Making Beats
Based on ten years of research among hip-hop producers, Making Beats was the first work of scholarship to explore the goals, methods, and values of a surprisingly insular community. Focusing on a variety of subjects—from hip-hop artists’ pedagogical methods to the Afrodiasporic roots of the sampling process to the social significance of “digging” for rare records—Joseph G. Schloss examines the way hip-hop artists have managed to create a form of expression that reflects their creative aspirations, moral beliefs, political values, and cultural realities. This second edition of the book includes a new foreword by Jeff Chang and a new afterword by the author.
J Dilla's Donuts
From a Los Angeles hospital bed, equipped with little more than a laptop and a stack of records, James “J Dilla” Yancey crafted a set of tracks that would forever change the way beatmakers viewed their artform. The songs on Donuts are not hip hop music as “hip hop music” is typically defined; they careen and crash into each other, in one moment noisy and abrasive, gorgeous and heartbreaking the next. The samples and melodies tell the story of a man coming to terms with his declining health, a final love letter to the family and friends he was leaving behind. As a prolific producer with a voracious appetite for the history and mechanics of the music he loved, J Dilla knew the records that went into constructing Donuts inside and out. He could have taken them all and made a much different, more accessible album. If the widely accepted view is that his final work is a record about dying, the question becomes why did he make this record about dying? Drawing from philosophy, critical theory and musicology, as well as Dilla's own musical catalogue, Jordan Ferguson shows that the contradictory, irascible and confrontational music found on Donuts is as much a result of an artist's declining health as it is an example of what scholars call “late style,” placing the album in a musical tradition that stretches back centuries.
How to Make Beats
Unleash your creative potential and start producing hip hop music today. This beginner’s guide breaks down the basics of music production and gives you the tools to start creating. Beat making isn’t a linear process, and there’s no exact science or method. Slime Green Beats provides a complete overview of the equipment, strategy, and mentality that you need to produce mind-blowing music, all without stifling your creativity. Whether you’re looking to produce your own music or start a career in music production, this handbook is a must-have. Learn beat making rules for different genres and musical styles, including hip hop, trap, R&B, and rap. You’ll learn: Setup - How to set up your home beat making studio - Tips for sound selection and melody creation - What drum layers make up a hip-hop beat - The stylistic difference between 808s and basslines Finishing - An introduction to mixing instrumentals - How to create vibrant, clean beats without over-compressing - Music theory rules for arranging - How to find and implement reliable feedback Sharing - Online marketing strategies for self-promotion - Email marketing tips to build industry connections - How to license, lease, and sell your beats - What to expect when selling exclusive beats, including track outs …And more! How to Make Beats explains music theory and technical software in easy-to-understand terms. The language of music production often feels elite, but Slime Green Beats breaks down barriers for new creators. Learn the lingo with an extensive terminology section in the back of the handbook and links to suggested resources. About the authors Slime Green Beats is led by 3E Wave and Stunna, two highly acclaimed music producers with an extensive fanbase on YouTube. With nearly a decade of beat making experience between them, their technical tips and recommendations are proven to work in the real world.
Making Beats
MAKING BEATS: SKILL PACK teaches you how to make infectious modern beats from start to finish using popular beat making software such as Native Instruments Battery, Apple Logic Pro, Steinberg Cubase, Propellerhead ReCycle, Audacity, and others. This book explains the detailed process of beat making, what tools make a beat stand out, and how to use digital audio workstations to develop beats and loops that will make listeners nod their heads. You'll learn to edit, play, sequence, quantize, layer, and mix beats with easily accessible plug-ins within Logic, Cubase, and Reason. You'll discover the uses of opensource software such as Audacity, and find out how to utilize royalty-free drum samples and files from the Internet to assist with the beat making process. You'll find clear instructions on how to set up your software so that it works properly with your MIDI hardware. No stone is left unturned. The established beat making author shares his tips, advice, and personal anecdotes for your benefit. And for a completely immersive, hands-on experience, this book includes a companion website that contains song files for each drum plug-in within each digital audio workstation covered.
