Rwandan music reached a fever pitch last year as local artistes received more global recognition and became a hot topic in the music world. In the center of what would become continent-wide and global hits, are music producers crafting these sounds from behind the boards. A new age of talented music producers are taking the main stage, and helping shape the future of Rwandan music. We selected the best music producers based on their touch, production skills, and hits they have produced among others, in no particular order. Santana Sauce There is a new wave of Afro fusion sounds coming out of youngsters of Rwanda and the man behind it is no other than Santana. The brains behind Ariel Ways’ mega hit Bad arguably one of the biggest songs last year, Santana has been one of the hottest producers to watch throughout all of last year. Born in 1997 in Musanze, Northern Province of Rwanda, Santana rose to stardom after producing 'Urugi' and 'Piyapuresha' by Niyo Bosco through HI5 records and the rest was history. The young producer has come from finding his way in the music industry of Rwanda, to raising hit makers like Boy Chopper. He’s the brains behind Boy Chopper’s breakthrough song ‘24/4’ and his recently released track ‘6ixty 9ine’. In five hits produced in Rwanda, Santana’s tag ‘Sauce’ will always appear among them. He’s producing hit to hit. Pro Zed If you’ve ever wondered who the maestro behind the Drill genre which gave a huge platform to the young generation in Rwanda’s music scene is, look no further than Pro Zed. The genre merged in Kigali in the beginning of 2020 and has now stayed at the top of the chart, thanks to Pro Zed for producing ‘VAYO’ alongside Ish Kevin. Pro Zed later caught everyone’s attention when he released Rwanda Rwejo 1 album through his Drill movement known as Loud Sound Music. The project gained high admiration from music lovers and ensured the breakthrough of the young generation in Rwanda’s pop culture. One of his works, “No Cap”, a sturdy banger acclaimed as one of the hardest Drill songs of the year by GRM Daily, helped to build Ish Kevin’s popularity. He has also produced big bangers such as 'VIP' by Buravan and Ish Kevin, ‘Whatever’ by Logan Joe, Kivumbi King and Amakosi among others. Element (ELeeh) Element is not only a hit maker, he has changed the game ever since he stepped in the studio and started creating beats. At the age of 21, Fred Robinson Mugisha, known by his production name Element, had already started making hits starting from ‘Henzapu’ by Bruce Melodie. Through Country Records, the youngster produced mega hits such as Saa Moya by Bruce Melodie, Formula by Juno Kizigenza, Kola by The Ben, Carolina by Meddy, Ikanisa by The Mane artistes, among many others. He has secured another deal in 1: 55AM Entertainment as the main producer of the studio. He has been touring different African countries and producing for big stars. Madebeats Not only about making beats, but Madebeats is one of the best instrumentalists in the country and sound engineers. Having played in different churches is what contributed to his unique touch and crazy sound arrangements. The Rwandan UK based producer is the brains behind The Ben’s ‘Why’ featuring Diamond which is regarded as one of, if not the best, hit songs to be produced by a Rwandan. His hands have also made other masterpieces like ‘Ubushyuhe’, the lockdown banger by DJ Pius and Bruce Melodie, ‘Anytime’ by Mike Kayihura, ‘Uwanyoye Inka’ by Masamba among many others. Madebeats is also the only Rwandan producer to ever produce a highly creative album with special appearance of big acts including Bruce Melodie, Mike Kayihura and Buravan among others. The production of 'Made in Rwanda', Madebeats’ first album, is still a topic to discuss for many musicians globally. Bob Pro Most Rwandan songs produced by other producers end with a tag ‘Bob Pro on the beat’. This is not because he produced the songs, but how he mastered and made the mixing of the songs, something he can only do alongside other few individuals in Rwanda. Mastering, a final step of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device (the master), the source from which all copies will be produced. Bob Pro is the pioneer of mastering engineering in Rwanda, having handled the majority of audio music projects recorded by Producer Element at Country Records and songs of artistes signed under Kina Music record label management. He is also best known for recording and producing most gospel songs in Rwanda especially choir albums.
