Our Process

Begin with anything interesting (a drum part, a sample, a bass line, etc.).
Improvise, improvise, improvise to find other parts that compliment.
Create a loop of 4 or 8 measures consisting of every part you want to use.
Arrange each part into a song structure of intro, verses, choruses, etc.

Common Features of Hip-Hop Beats
Form
o Intro = 2 to 8 measures, features an integral part of the beat, could be anything
o Verses = 16 measures, often two 8-measure sections
o Choruses = 8 measures, the catchy parts, the hook
o Break = 2 to 8 measures long, thinner texture
o Outro = fade out the hook, deconstruct layers back to the intro, basically anything
Texture
o Complex layers of instruments and voice(s)
o Variation of textures differentiates sections and keeps the music interesting.
Meter, Rhythm, and Tempo
o Duple meter is predominant, but triple meter examples do exist
(e.g., Heaven by Nas, Wont Back Down by Eminem, Spaceship by Kanye West).
o Swung eighth notes are used in varying degrees depending on regional and stylistic subgenres.
o Tempo can range quite a bit, but are often between 80-100 BPM.
o Kicks line up on the beat, but almost everything else comes just after.
Harmony
o Any mode can be used, but the minor sounding modes are very common in modern hip-hop,
such as Dorian, harmonic minor, natural minor, or minor pentatonic.
o Harmonic progressions are fairly simple, often consisting of two to four chords.
Instruments
o Pitched
! Bass can be funky and melodic, or simple and just support the general harmonic
progression
! Horns often sampled, used for hits and hooks
! Piano melodic lines or chords
! Strings often used like horns, or for ambient background
! Synthesizers melodic lines, chords, or simply ambient noise
o Drums
! Kick the foundation for everything else
! Snare often plays only the backbeat
! Claps often doubles or compliments the snare
! Hi-Hats usually set to patterns of eighth and/or sixteenth notes
! Shaker can be used in place of or in addition to hi-hats
! Tambourine can be used in place of or in addition to hi-hats
! Cymbals crashes often occur on downbeats, particularly when changing sections in
the form
o Sounds & Samples
! These come from anywhere and can be used as main melodic or harmonic material or
sounds accompanying a beat and adding texture.

Getting started with
HIP-HOP BEAT PRODUCTION
Adam Kruse (kruseaj@gmail.com) & Joshua J-spit Wilson (j_spit90@yahoo.com)
Michigan Music Conference January 18, 2014
Recommended Free Software
ACID Xpress = PC only
Audacity = MAC or PC
FL Studio = had been PC only, but a beta version for MAC is relatively new
GarageBand = MAC only
Reaper = MAC or PC
Recommended Hardware
Audio Interface = connect microphones and electronic instruments to your computer
DJ Controller = turntables that allow you to manipulate digital sounds
Drum Machine = trigger drum sounds and samples, chop samples, create loops, etc.
MIDI Keyboard = play various digital instrument sounds, trigger drum sounds and samples
Studio Condenser Microphone = SO MUCH better than your internal computer microphone

Recommended Listening/Search terms

Drums
Best Kept Secret
Producer for Chrisette Michele, Skyzoo,
Wale
Dr. Dre
Producer for Eminem, The Game, Snoop
Dogg, Xzibit, 2Pac, 50 Cent
No I.D.
Producer for Big Sean, Cocaine 80s,
Common, Nas
Timbaland
Producer for Aaliyah, Ginuwine, Jay-Z, Justin
Timberlake, Lil Kim, Missy Elliott

Sampling
DJ Premier
Producer for Fat Joe, Gang Starr, M.O.P., The
Notorious B.I.G., Royce da 59
J Dilla
Producer for Busta Rhymes, Common, Slum
Village,
A Tribe Called Quest
RZA
Producer for Gravediggaz, Wu-Tang Clan
9
th
Wonder
Producer for Buckshot, David Banner, Erykah
Badu, Little Brother, Murs, Skyzoo


Bass Lines
Dr. Dre
Producer for The D.O.C., Eminem, The
Game, N.W.A., Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, 2Pac
Pete Rock
Producer for CL Smooth, Ghostface Killah,
Heavy D, Nas, Rakim
Rick Rubin
Producer for Beastie Boys, Eminem, Run-
D.M.C.
Old School
The Bomb Squad
Producer for Ice Cube, Public Enemy, Slick Rick
DJ Scott La Rock
Producer for Boogie Down Productions, KRS-
One
Marley Marl
Producer for Big Daddy Kane, Heavy D & The
Boyz, Kool G Rap, LL Cool J, MC Shan


MORE Stuff Online

J-spit (rapper) on SoundCloud = http://www.soundcloud.com/j-spit
J-spit (producer) on SoundCloud = http://www.soundcloud.com/beats-by-j-spit
A starter kit of J Dilla drum sounds is available for you to download at
Adams website on the Resources page = http://www.msu.edu/~kruseada