Hip hop production

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Instrumental hip hop
)

Hip hop producer and rapper RZA in a music studio with two collaborators. Pictured in the foreground is a synthesizer keyboard and a number of vinyl records; both of these items are key tools that producers and DJs use to create hip hop beats.

Hip hop production is the creation of

turntablist or DJ providing a beat, playing samples and "scratching" using record players and the creation of a rhythmic backing track, using a drum machine or sequencer
, it is most commonly used to refer to recording the instrumental, non-lyrical and non-vocal aspects of hip hop.

Music production

Hip hop producers may be credited as the record producer or songwriter; they may also supervise recording sessions.[1][2][3][4]

Hip hop instrumentals are colloquially referred to as beats or musical compositions, while the composer is called either a programmer, songwriter, or beat maker. In the studio, the hip hop producer often functions as both the composer and as a traditional record producer. They are sometimes called Orchestrators.

effects processors to how to mix vocal and instrumental levels.[citation needed
]

History

Hip-hop, the dominant turn-of-the-century pop form, gives the most electrifying demonstration of technology's empowering effect [...] [T]he genre rose up from desperately impoverished

Public Enemy's Fear of a Black Planet, Dr. Dre's The Chronic.

— Alex Ross, Listen to This (2010)[5]

1980s

The Roland TR-808 drum machine was introduced in 1980, which was an analog machine with a step-programming method. The 808 was heavily used by Afrika Bambaataa, who released "Planet Rock" in 1982, in addition to the electro hip hip groundbreaking classic "Nunk" by Warp 9, produced by Lotti Golden and Richard Scher, giving rise to the fledgling Electro genre. An especially notable artist is the genre's own pioneer Juan Atkins who released what is generally accepted as the first American techno record, "Clear" in 1984 (later sampled by Missy Elliott). These early electro records laid down the foundations that later Detroit techno artists such as Derrick May built upon. In 1983, Run-DMC recorded "It's Like That" and "Sucker M.C.'s," two songs which relied completely on synthetic sounds, in this case via an Oberheim DMX drum machine, ignoring samples entirely. This approach was much like early songs by Bambaataa and the Furious Five.[citation needed]

MPC60 came out in 1988, capable of 12 seconds of sampling time. The Beastie Boys released Paul's Boutique in 1989, an entire album created completely from an eclectic mix of samples, produced by the Dust Brothers using an Emax sampler. De La Soul also released 3 Feet High and Rising that year.[citation needed
]

1990s–present

AKAI MPC2000 in 1997, followed by the MPC2000XL in 1999[6] and the MPC2500 in 2006. These machines combined a sampling drum machine with an onboard MIDI sequencer and became the centerpiece of many hip hop producers' studios. Wu Tang Clan's producer RZA is often credited for getting hip hop attention away from Dr. Dre's more polished sound in 1993. RZA's more gritty sound with low rumbling bass, sharp snare drum sounds and unique sampling style based on Ensoniq sampler. With the 1994 release of The Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die, Sean Combs and his assistant producers pioneered a new style where entire sections of records were sampled, instead of short snippets, à la MC Hammer
’s “Can’t Touch This.”

Records like "Warning" (

Roc-a-Fella in-house producer Kanye West made the "chipmunk" technique popular. This had been first used by 1980s electro hip-hop group Newcleus with such songs as "Jam on It". This technique involves speeding up a vocal sample, and its corresponding instrumental loop, to the point where the vocal sounds high-pitched. The result is a vocal sample that sounds similar to the singing of the popular cartoon singing animals "Alvin and the Chipmunks". West adopted this style from J Dilla and the Wu-Tang Clan's RZA, who in turn was influenced by Prince Paul, the pioneer of the style of speeding up and looping vocal samples to achieve the "chipmunk" sound. Kanye West has used the "chipmunk" effect in many of his songs, and has been used in many other artists' music in the 2010s.[citation needed
]

During the course of the 2010s, many chart-topping hits revolved around music producers using digital audio workstation software (for example FL Studio) to create songs from sampled sounds. Some prominent music producers include

Internet Money.[citation needed
]

Elements

Drum beat

Main article:
Beats (music)

The drum beat is a core element of hip hop production. While some beats are sampled, others are created by

MPC series, have also been used to sample drum beats. Others yet are a hybrid of the two techniques, sampled parts of drum machine beats that are arranged in original patterns altogether. The Akai MPC series[8] and Ensoniq ASR-10 are mainstays for sampling beats, particularly by The Neptunes. Some beat makers and record producers are sound designers that create their own electronic drum kit sounds, such as Dr. Dre, Timbaland, DJ Paul & Juicy J, Swizz Beatz, Kanye West
and The Neptunes. Some drum machine sounds, such as the 1980s-era TR-808 cowbell, remain as historical elements of hip hop lore that continue to be used in 2010s-era hip hop.

