This post needs no introduction.

Introductions. In a live performance setting, when a prominent figure speaks in public or an artist is about to take the stage, we hear "Ladies and Gentlemen, here to talk about/perform X, let's welcome person Y." This way, if you couldn't recognize them, then you know, this is Kanye West, not Jay-Z. Steve Jobs, not Bill Gates.

So when the trend to introduce a singer or producer at the beginning of a recorded song started, it made a lot of sense. See Jason Derulo's collection ("J-J-J-J-Jay R... Jason Derullloooo... Beluga Heights") referring to his producer JR Rotem and label. Some are more subtle: "Darkchild" appears in Say My Name (Destiny's Child) and Shake My Ass (Three 6 Mafia). In "Just Dance", you've got the longer "RedOne.... Konvict, Gaga [and in another version, Kardinal Offishall's famous] yeauhh" intro. Kanye tends to be less subtle with his building the intro into the lyrics ("Mr. West is in the building"). Pitbull's "Mr. 305" going back to his miami roots. And the list goes on.

More often than not, we'll know who is singing the song: either the radio DJ or the mp3 tag will let us know. But the producers, the behind the scenes folks who do a ton of work are left anonymous. Steve may disagree with me on this particular example, but RedOne (and especially the RedOneKonvict collaboration with Akon) has done incredible things, producing number one hits in Lady Gaga and Sean Kingston, among others. Hits whose hooks have (Fire) burned into the collective pop music memory on (Just) dance floors across the globe. We think about the artist, but let's not forget the efforts of the producers working tirelessly to get their music up to the Earworm level.