taking criticism from "lesser" artists/producers

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classic

I am proud to be southern
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 90
Has this happened to yall?? Lately I’ve been putting myself out there more beat wise... letting more and more people hear my work etc.

Now i know im not the best producer in the world (by far) but I have a pretty solid view of my ability.... So it kind of erks me sometimes when a dude who really lacks skill or experience in his own right tries to critique my material...

Im a pretty laid back dude but Ive been having some crazy encounters lately that have tested my patients to the limit….. i.e wack ass rappers telling me my beats need work etc..etc…… Now an honest opionion is one thing i know everybody aint gonna like my tracks and thats fine... but to me its MUCH worse when an artist tries to tell me what i need to do to improve my ish.. when they aint even up to par....

Maybe im salty...???

Discuss…
 

manguino

Pressure Makes Diamonds
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 7
it's like discussing sports and a favorite team, we can't really say shit because we're nowhere near as accomplished, but we're observant enough to know what their strengths and weaknesses are. that's how i see criticism, it's all fair play, except when you know that they're complete garbage lol.
 

RigorMortis

Army Of Darkness
ill o.g.
depends on the critiscism they give you
 

Ozmosis

Sound Tight Productions
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 201
Beats are like out kids you dont want knowbody saying shit about them. Even if sometimes what they are telling you is true. I think we as beatmakers/producers are a little over sensative about our work. But normally when an artist says your beats need work they're basicly saying its not their style, not that it actually needs work.
 

MarkN

ILLIEN
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 55
you have to remember you don't necessarily have to be able to do something to be an expert on it ! in football the most succesful managers weren't always the best players ! as long as you have a good knowledge of it then thats usualyl enough ! you also got to remember that 90% of people who buy music don't know anything about the technical side of things they just buy hat they like to listen to !
 

Ash Holmz

The Bed-Stuy Fly Guy
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 207
imo every opinion matters .... the opinion that matters the most is ur own ..... secondly the opinion that matters the second most is those of the people/fans/market that u will sell ur music too... the third most is the people with money that u are shopping trax too..... alot of its trial and error ... ive learned just as much playin beatz for my boys who know nothing about hip hop as i have playin beatz for hardcore hip hop headz...

@ classic ... welcome to the industry bro lol... what do u think it is? ...

industry head = never made it as an artist but now tells other people whats hot
 

sYgMa

Making head bangers!!!
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 26
you have to remember you don't necessarily have to be able to do something to be an expert on it ! in football the most succesful managers weren't always the best players ! as long as you have a good knowledge of it then thats usualyl enough ! you also got to remember that 90% of people who buy music don't know anything about the technical side of things they just buy hat they like to listen to !

He basically said what I was gonna say (I'd have used hockey as an example, though...) But on the real, I know what is needed to be a better piano player, but I cant play for shit...

Feel me...

Also, when I hear a beat on the radio, I can say that it's too repetitive, for instance... even if I cant make a beat like that... (it's an example, of course)
 

Relic

Voice of Illmuzik Radio
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 83
He basically said what I was gonna say (I'd have used hockey as an example, though...) But on the real, I know what is needed to be a better piano player, but I cant play for shit...

Feel me...

Also, when I hear a beat on the radio, I can say that it's too repetitive, for instance... even if I cant make a beat like that... (it's an example, of course)

Thats called being a "consultant" lol..

Frankly I take w/e critism comes my way..(waaay better than I used to since joining here)
There are beats that I have that are garbage to me, shit I just started and never did anything with, could just be 4 bars, and some cats will go nuts leaving me confused.

There are other beats that I just love and I am the only one who does!
Depends on the MC whether they feel this or that..
Alot of cats in my city just cant Rhyme on the type of stuff I throw to StepChild,
others Step, try as he might, wont be able to rock..lol

If someone is a wannabe and doesnt like the track and its good overall it just shows how much they know about music, what do I do? Come here and bitch! lol
 

Ash Holmz

The Bed-Stuy Fly Guy
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 207
Thats called being a "consultant" lol..