Sampling

Main article: Sampling (music)

Hip hop does not simply draw inspiration from a range of samples, but it layers these fragments into an artistic object. If sampling is the first level of hip hop aesthetics, how the pieces or elements fit together constitute the second level. Hip hop emphasizes and calls attention to its layered nature. The aesthetic code of hip hop does not seek to render invisible the layers of samples, sounds, references, images, and metaphors. Rather, it aims to create a collage in which the sampled texts augment and deepen the song/book/art's meaning to those who can decode the layers of meaning.

— Richard Schur, Hip Hop Aesthetics and Contemporary African American Literature (2008)[9]

Sampling is using a segment of another's musical recording as part of one's own recording.

Def Jam producer Rick Rubin used Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin loops in creating the Beastie Boys' debut Licensed to Ill,[12] and the following year rap duo Eric B. & Rakim popularized James Brown samples with their album Paid in Full.[13]

The technique took a bi-coastal turn when discovered by a young

Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die.[20]

In the 2000s, sampling began to reach an all-time high;

Mos Def.[26]
There were often questions of originality and authenticity that followed the use of sampling.

Instruments used in hip hop production

Samplers

Main article: Sampler (musical instrument)

Because hip hop production revolves around sampling, a sampler/sequencer combination device such as Akai's MPC line of grooveboxes usually forms the centerpiece of a hip hop production studio. Although mostly replaced by Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) by today, classics like the E-mu Systems SP-1200, Akai MPC60, Akai MPC3000 or Ensoniq ASR-10 still see use today due to their workflow and sound characteristics.[citation needed]

Turntables

Main article: Turntablism

The most widely used turntables in hip hop are

loop the breaks to a rhythmic beat.[27]

The most influential turntable was the

Grand Wizard Theodore and Afrika Bambaataa in the 1970s. As they experimented with the SL-1200 decks, they developed scratching techniques when they found that the motor would continue to spin at the correct RPM even if the DJ wiggled the record back and forth on the platter.[30] Since then, turntablism spread widely in hip hop culture, and the SL-1200 remained the most widely used turntable in DJ culture for the next several decades.[28][30]

Synthesizers

Main article: Synthesizer

Synthesizers are used often in hip hop production. They are used for melodies,

Neptunes continue to use synths. Often in low-budget studio environments or recording rooms constrained by space limitations, the composer would use virtual instruments instead of hardware synthesizers. In the 2010s, virtual instruments are becoming more common in high-budget studio environments.[citation needed
]

Recording

In hip hop, a multi-track recorder is standard for recording. The Portastudio cassette recorder was the law in the in-house recording studios in the 1980s. Digital ADAT tape recorders became standard during the 1990s, but have been largely replaced by Digital Audio Workstations or DAWs such as Apple's Logic, Avid's Pro Tools and Steinberg's Nuendo and Cubase. DAW's allow for more intricate editing and unlimited track counts, as well as built-in effects. This allows songwriters and composer's to create music without the expense of a large commercial studio.[citation needed]

Vocal recording

Generally, professional producers opt for a condenser microphone for studio recording,[31][32] mostly due to their wide-range response and high quality. A primary alternative to the expensive condenser microphone is the dynamic microphone, used more often in live performances due to its durability. The major disadvantages of condenser microphones are their expense and fragility. Also, most condenser microphones require phantom power, unlike dynamic microphones. Conversely, the disadvantages of dynamic microphones are they do not generally possess the wide spectrum of condenser microphones and their frequency response is not as uniform. Many hip-hop producers typically used the Neumann U-87 for recording vocals which imparts a glassy "sheen" especially on female vocals. But today, many producers in this musical genre use the Sony C-800G tube microphone, vintage microphones, and high-end ribbon microphones tuned for flattering, "big" vocal expression. Many classic hip-hop songs were recorded with the most basic of equipment. In many cases this contributes to its raw sound quality, and charm. A lot of recording engineers prefer using "dry" acoustics for hip hop to minimize the room reverberation.

