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