| In the world of hip-hop, there are numerous elements | | | | tracks on the airwaves, a scratch or two can be |
| involved in the creation, production and release of a | | | | found in the mix. |
| vibrant track. The most vital being the music. If you | | | | Some of the dopest tracks in hip-hop are based on a |
| subtract the lyrical flow from a banging track, you | | | | looped sample of another artists' song. Timbaland is |
| have what's known as a hip-hop instrumental. | | | | famous for using loops that are unusual, with baby |
| A bass line, some treble, a little hi-hat, and variations of | | | | cries and African rhythms blended in to create a |
| strings, horns, tom-toms and a sample or two and you | | | | unique sound. A Tribe Called Quest was eloquent with |
| are in business. Sometimes just the raw kick and | | | | jazz samples, lacing their tracks with everything from |
| snare is enough or other times you're gonna need | | | | bebop style to acid jazz notes. |
| layer upon layer upon layer. | | | | The possibilities are endless for a hip-hop instrumental. |
| Bring Home The Loops | | | | From the classic boom-boom-bap drum track with |
| Samples are snippets of songs previously recorded by | | | | original musical notes to the ever-popular use of |
| other artists that producers use to create a new track. | | | | sample loops. Most of the upper-echelon beat-making |
| A sample used over and over again is called a loop. | | | | software programs offer some type of sampling |
| Basically, a loop can start the track, while the producer | | | | elements. Many are loaded with sample loops built-in, |
| can add a separate drum track to take the sample in | | | | so that all you have to do is add the drums, mix and let |
| a whole new direction, thus bringing to life a new song. | | | | marinate. |
| Many producers use effects to change the tempo or | | | | Find Inspiration Outside The Boom-Box |
| broaden the scope of a sample causing an even | | | | If you are an aspiring musical producer, I would suggest |
| greater variation on the original song. Echo effects and | | | | familiarizing yourself with as many different artists and |
| the addition of harmonies can flavor the sample to the | | | | genres as possible. Listen to some reggae, alternative |
| degree that it doesn't even sound like the original. | | | | rock cuts and country music. Blues music and jazz, |
| Where Do All The Samples Come From? | | | | disco and classic rock. The more types of music you |
| The Isley Brothers and Parliament Funkadelic are two | | | | fill your head with, the easier it will be for you to |
| bands that have become the most sampled artists in | | | | compose new material and refrain from using the |
| hip-hop history. 'Every Breath You Take' by The Police | | | | same style in each new track you create. |
| is an example of a popular loop that was used by | | | | Make It Funky Now |
| Diddy to create the outstanding tribute song 'Missing | | | | One thing to remember when creating your hip-hop |
| You' that flooded the airwaves after the untimely | | | | instrumental, is you gotta make it funky. If you play |
| demise of the Notorious B.I.G., and still gets airplay | | | | your new track and it don't make you wanna get your |
| across the globe some 15 years later. | | | | groove on, then start over. Go back to the drawing |
| If You've Got An Itch, You Gotta Scratch It | | | | board. |
| The old-school DJ style is still on point: two turntables | | | | Hip-hop music, after all is said and done, is dance music. |
| and a mixer, because in hip-hop, 'scratching' will never | | | | When you play your hip-hop instrumental, feelings of |
| get old. Many producers today still implement a little | | | | the break dance should overwhelm your body and |
| 'scratching' into their tracks. Most often, club DJ's are | | | | your head should bob up and down to the beat, |
| good for this, but if you listen closely to some of the | | | | whether you want it to, or not, yo. |