Frankly I take w/e critism comes my way..(waaay better than I used to since joining here)
There are beats that I have that are garbage to me, shit I just started and never did anything with, could just be 4 bars, and some cats will go nuts leaving me confused.

There are other beats that I just love and I am the only one who does!
Depends on the MC whether they feel this or that..
Alot of cats in my city just cant Rhyme on the type of stuff I throw to StepChild,
others Step, try as he might, wont be able to rock..lol

If someone is a wannabe and doesnt like the track and its good overall it just shows how much they know about music, what do I do? Come here and bitch! lol

exactly what relic said ..... i always like to use 2pac as an example .. he ryhmed over alot of shit that other emcees wouldnt touch and made hits... ghostface too .... i guarantee 9 out of 10 rappers would pass right over alot of the beats he chooses ... but they work for HIM . it all depends on the artist .. producers dont get hot because they make creative and artistic beats, they get hot because they find that artist that makes there beats sound hot ... like noreaga said " i showed muthafucers how to rhyme over neptunes beats" its true ... he did some diffrent, out the box hot shit that made neptunes beats desirable... same thing with missy and timbo... imagine hearing the "superfly" cant stop the rain instrumental by itself before tim was famous .. anyone would laugh at it ... but missy made that into a hit song and now tim is everywhere

stepchilds single is hot as fuc .... i know i would personally skip right over that track if relic gave me a beat cd.. but stepchild make it hot and now when i hear that beat its hot and recognizable and i could actually write soemthing to it ....that might not have made sense to evrybody but thats the psychology behind it..
 
:D - Thanks


"producers dont get hot because they make creative and artistic beats, they get hot because they find that artist that makes there beats sound hot ... "
Couldnt agree more!
Word!! This is so true, Ive heard beats that are just that, drum patterns, as long as the mc is dope it becomes a hot track. Take Pon Da Replay for example, altho not exactly hiphop. But still the beat is very sparse, just a main clap and maybe a kick i forget, but I know its a very basic beat. But with the vocals, its phat. I rate some mc's by their abilty to ride ANY BEAT! and make it sound hot. I rate Kool Keith for that fact, hes flipped it on some beats I never hear anyone else attempting to rhyme over. Maybe you need to be a little crazy also!!!

Regarding feedback from lesser producers...
We are all listeners of music, and we all know what we like about music. Producers and laymen alike. You dont necessarily need to be a producer to recognise a hot track. I knew what was hot or not way back when I was djing before I even attempted to create tracks of my own. Ive said this loads of times before, everyone has different opinions, and you cant please everyone. Sometimes I dont please anyone, but myself. But hell man, I make music for me, If others like my shit then all the better. But I do it for the enjoyment and the creativity aspect of it. If I did it for money or for props Id have given up long long ago, it took a long time for me to even get any props. I respect EVERYONES opinions, for everyone is a potential fan. If I dont agree with the feedback I disregard it, if I agree I take it onboard. Im well passed being offended by some feedback, its just opinions. I always give my honest opinions of other peoples tracks, maybe you like what I have to say, maybe not. I just say it as I see it(hear it), Id rather an honest opinion I didnt like than a fake ass opinion that made my head get big. Its the fact that everyone has different tastes that makes a great marketplace for everyone. If all hiphop sounded the same wouldnt it be boring??? Imagine if all hiphop was like Black Eyed Peas??? Damn what a sad day. Anyway, I got props for a lot of producers on here, many much better than me, Especially The Smash Brothers for consistent bangers, but that doesnt stop me giving my honest feedback, if I dont like a snare I dont like a snare. Or if I feel a drum pattern is repetetive thats maybe because personally I like drum patterns to have variation. I say dont let the feedback get to you, I always use poor feedback to step up my game, I think to myself, well Ill show you a phat beat. You cant please everyone at once, but you can get them one at a time, lol.
 

