Refrence

[Artistix]

Do any of yall listen to other producers(either BIG name or small) for refrence when trying to make a paticular track. I mean have you been asked to make a "just blaze" type beat or a "lil jon" type beat, but u don't really know where to start so you listen to a bunch of their beats and try to capture the essence of their style. I'm not saying steal their style but more just use it as a refrence.

Just a question thats been on my mind

 

[Emeezy]

yea, i have been asked to make beats that have the same type of sound as other producers. what i do is just listen to beats by the said artist and try to get a feel for their sound and what kinds of instruments they use, from there i just go at it, but dont try to force a certain sound out, just let it flow

 

[Qwerty]

Yeah, i had to do a southern joint lil jon like. So I listened to a couple of Lil JOn beats. It was a hard thing cuz i didn't like lil jon. I took a track that i like from him, than remade the drum trying to use the same sounds, then i went from there. This is what i do a lot, i redo a drum than change the pattern a little and go from there.

 

[Melodix]

Yea, I dont really like to emulate other producers. But...... When but money talks.....I also like to sell them a beat with my style so that my shit gets out there also. You want to develop your sound and get it out there. If u are constantly emulating other people u will never have something that is your own.

 

[Hypnotist]

Sometimes we're hungry for ideas. You kno... those days that you can't make a beat for shit, and then you're in the car later, hearin some mainstream shit, feelin a nice vibe off it, like "Why couldn't I do somethin like that today?"

Sometimes when there's no melodies bouncin' around your head you gotta just sit back and listen to some other shit for inspiration. Sometimes that's all it takes and you're golden, with something completely original just after giving your ears a listen of something different from your instruments (your blank white paper STARING UP at you).

Other times, you're in DIRE NEED to make something new; change your style real quick, or find what's really essential in someone else's beat. I've taken a basic melody from someone (not the exact thing, just the basic note they were in) and started with that. You'll be surprised at how many people have used those SAME EXACT notes with different rhythms!!! This would usually get me going if I have absolutely NOTHING to work with and my ears are tired.

Sometimes we tend to keep our "signature" beats the same way. I know cats who have a whole catalog of beats that sound exactly the same from each other, and that's fine too. I used to tend to hit the dark notes back in 94 and make those Rza/Mobb Deep beats to spit some heartfelt words on. When trying to make it "happier" it would sound too happy when not doing it right. But sometimes if you follow someone else's structure for a minute, and go from there, you end up with something COMPLETELY different, and YOUR OWN. You may even delete the first shit you played, and keep the inspiration from it as your actual beat.