Articles

How to Make Beats – Part 2: Your Setup

From getting the right hardware and software to learning the basics, this series shows you all the steps you need to take to properly make beats. These articles will not only get you started, it will point in the right direction so you can continue on your beat making journey....

How to Make Beats – Part 1: Getting Started

From getting the right hardware and software to learning the basics, this series shows you all the steps you need to take to properly make beats. These articles will not only get you started, it will point in the right direction so you can continue on your beat making journey....

A Case for How Sampling Can Be Legalized in the Music Industry

Sampling. It's what Hip Hop was founded on. From deejays spinning breaks from famous records, to producers piecing together sounds from various songs and creating masterpieces. Hip Hop is sampling. Sampling is Hip Hop. However, today sampling is scarce and frowned upon in the music industry, which in turn has greatly changed the face of Rap music. Why?...

5 Different Ways to Kick Off a Beat

Take a look at the last ten beats you made and pay attention to how they start off. Do all of them drop right into the hook? It does not have to be as boring as that and luckily there are many creative devices you can employ to diversify your beat repertoire and give unique character to each one of your beats....

5 Ways to Make Your Beats More Exciting

We all get to that point where our beats sound dope but they’re just lacking some excitement. Most producers will immediately search for some sort of plug-in that will help solve the issue (an exciter, perhaps?), but sometimes all you need to do is to try a few things. Let’s see what we can do......

When Your Beat Doesn't Go as Planned

I've often preached that you should make beats that just come naturally. Everyone has their own way of making beats and their own style, but there are also plenty of producers that make particular styles of beats because that's what's "hot". I'm not a fan of doing that, but I understand. So I set out to do an experiment and see if I could make certain styles of beats. In the end, I failed. But I a...

10 Ways to Be a Beat Maker No One Listens To

No one wants to be left behind. When it comes to making beats, of course you will want people to listen to what you have created, but it can be hard to stand out from the rest. This is why I've created a list of ten things that you might be doing that is the cause of people not checking your beats. Don't do these things....

Old vs New - Tips for Upgrading Your Beatmaking Setup

Most beat makers will always lust after the latest and greatest hardware and software that's on the market. But maybe taking a look at some older gear is what will help you enhance your beats. Should you upgrade your setup to something new or old?...

8 Things You Might Not Know About DJ Premier

Always chilling in the background and quietly making beats day in and day out, Premo has been producing since the 1980's and is still going strong. He continues to work with underground, lesser-known artists, and also big-name artists as well. His style is so unique that no one else will dare try to emulate that sound because it's simply "that Premo sound"....

The Importance of Soundproofing Your Room for Mixing

Making beats is something we all love to do, as it allows us to be musically creative and express ourselves from the pads and keys, with the results blaring out of the speakers. But one thing that is not often talked about is soundproofing your room....

8 Things I Would Change in Hip Hop Production (If I Had a Time Machine)

These are things I wish I could go back and change in Hip Hop production. Even though beatmakers and producers continue to move forward in their productions, it would have been even better if we had a bit of help from a time machine. Let's go....

A Guide to Selling Your Beats the Right Way

One of the most controversial aspects of selling beats is whether or not to sell your beats cheap, or to sell them at whatever price you feel is deserved. Beats should be priced on various factors, such as how good they are, your reputation, and what the current market is....

How Technology Has Changed Hip Hop Sampling

Sampling from vinyl is a common practice amongst Hip Hop producers, going all the way back to the early days of beat creation. Digging and finding that hidden gem has led to a slew of well known tracks and certified hits. However, like almost everything today, technology has slowly pushed vinyl digging to the side and has ushered in a new way to make beats....

Sampling: The Stairway to a Lawsuit

There's a grey area when it comes to music sampling laws, and it has always raised more questions than given answers. Some lawsuits argue about actual sampling, whereas some are about borrowing a melody. Which is right and which is wrong? Let's explore....

Build Top Notch Beats with Segments

Most beat makers will create four-bar loops and move around that to create a full beat. However, creating entire segments to make your beat really stand out is something that is rarely heard. Here are some ideas on how to create segments to enhance your beats....

This Is How Hip Hop Producers Can Be Successful in the Music Industry

The music industry is a tricky game - one that many of us are trying to win at but only a few that really succeed. Many producers, beatmakers, rappers, and everyone in between work very hard to achieve that success without even questioning why they haven't gotten it yet. I think I have the solution....

10 Great Beat Making Tips for Beginners

Even with all the music production and beatmaking information right at your fingertips, it can still be difficult to figure out how to get started making beats. If you're a beginner, you might find tips but those same tips may be too advanced for you at this point, so this article is all about simplifying it for you....

5 Things Every Beatmaker Needs in Their Studio

What you have in your studio is extremely important. You can always make beats with just a simple drum machine and sampler, or your favorite beat making software program, but you should always try to have the best possible setup, as it will make a huge difference....

20 of the Most Influential Hip Hop Producers of All Time

This is a list of 20 of the most influential Hip Hop producers of all time, something that is always hard to put together since there are so many great producers. Some have been left out, but it's always hard to choose the best of the best....

The Ultimate Guide on How to Make Beats

Making beats has evolved over the years from being a simple drum loop with the occasional sound added in, to full-on music productions that could rival any genre. I have often been asked the most basic questions from people that are new to beatmaking, as well as seasoned veterans. Because of this, it got me thinking and now I have decided to write this guide that will hopefully help everyone for y...