Although it is the rapper who often gains fame and recognition, it is the producers who are the heart and soul of hip-hop music. Producers create the instrumental “beat” that rappers need to be heard, creating an atmosphere, melody, and rhythm that the world enjoys. There are different types of producers and an unlimited number of styles to try, but there are steps that are generally taken by every producer.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Studying the Art
Step 1. Fall in love with hip-hop music
Know before you start that the music industry is very difficult to get into, so you should pursue hip-hop because you love it, not because you want to make a quick buck. Listen to as many rappers and producers as you can, discovering what songs you like and what style of music you want to create. The more you know hip-hop music, the better equipped you are to create it.
Hip-hop music is one of the easiest genres to get into, thanks to the wide variety of free music available on websites like Datpiff, LiveMixtapes, and HotNewHipHop
Step 2. Listen to a wide variety of music
Hip-hop producers are known for combining various musical influences and trends together to create something new, so look for good songs wherever you can find them. RZA rose to fame for digging into old soul albums, Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin made waves and brought rock & roll into rap, and Kanye used a full classical orchestra behind much of his music. There's no genre that can't inspire you as a hip-hop music producer.
- Listen to music for its quality, not for its genre or reputation.
- Keep notes about music you like so you can find them, and maybe use them later.
Step 3. Study music theory and history
Production is the process of creating an instrumental track, but in hip-hop you'll usually be "playing" all the instruments. To gain complete control over your music, you must understand how music works, including beats and key changes, music theory, and instrumentation.
Learn how to play a musical instrument. Since many rhythms are made with the keyboard, try starting with the piano
Step 4. Purchase music-making equipment
Hip-hop music has a bit of a barrier to getting into because you can theoretically create beats with only a powerful and sufficiently sophisticated computer. These days, additional tools can be plugged directly into your computer to give Adna more control over your music, and they're very valuable.
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keyboards:
Perhaps the second most important tool after a computer, the keyboard allows you to create your own melodies and play your rhythms live, which is usually faster than entering notes into a computer.
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electric drums:
A very versatile rhythm instrument, the electric drum allows you to pair any sound you want on a small board and then play that sound like a drum. You can enter programs with drums, cymbals, percussion instruments, notes, or random sounds.
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Microphone:
The main thing if you want to record vocal tracks, the microphone also allows you to record instruments and other sounds to mix with your beat.
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MIDI Controller:
Intricate yet incredibly powerful, MIDI controllers give you the ability to adjust notes, rhythms, loops, drums, and rhythms with the touch of a button. Lots of advanced keyboards and electric drums with built-in MIDI controllers.
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Loudspeaker:
Make sure you invest in good speakers so you can hear your music at the best possible quality, this way you can make sure your listeners hear what you want to hear.
Step 5. Choose software for audio production
Also known as a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), there are hundreds of options out there. While there is a great deal of variation in features, usability, and reliability, most are similar in execution. Different instruments can be shifted onto a timeline that can be stacked, edited, and repeated to form your song. Choose the program you are most comfortable using and learn everything.
- Some free programs to start your workout with are Audacity, GarageBand (Mac), Cecilia, and Mixx.
- For the more serious rhythm maker, check out paid programs like Pro Tools, Logic, MuTools, MixCraft, or Cubase.
- Every piece of software has lots of starters, tips and tricks available on the internet, and you should learn as much as you can about your DAW.
Step 6. Experiment with sound and equipment
This is the only way to get to know your equipment and learn what kind of music you want to make. Make as much music as you can, even if it's only 30 seconds long, and use all the instruments you can find.
Try making some of your favorite music. You can download sets of sounds used by famous producers from the internet and play with them to see how they are used
Method 2 of 3: Building the Rhythm
Step 1. Design the drum beat first
Drums are the most important part of your rhythm and form the overall structure of the song. Especially in hip-hop, when singers need a steady rhythm to rap, you need to build a good foundation for melody, vocals, and orchestration.
- Start with the classic trio of drum beats – kick drum, snare and hi-hat. Play these three drums to produce the swinging, fast tempo feel of classic rap and hip-hop tunes. Take, for example, the famous beat from DJ Premier on the album Step in the Arena.
- Download free drum sound packs online to find sounds and percussion to mix with your song.
- Experiment with other sounds for percussion. Producers like J Dilla (Example: "Waves") are known for using sounds, sirens, pops, and other sounds instead of drum sounds.(Example: The song "Heat" by 50 Cent uses gunshots as percussion)
Step 2. Build the bass sound
Hip-hop music has roots in jazz, funk, and soul, and like the genres that gave it birth, all hip-hop tracks require two basic instruments: drums and bass. The bass sound will give your song a basis for the melody.
- The bass sound can be simple, like "Memory Lane (Sittin' in the Park)" from Nas, or complex, like "Be (Intro)" from Common.
- Practice mixing the bass with your kick drum, as they both produce low-frequency notes. Stack them together so you can hear them, as in the song above.
Step 3. Add the orchestra and melodic instruments
Once you've built the "groove" of the song with the bass and drums, it's time to make it shine. This is where you can design the feel of the song. If you want a song inspired by RnB music, for example, you'll want piano, trumpet, and maybe a jazz guitar sound (eg "The Ave" by Blue Scholars). If you want a swanky cinematic theme song you'll add strings, tubas, gongs, etc. (eg "General Patton" from Big Boi).
