It varies occasionally, but i think everything is pretty consistant for tha most part.
I usually dig through my samples that i cut up and stashed away and then if i find one i like, then i start blank with that.....Many other times though, I'll lay tha beat down first and jus focus on percussion for sometimes even a whole hour - just trying new things and adding obscure FX......And then everyonce and a while I'll totally do everything backwards and write tha synth/bass lines etc first, and then mold my beat around that.
For tha most part:
Beat first or sample first (visa-versa)
or, Synth first and then Beat - - - but its a rarity.
Steeze
Tha KEY for me is to not have any bullshit weighin' me down or makin me tired and im jus fresh and ready. I find Im actaully more creative when i sit down without intensions of making a beat, but then i jus decide to out of boardem.....those tend to be tha best when im not trying to actually make a dope beat - but jus play and have fun.
Oh and theres alway a snif a vodka here or there to start tha process.LOL