DJ Excellence

ILLIEN
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 262
Sometimes the opinion of the inexperienced (or even those of who don't make beats at all) is more valuable than the opinion of the so-called pros who tend to be very technical and picky, looking for every little imperfections and forget about the overall sound and potiential of your track. ....but on the on other hand, I hear you, ...I hate when I'm told my beats suck (very rare tho lol) and I should make timbaland sounding beats instead.

As long as it's detailed and constructive, the opinion of the newbs and non-music people is not to be underestimated.

Has this happened to yall?? Lately I’ve been putting myself out there more beat wise... letting more and more people hear my work etc.

Now i know im not the best producer in the world (by far) but I have a pretty solid view of my ability.... So it kind of erks me sometimes when a dude who really lacks skill or experience in his own right tries to critique my material...

Im a pretty laid back dude but Ive been having some crazy encounters lately that have tested my patients to the limit….. i.e wack ass rappers telling me my beats need work etc..etc…… Now an honest opionion is one thing i know everybody aint gonna like my tracks and thats fine... but to me its MUCH worse when an artist tries to tell me what i need to do to improve my ish.. when they aint even up to par....

Maybe im salty...???

Discuss…
 

Cold Truth

IllMuzik Moderator
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 25
imo, your just being salty

valid opinions can come from people who are great or just flat out wack... i try not to put too much weight on a persons skill or their own work for this reason, because that can greatly cloud your ability to receive what can be a valid opinion.

at the end of the day it's all about sifting the wheat from the chaff; even your gut instinct requires objectivity on your part.

its a hard thing to accept though... i get an occasional criticism that makes me say, "what the fuck?" and sometimes i'll make an attempt to apply it, and sometimes i'll dismiss it- it all depends on if i think it furthers my music.

certain people destroy their on credibility. for example, a few years ago, this cat told me he didnt like the "piano" in this beat i made. there wasn't anything resembling a piano- the part he called a piano as unmistakably a flute, by miles. there was nothing remotely piano like about it. his credibility went to the gutter at that point. that said, some peoples critique come with a grain of salt.

besides, whose to say what "par" is? i hear some of the worst shit get high praise
some people swear by andre nicotina but i can't find a solitary redeeming thing about his work
 
T

The Bastard

Guest
Has this happened to yall?? Lately I’ve been putting myself out there more beat wise... letting more and more people hear my work etc.

Now i know im not the best producer in the world (by far) but I have a pretty solid view of my ability.... So it kind of erks me sometimes when a dude who really lacks skill or experience in his own right tries to critique my material...

Im a pretty laid back dude but Ive been having some crazy encounters lately that have tested my patients to the limit….. i.e wack ass rappers telling me my beats need work etc..etc…… Now an honest opionion is one thing i know everybody aint gonna like my tracks and thats fine... but to me its MUCH worse when an artist tries to tell me what i need to do to improve my ish.. when they aint even up to par....

Maybe im salty...???

Discuss…

u gotta take everyones criticism for whut its worth. obviosuly ur gunna listen to yur skilled on the same level type beat makers most. try not to take yur friends criticism too seriously, theyll always say the shits good ,cuz they yur friends. and when it comes to people not on yur level and wack ass rapers tryin to tell u sumthin.just put their critique to the test , hear em out and make the final judgement for yurself.
 

joeburnem

Beat Enthusiast
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 100
SAlty!


I'm sure you have given your opinion on work done by artists with more experience than you. It happens ...just take it and keep it movin'!
 

trez260

ILLIEN
ill o.g.
u gotta take everyones criticism for whut its worth.
Co-Sign.
you determine the validity of the criticism you receive, regardless of the source. sometimes the virgin ear,and/or the less experience will catch something that just may better your work..sometimes. but you decipher what's a true, honest critique versus someone just takin negative for whatever reason. weigh the responses, stay open, and as Flav said "if it doesn't apply...let it fly"..peace.
 
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