While it is not uncommon for today’s hip hop artists to utilize live drummers and studio percussionists, rap music nonetheless goes hand in hand with artificially-created beats.
Analog drum machines have existed in some shape or form since the 1930s.
But it wasn’t until the 1970’s when rap artists and disc jockeys began using tape loops and juggled rhythms on turntables that synthetic backbeats really came into their own.
Rap music had solidified into a genre by the beginning of the 1980s.
And the rising need for beats created a niche that was quickly filled by modern music programming hardware and software.
How to Make Rap Beats – The Style
The classic rap beat typically uses some combination of a funky 4/4 bass drum, snare and high-hat loop, several bars in length, and possibly a drum fill or two to break up verses. Some definitions of “beat” also include the bassline, background vocals and other sounds or instruments that fill out a song or give it character like hand claps, bells, keys, whistles, etc. However, rap is by definition all about the vocals and the beat is mostly there to keep time and create a vibe.
Of course, today’s rap is more diverse and there are many takes on how to make rap beats. Artists can go for classic beats like the Roland TR-808 (“808”) or follow in the footsteps of some of today’s MCs and make big productions with realistic-sounding, high quality instrument samples and elaborate compositions. It is not uncommon to hear electric guitar leads, solos and genre crossovers, and the pool of potential samples grows with each and every song that a band or artist produces. Nonetheless, rap’s defining characteristics generally remain intact – the bounce of the rhythm and the chanted rhymes from the MC or group of MCs.
The Tools for Making Rap Beats
Learning how to make rap beats requires an ear for rhythm and a bit of practice, and there are a number of avenues the budding beat-maker can take. The most difficult and expensive way would likely be to find a place to set up and mic an actual drum kit, record someone playing it and then mix down the tracks. Most commonly, however, beat-makers use physical or software-based sequencers and drum machines.
Sequencers are devices capable of creating loops from sampled beats such as breaks from funk songs, whereas drum machines produce digitally programmed sounds. Eventually companies producing modern drum machines and sequencers began to merge these two dynamics and today the terms “sequencer” and “drum machine” are somewhat interchangeable.
These days, computers make everything easier and creating beats is no exception. Although external drum machines and sequencers continue to exist, there are now programs that can perform the same functions cheaper and with less fuss. These programs are descendents of early devices like the 808, famous for its bass drum, snare and hi-hat samples, and successors like the more complex 909 – but they go much further.
The Software for Making Rap Beats
Beat-making software is used either as a stand-alone product or as part of a digital recording studio suite capable of capturing live instruments. In either case, beats are usually programmed into a grid hit-by-hit or by combining pre-programmed measures, and can be altered in terms of volume, tempo, time signature, timbre, and other qualities.
Songwriters willing to shell out the cash can purchase more sophisticated programs for making beats like FL Studio (formerly Fruity Loops) or Pro Tools, but if the goal is simply to make basic back-beats, a lower-cost drum machine program like BeatCraft or PC Drummer or a even a free one such as HammerHead, which is geared more towards rap and electro, will do the trick. Once beats are mixed down to an exportable file, they can then be used at any time, on their own or mixed with samples and melodies on a free recording program like Audacity.
For a more hands-on experience, songwriters can try using a MIDI keyboard, which synchronizes individual tones with keys that, when pushed, trigger the sounds. This is used for percussion as well as for bass and other instruments, and allows for a more natural flow than is easily achieved through grid programming. However, this method requires precision and, likely, re-takes.
One important thing to note when embarking on beat-crafting is the potential legal ramifications. The issue of copyright infringement is as old as sampling and the territory is still murky. Songwriters must be careful, when using any material written and recorded by other artists, to either get permission or consider dropping the sample from the track. However, with the plethora of beat-making solutions on the market, the aspiring DJ or MC should have no problem figuring out how to create rap beats and make them his or her own. In today’s high-tech environment, anyone can learn how to make rap beats and drum loops for any style or genre.
Photo courtesy of Orange_Beard
