The Unknown Grammy AwardWinning Producer Rich Harrison

At some point in the summer of 2003, Rich Harrison became a part of your life. You didn't know it, but there he was. It all started with that brass-horn marching-band intro and J-Hova saying, "Yessssss... It's ya boy." Then the beat popped into a stuttering roll and Beyonce began doing her "uh oh...uh oh uh oh...uh oh" business over it. The verse just set you up for that waterfall of horns of a chorus that had your adrenaline pumping. You, and everyone else, were "Crazy in Love." By the end of 2004, though, the song had reached such saturation it was beginning to drive most people...insane. (Gotcha!)

A couple weeks ago, the 24-year-old Harrison picked up a Grammy for penning that tune. He's been all over the charts again, with Destiny's Child's "Soldier" and the new Jennifer Lopez single, "Get Right." The latter has caused a bit of controversy, as the same beat-and hook no less-were used for an unreleased track on Usher's Confessions. The Usher tune, "Ride," got dropped, but might have produced a hit, as it's easily another one of Harrison's infectious rhythms. Usher has said he might sue Lopez for using it without his permission, but that means nothing-Harrison actually wrote the song.

This past year, hiphop has been dominated by two rhythms: G-Unit's and Lil Jon's. The first is rather minimal, with electronic handclaps, synthesizer strings and toy Casio notes. (Think of the Game's "How We Do.") Lil Jon's might be considered heavy metal hiphop. A lot of it just goes over the top as to what's danceable-or even pleasurable listening. But Jon is capable of making smooth electro soul in the style of the Neptunes, as in Ciara's "Goodies." (Jazze Pha, another Atlanta producer, hooked the beat on "1, 2 Step.")

While everyone else has tried to imitate these two styles, Harrison has created his own sound. A classically trained pianist who later switched to trumpet, his nods to 60s soul and 70s disco make his tracks more vibrant and full. The modern twist is the beats themselves, which work crowds into a frenzy with their energy. His latest project, with r&b singer Amerie, just might put Harrison over the top. While it still has not been released to the masses, Amerie's "One Thing" is probably one of the most exciting club tracks in a while. Her voice is a caffeinated Alicia Meyers that whales over the funkedstomp sample on this cut. People out, having never heard the song, are immediately swept into its driving drums and crunch guitar chord stabs. And that voice! That sound! It belongs to Rich Harrison.