Articles

Should the E-MU SP-1200 Make A Comeback?

The SP-1200 is one of the most iconic pieces of music gear ever, thanks to its 12-bit sound that lots of Hip Hop producers craved. But is it ready for a comeback? There are plenty of software plug-ins that can emulate that 12-bit sound, but re-issuing the SP-1200 would be something special....

Should You Pay For Software Upgrades?

With the announcement from Native Instruments about their Maschine 2.0 software about to be released soon, as well as their brand new Maschine Studio hardware controller, there's been a hot debate all over the internet about whether or not to pay for software upgrades....

Vinyl: The Resurging Relic

Vinyl was around for decades and gained tremendous popularity well into the 1990s. However, it quickly started to fade thanks to advancements in technology, but now vinyl sales have had a steady increase over the past few years and doesn't seem to be slowing down....

Make Better Beats by Listening Carefully When Sampling

Talk to any Hip Hop producer that uses samples and they will tell you that they're always on the lookout for "that" loop. The one that will make their beat blow up and be one of the best beats anyone has ever heard. However, what most producers and beatmakers fail to realize is that it's not all about the loops. Allow me to explain....

This Is Why Most Rappers Today Suck

In Rap's early years, rappers stood out and were unique. There was always someone that was able to stand on their own just with their voice and bring something special. But over the years that uniqueness has continued to decline to the point where most rappers today suck....

5 Hip Hop Production Tips That You Can Start Using Today

There are plenty of tutorials about music production that are very good, but sometimes it's best to read about something aimed more at Hip Hop. This article has 5 tips that you can start using in your own productions, from sampling, to using filters, and more. Whether you're making beats or working on a full fledged production, these tips are sure to help you out....

Improve Your Mixes By Learning New Tips, Tricks, and Secrets

One of the most challenging things about music production is the mixing process. For some, it's not that complicated because they have a lot of experience and knowledge on the subject, but for the rest of us, it's hit or miss. Most of us, including myself, prefer to just make beats and produce music but mixing doesn't seem all that appealing....

Why Most Rappers Don't Get Free Beats

Money, money, money. It's what motivates everyone in the world, and without it there's not much you can do. In the music industry, money is the backbone, not the music. However, money isn't everything because sometimes it's best to focus on the music and let the money come later....

Use The Right Sounds And Your Beats Will Be Unstoppable

Whether sampling from vinyl or queuing up sounds from your favorite synth, it can be difficult to find the right sound for your productions. There are tons of beats out there that sound decent, but only a few that really stand out, and mostly it's because of the sounds that were used. If you find the right sound for your beat, the rest should easily fall into place....

Are You A Beat Making Newbie? Don’t Worry About It

There are many Hip Hop beat makers in this game, and many have come and go. It seems that almost daily, new beat makers are popping up and hungrier than ever to get their hands dirty at making beats and producing top notch music for the masses....

Let's Keep Hip Hop Dirty

Quality. It’s what everyone is trying to achieve when they mix down their tracks, to have their mix sound better than the last. It’s something that music producers are always trying to perfect, some more than others, because some hate mixing and leave it to professional mixers....

5 Tips For Having A Productive Session In A Recording Studio

The time may come one day when you will want to record your music in a professional recording studio. Making beats and recording an artist at home is all well and good, but at one point or another, you will want to take things to another level. When recording in a professional studio, there are some things you must be aware of so you can have a productive session....

How To Make Beats On A Budget

If you’re on a budget, it’s actually not that hard. With all the advancements that have been made in music production in the past few years, it’s easier than ever to make beats. That doesn’t mean that making beats is easy, but it’s just there are plenty of tools to help you produce quality music....

5 Reasons Why You Are Not Successful In The Music Industry

"I want to be in the music industry" is a phrase that has probably between said about a million times, yet only a few select individuals actually "make it" in the industry. Why is that? It could be a number of different things, however most of the time it comes down to these five reasons....

The Beat Grind

Finding that motivation to make beats regularly can be a challenge. Sometimes it may feel like a grind, so maybe taking a break can help you get back to making beats on a regular basis....

6 Ways You Can Improve Your Mixes And Make Them Awesome

Mixing is one of those things that is necessary in the music production world, but quite often a lot of producers just can't get it right. It can be very difficult at times because some of us have the ear just to produce, while others are good at picking apart tracks and making them sound great together....

How To Get Your Bass And Kick To Play Nice

Drums and bass play a very important part in Hip Hop production, as it is the foundation of what makes our beats sound great. However, many times there are drum kicks that just don't sound right, and a lot of that is because it doesn't blend well with the bass notes. Here's how to fix that....

Find the Right Drum Snare to Use in Your Beats

Drums have always been looked at as the foundation of a Hip Hop track. Because of this, there have been numerous productions that have some tremendous drum tracks, whether it be from living playing or a breakbeat....

5 Ways You Can Improve Your Drums Right Now

There's plenty of things you can do to spice up your drums, such as using various plug-ins, but there's much better ways, like making them better right from the start. By tightening up your drums right away, you won't have to rely on a plug-in or any kind of software trickery....

Learn How To Make Your Own Hip Hop Beats In 6 Simple Steps

There's been an explosion of enormous proportions in the last few years, and it all has to do with Hip Hop beats. It used to always be about the rappers and deejays, but now it's the producer that is at the forefront and taking center stage. The problem is that a lot of the beats being pumped out really suck, so I'm here to help you fix this problem with my six easy steps to success....