Making his name with '90s R&B before graduating to pop's top tiers, producer Rodney Jerkins has bolstered some of the world's most famous voices, including Beyoncé, Whitney and Mariah. A master of twisting earworms that unfold with disciplined minimalism, he brings emotional heat to female singers especially. And those softer tracks weigh a ton, making his ballads just as strong as his bangers.