In today's article, we'll discuss different production methods used in hip-hop to make a beat. We won't argue or debate the best production method because the discussion is rather pointless. However, we will talk about different production ideas so that you may experiment with them in your own production workflow. The following are common production methods used in hip-hop:
Sampling: This style goes hand in hand with hip-hop ,and it is not going anywhere. Like the name suggests, sampling takes little pieces of music from other artists and adds a drum layer to it to give the song a hip-hop feel. Sampling can range from looping over a large segment of a song to only using micro-portions of a song and combining it with other samples to make an entirely new song. Some famous sample-driven artists include Puffy and the Hitmen, DJ Premiere, RZA, and Kanye West.
Layered Sampling: This production style is similar to sampling, except synths and/or live instruments are layered on top of the original sample. This makes the original sample less prominent and gives the song a less sampled compared to the hardcore sampling method mentioned above. The Trackmasters are known for this style of production.
Synth-Based: The origins of this date back to Afrika Bambaata, but this is simply using synthesizers and drum machines to create original music. The majority of Dirty South music is descended from this vein of hip-hop.
Interpolation: With interpolation, a producer hires a team of musicians to interpret, or rather, to play the musical part that he/she hears on a record. The actual sample is not used. It is the recording of the musician's hired that are used. This allows the producer to do different things like change the instruments, rhythms, or tempo of the sample since they aren't using a record. The pioneer of this method is Dr. Dre.
Live Instruments: In this style, live instruments and musicians are used to come up with beats. The difference between this style and interpolation is that interpolation uses musicians to play a part of a song from an existing record while the live method uses musicians to come up with original music. The most prominent pioneers of this style are The Roots.
As the world of hip-hop evolves, so will it's production methods. However, experiment with any of the methods listed above to increase the versatility of your productions.
Sampling: This style goes hand in hand with hip-hop ,and it is not going anywhere. Like the name suggests, sampling takes little pieces of music from other artists and adds a drum layer to it to give the song a hip-hop feel. Sampling can range from looping over a large segment of a song to only using micro-portions of a song and combining it with other samples to make an entirely new song. Some famous sample-driven artists include Puffy and the Hitmen, DJ Premiere, RZA, and Kanye West.
Layered Sampling: This production style is similar to sampling, except synths and/or live instruments are layered on top of the original sample. This makes the original sample less prominent and gives the song a less sampled compared to the hardcore sampling method mentioned above. The Trackmasters are known for this style of production.
Synth-Based: The origins of this date back to Afrika Bambaata, but this is simply using synthesizers and drum machines to create original music. The majority of Dirty South music is descended from this vein of hip-hop.
Interpolation: With interpolation, a producer hires a team of musicians to interpret, or rather, to play the musical part that he/she hears on a record. The actual sample is not used. It is the recording of the musician's hired that are used. This allows the producer to do different things like change the instruments, rhythms, or tempo of the sample since they aren't using a record. The pioneer of this method is Dr. Dre.
Live Instruments: In this style, live instruments and musicians are used to come up with beats. The difference between this style and interpolation is that interpolation uses musicians to play a part of a song from an existing record while the live method uses musicians to come up with original music. The most prominent pioneers of this style are The Roots.
As the world of hip-hop evolves, so will it's production methods. However, experiment with any of the methods listed above to increase the versatility of your productions.
About the Author:
Frank Lubsey is a beat maker, jingle writer, and producer for the Jam Sonic music squad. Visit his site for hip-hop beats for sale and to purchase beats.
