No I.D.

USA, 1992–now

American producer, born Ernest Wilson in 1971, called the Godfather of Chicago hip-hop. He built Common's early records, and taught production to a fifteen-year-old Kanye West — a favour he did at the request of West's mother.

MusicRoots documents 1 artist who influenced No I.D. and 1 artist No I.D. influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced No I.D.?

• The Beatnuts — No I.D. could already make beats; the Beatnuts taught him to dig. He is direct that the style he became known for came from being shown how to find the records.

Which artists did No I.D. influence?

• Kanye West — The producer who taught him. West was fifteen; his mother asked No I.D. to show him how beats were made, and he did.