Digital audio workstations

Main article: Digital audio workstation

DAWs and software sequencers are used in modern hip hop production for the composer as software production products are cheaper, easier to expand, and require less room to run than their hardware counterparts. The success of these DAWs generated a flood of new semi-professional beatmakers, who license their beats or instrumentals[33] preferably on digital marketplaces[34] to rap artists from all around the world and caused the creation of a new niche market. Some Beatmakers oppose complete reliance on DAWs and software, citing lower overall quality, lack of effort, and lack of identity in computer-generated beats. Sequencing software often comes under criticism from purist listeners and traditional producers as producing sounds that are flat, overly clean, overly compressed, and less human because it's all computer-generated.

Popular DAWs include the following:

Live instrumentation

Live instrumentation is not as widespread in hip hop, but is used by a number of acts and is prominent in hip hop-based fusion genres such as

Bilal Oliver
.

Drumming and hip hop

Throughout history the drum set has taken numerous identities. It is the instrument that makes

rock 'n' roll "rock." With a new age of pop music on the rise within the past decade[when?
], it is easy to assume the drum set has been replaced by electronic sounds produced by an engineer. In reality, the drum set is the reason behind the production of these electronic beats, and live drummers contribute to modern day hip-hop much more than what meets the ear.

An example of a drummer recording on a hip-hop record is

hip-hop genre.

Other hip hop drummers include the following:[36][37][38][39][40][41]

Instrumental hip hop

See also:
Instrumental hip hop. (Discuss) (November 2020)

Instrumental hip hop is

Grand Mixer D.ST, the first use of turntables in jazz fusion, and gave the turntablism and record "scratching
" widespread exposure.

The release of DJ Shadow's debut album Endtroducing..... in 1996 saw the beginnings of a movement in instrumental hip hop. Relying mainly on a combination of sampled funk, hip hop and film score, DJ Shadow's innovative sample arrangements influenced many producers and musicians.

In the 2000s and 2010s, artists such as

Stones Throw are fraught with legal problems. [citation needed
]

Types of producers

Main article: Record producer

In contemporary hip hop production, the title producer has become a catch-all term that could indicate one or many types of contributions to any particular project. It is further complicated by the fact that the music industry has only three main categories to identify musical contributions – artist, producer, and songwriter – which often overlap in 21st century music production. Below are some of the different facets of the contemporary hip hop producer; a single production credit can involve any number of these roles.