Play regularly with the sounds – the only way to find the best sound is to try out as many orchestrations as possible
Step 4. Learn how to use loops
Looping is when you take a few bars of a song and repeat them throughout the song so that it sounds like someone is playing that part throughout the song. This allows you to create a consistent beat for the singer to rap and saves you from getting bored of entering the same part over and over again.
the best loops are unbroken ones. Namely the impossible to find parts copied and pasted together
Step 5. Learn how to make samples
Sampling is when you cut a bit of another song's part into your song, using an old part to create something entirely new. Samples are one of the stepping stones in hip-hop music production, but you should always do so with caution – sampling without permission can be against the law.
Use samples sparingly, find 2-3 tones that you like and adjust, repeat, or turn them into something new
Step 6. Add the vowels
Whether you're doing it yourself or asking someone to rap for you, record vocal parts into your song and play the length, chorus placement and intro or ending you want.
Step 7. End the song with accents, beats, and surprises
Use your production skills to mix the lyrics with the beat. For example, when the lyrics mention police, it is common to hear the sound of sirens in the song. When you hear a strong rhythm or line, consider turning the music off so listeners can hear the rap clearly, then start again as a surprise.
- Build the music – start the song with only drums and bass, then add instruments to each verse, then lower and end with the ending (Ex. "Slump" from Outkast)
- Add soft accents – even hard-to-hear sounds can add depth to a song.
Step 8. Perfect your music
Read your software user manual and learn about EQ, effects and quantization, and use them when needed.
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EQ:
Also known as balancer, this is where you adjust the volume, frequency and sound of the entire song so that all the parts fit together.
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Effect:
There is an infinite selection of effects, all of which are used to adjust or change the sound of the instrument to suit the mood of the song. Effects can create echo, change pitch, adjust pitch slightly, and more. None of this is ever permanent, so test it on every instrument.
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Quantization:
The art of making notes or rhythms and adapting them to music. Quantization is essential to making a song sound clean and professional, but using it too much can make a song sound robotic and boring.
Step 9. Break every rule
The best hip-hop producers go their own way, learning from the experts while trying things they've never tried before. Make a song without drums, sample a polka song, or use live band play to create your own music. Follow your creative instincts and keep your ears open to show yourself as a producer.
Method 3 of 3: Become a Professional Producer
Step 1. Share your music with people
If you want to go pro, you have to start sharing your songs with friends, family and strangers. This may be scary, but remember that music should be shared, and it's more fun with other people.
- Start with your close friends and family so you are more comfortable with the feedback.
- Never listen to people say "You can't make music." If this is your dream, keep practicing and trying.
- Share your music on the internet for instant feedback and listeners. Youtube, SoundCloud, Reddit, ReverbNation; The opportunities to share your talents are endless!
Step 2. Promote yourself
Once you've got other people nodding their heads to your music, start promoting yourself. Sites like rocbattle.com, soundclick.com, givemebeats.net, and cdbaby.com were created to promote young producers.
- Be active on social media to tap into the biggest market you can enter.
- Attend hip-hop shows and network with local musicians and producers.
Step 3. Collaborate with other rappers and producers
Another part of the beauty of hip-hop music is in the friendliness of this music for collaboration. Producers and rappers are paired up regularly, to find new inspiration from other musicians and help each other to achieve fame together.
- Ask a rapper you know if you can compose a song for him.
- Offer your music on the internet, hip-hop forums from Reddit to DatPiff are filled with rappers looking for songs to rap with them.
Step 4. Production of a mixtape
A mixtape is a free album that is uploaded on the internet and serves as a resume for the hip-hop community. Even if you don't get a rapper to do the vocals for you, create a collection of songs that you can upload and share.
Step 5. Continue to compose songs
Kanye West made the popular confession that he produced "five songs a day for three summers," but that's what it took to break into the industry. Only those who practice every day, compose songs for anyone who asks, and constantly learn new tricks will become successful hip-hop producers. Even if you're just producing songs for fun, you'll find that the only way to become a hip-hop music producer is to produce hip-hop music.
Tips
- Make sure you adjust the volume of each instrument correctly. Faster doesn't mean better.
- Try everything. Nothing is wrong". If people like it, or even if you like it, which is “right”.
- Collaborate with other producers to develop new ideas.
- If you like old school hip-hop music get your snare drum down a few notes or use an antique sound like the 808 kit.
- Watch video tutorials on YouTube.
- Recommended hardware: MPC series, KORG synthesizers, MIDI keyboards, Technics play tables, professional production headphones and studio monitors.
- Get lots of feedback from kids and teens.
- Don't be a hater. As a producer, conflict won't give you honor.
- Don't limit yourself: know the four elements of hip-hop. Breakdancing, rapping, graffiti and the use of a turntable.
- Balancing songs and instruments properly can make or break an OK song.
- Study successful producers. It sounds boring, but sit down with 25 or 50 of your favorite instrumental songs, and take note of why they are so interesting.
- Don't be discouraged if your song doesn't live up to your expectations. It's normal for beginners, but keep practicing.
- Mixing and mastering a song are a set of distinct skills that must work together. Therefore being proficient in both will give your song a professional touch…
Warning
- And carry on. If you believe that this is a passion you want to develop, make a way to incorporate it into your life until it is mature enough for you to place it in your favor.
- Don't be discouraged by criticism.
- Don't develop an ego; this will embarrass you in the long run.
- Don't expect to make money from it unless you want to work as hard as you can in your life. This is not an easy market to enter, unless you are very determined and don't give up easily. Remember, you might just make it – it's a busy market.
- Don't ask how to do something without reading the user manual or looking online for instructions. A hip-hop producer will help you if you stick to the first rule.
- The software for FL Studio is almost 200 MB in size, but it's very well worth the price. An awesome program, especially for creative users. You can develop your ability to make sturdy tools from their use.
- Don't use harsh language. This should be avoided at all costs.
