still hits really hard. The above" Nothing Was The Same" too was one of my favorite songs of the album (I'm sensing a trend here). For those keeping score at home, that's OxyMoron, Innanetape, AND good kid, m.A.A.d city. Again, he wasn't the reason why those albums were successful, but there is a reason, each one of those songs was chosen as a single. Dahi's beats hit hard, but they still have this intoxicating, catchy essence about resulting an an interesting flavor. 

Now, Drake isn't the hardest rapper around (shocking, I know) so to give him a little more credit with you picky, backpackers, allow me to showcase some of Dahi's other placements, which while not number one hit's or club anthems, go a long way in  proving he is a dope producer. Dahi has produced for Smoke DZA, creating two hits for an emcee, who, for me, is hit or miss ("Herses" and "K.O.N.Y") and the one and only Freddie Gibbs. How many producers can make something for the rap game charmin and the rap game sandpaper? He also had a few placements on Fashawn's slept on project, form 2012, Champagne & Styrofoam Cups, highlighted by "In Love With A Lie". These emcees while respected, aren't exactly my favorites but all of these Dahi produced cuts are winners in my book; from Drake to Gibbs the man can tweak his sound to really fit the strengths of the emcee.

With a relatively short career, (which really got going in 2010), Dahi has already become a diverse and well-respected producer. His name might not ring out in the streets (yet) but I assure you, the artists certainly know his name. Currently, he is working with the likes of Dom Kennedy, RCA's Elle Varner, and, a man who needs no introduction, Big K.R.I.T, which only  goes to prove his diversity further. While Ryan Lewis and Mannie Fresh are industry giants, Dahi is a name that you probably don't know, but certainly will want to in years to come. A different kind of underrated producer, but underrated nonetheless. How many young producers have a resume like this? None; which is why he deserves much more credit than he is getting.

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