Record producer
A seasoned music studio personnel who provides creative and technical guidance to an artist or band. In this role, they typically do not receive songwriting credits if they do not contribute to the composition of the musical production.
Executive producer
The topmost advisor on a project who facilitates business dealings and management; can also be a single creative visionary who brings together other producers and artists.
Primary artist
A non-recording hip hop artist, also can include rap artists who contribute to composing some of their own music (as opposed to artists in other genres who are not generally given a producer credit if they write the music).
Featured artist
Prominent producers are often given a featured artist credit when they produce a song with the primary artist.
Beatmaker
Composers who program[42] the music generally, either from scratch or with samples, employing a digital audio workstation and DJ skills including the use of drum machines and MIDI instrumentation.
  • e.g.
    Wheezy
    .
Composer/songwriter
Personnel who only write and compose a song's music and sometimes lyrics in a more traditional sense; additionally, musicians who provide instrumentation.
Sample producer
Composers who write music and compose a library of loops (otherwise known as kits) for the purpose of being easily manipulated by other producers. They often receive producer credits despite not having direct involvement with the song in question.
Sampled artist
Artists whose work is sampled by a producer (however, this is generally given a songwriter credit).
Producer credited for "additional" or "miscellaneous" production
Commonly, artists who provide instrumentation on a track. Can also indicate a sampled artist or any minor musical contribution.
Remix artist
Artists who remix other's work may be credited as a producer as opposed to the primary artist.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "DJ Khaled explains the difference between a beatmaker and a record producer". TotemStar. April 8, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  2. ^ "Apollo Brown on the difference between a beatmaker and a producer". The Source. September 18, 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  3. ^ "MUSIC INDUSTRY 101: What Is A Beat Maker vs. Producer?". indiehiphop. September 19, 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  4. ^ "Writing Tracks First". thesingersworkshop. April 8, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  5. ^ Ross (2010), p. 60.
  6. ^ Vintage Synth Explorer. "Akai MPC2000 / MPC2000 XL – Vintage Synth Explorer". Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  7. ^ Norris, Chris (August 13, 2015). "The 808 Heard Round the World". The New Yorker. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  8. ^ "Hip-hop's most influential sampler gets a 2017 reboot". January 22, 2017.
  9. ^ New Essays on the African American Novel (2008), p. 207.
  10. ^ "Sample – Definition and More". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
  11. ^ Marisa Brown. "Planet Rock: The Album", AllMusic. R 27616.
  12. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Licensed to Ill", AllMusic.
  13. ^ Steve Huey. "Paid in Full", AllMusic.
  14. ^ Steve Huey. "Straight Outta Compton [Clean]", AllMusic.
  15. ^ Stanton Swihart. "All Souled Out", AllMusic.
  16. ^ John Bush. "The Low End Theory", AllMusic.
  17. ^ Steven Leckart, 10.23.07. "Wu-Tang Clan's RZA Breaks Down His Kung Fu Samples by Film and Song", WIRED MAGAZINE: ISSUE 15.11.
  18. ISBN 1-4000-9523-9
    . "[Unlike] popular hip-hop producers like the Bomb Squad, Dre instead utilized a single sample to drive a song."]
  19. ^ Dan Love, February 11, 2008. "Deconstructing Illmatic" Archived March 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Oh Word Collection.
  20. ^ XXL staff, Thursday March 9, 10:28 am CST. "The Making of Ready to Die:Family Business", XXL MAGAZINE.
  21. ^ Gale: Black History Month.
  22. ^ 9/10/2004 8:57:27 pm, foxxylady. "CAN HIP HOP LIVE WITHOUT SAMPLING?", SixShot.com.
  23. ^ December 5, 2005, 05:04 pm. "DR. DRE INTERVIEW FROM SCRATCH MAGAZINE", Music Industry Online.
  24. ^ Dave, March 19, 2006 9:10:26 am. "Hip-Hop News: Late Rapper Has Album Pulled Over Copyright Infringement" Archived July 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Rap News Network.
  25. ^ Morgan Steiker, July 29, 2008. "RZA: Interview", Prefixmag.com.
  26. ^ Hillary Crosley N.Y., May 30, 2008. "Mos Def Hits The Studio With Mr. DJ ", Billboard.
  27. ^ a b c d "History of the Record Player Part II: The Rise and Fall". Reverb.com. October 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  28. ^ a b c Trevor Pinch, Karin Bijsterveld, The Oxford Handbook of Sound Studies, page 515, Oxford University Press
  29. ^ a b Nicholas Collins, Margaret Schedel, Scott Wilson (2013), Electronic Music: Cambridge Introductions to Music, page 105, Cambridge University Press
  30. ^ a b c Six Machines That Changed The Music World, Wired, May 2002
  31. ^ "Rap Instrumentals - Water Cluster Portal". Archived from the original on February 24, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  32. ^ "Mastering Rap Instrumentals". ShadezOfBlue™ – Blew You Away. Archived from the original on July 10, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  33. ^ "BogoBeats.com". Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  34. ^ "RapBeats.net relaunch". RapBeats.net. October 21, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  35. ^ Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly full live performance 720p @Austin City Limits PBS WEBRip, retrieved November 10, 2022
  36. ^ Okayplayer. "7 Musicians Who Contributed on 'To Pimp A Butterfly'". revive-music.com. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  37. ^ "How To Add A 'Questlove' Feel with the Drag Beat's Precise Sloppiness". DRUM! Magazine. August 1, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  38. ^ "Questlove". HotNewHipHop. March 18, 2015. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  39. ^ "Red Bull Music Academy Daily". daily.redbullmusicacademy.com. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  40. ^ "These are the 5 most sampled drum beats in hip hop". Produce Like A Pro. September 15, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  41. ^ "Hip Hop/Rap Artists Using Real Live Drummers/Percussionists – DRUMMERWORLD OFFICIAL DISCUSSION FORUM". drummerworld.com. March 22, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  42. ^ "What's the Difference Between a Music Producer and a Beat Maker". March 4, 2021.

References

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