Articles

5 Lessons I've Learned From Making Beats, Part 1

Ever since I first touched a piece of studio equipment in the 90's, I was fascinated with the process of making music. I read everything I could about studio recording in magazines and books, where all the techniques were laid out right there in black and white on paper. I read about how to overdub, how to mic a drum, and how to mix, but one thing that these magazines and books always left out wer...

Should You Only Make Hip Hop Beats?

I'm sure that most of you read the title of this article and were immediately confused. Why would I even DARE ask such a question, especially on a Hip Hop production community such as IllMuzik? Just the mere thought of making beats other than Hip Hop has probably never even crossed your mind (or maybe it has?), but maybe it's just what you need in order to excel at making music....

Why Producers Should Demand Respect

I've often wondered why producers are overlooked and not treated as equal to rappers. I know that rappers are at the forefront and are the ones seen on stage, in videos, and are heard on the airwaves, but producers, however, are the ones that piece everything together and make sure that every single song they touch sounds great. So why is it that producers get pushed aside?...

Does Money Affect Your Beat Making?

Money is very important, but so is music. Without music, there would be no money, and vice versa. When it comes to making beats and possibly making money from those beats, you could be faced with some tough choices, namely, does money affect your beat making?...

The Hip Hop Music Industry Is Oversaturated

With what exactly? If you have to ask me that question then you must be either blind, deaf, dumb, or all of those combined. If that's the case then I should call you DJ Helen Keller. Hip Hop music is at an all-time high of oversaturation and it doesn't look like it's going to end anywhere in the near future, so what can we do?...

The Rise Of The Finger Smelling Rappers

There has been a disturbing trend in the world of Hip Hop over the past decade or so, and it's something that needs to be addressed NOW. I actually first discovered it back in 1996. I know it's hard to believe but it began back in the day when a friend of mine came over one day to freestyle. What happened next deeply disturbed me but at the same time it made me laugh hysterically. The trend? Finge...

Hip Hop Needs To Start Over

Some say that everything eventually comes back into style and I strongly believe that the same can hold true for Hip Hop. We've seen it go through many stages over the past few decades, and it's at the point now where a change is greatly needed....

5 Reasons Why You Should Make Beats At Night

Making beats can be a very time-consuming affair, and often most of us just can't find the time to really sit down and get creative in the studio. Between our jobs, family, friends, and regular daily chores, making beats can often be at the very bottom of our to-do list. I find that in today's world, the days never seem long enough to do anything, let alone make music....

I'm A Beat Making Minimalist

Minimalism is usually looked at as a lifestyle where a person has a mattress on the floor, a small table with a book, and a jar of mustard in the fridge.... or that could be poverty. Nonetheless, being a minimalist is actually something where a person de-clutters their lives by removing unnecessary things, from physical items to relationships....

5 Reasons Why You Should Totally Make Beats

After my previous article, "5 Reasons Why You Should Never Make Beats", I gave a rundown of why you should never make beats and that it can actually result in broken bones and/or death. For those of you that were too scared by the article and want something more uplifting, well then I'm here to tell you that there are five reasons why you should totally make beats...

Budgeting For Your Next Purchase

Buying the latest hardware or software is expensive, as we can all attest to. Once you buy your main pieces of gear, you then have to add your software and then all the little things such as cables, stands, drives, and much more. Add all that up and you will break your bank account real fast. The goal of this article is to help you make smart purchases and still have some money left in your pocket...

Why Teaming Up With Other Producers Is A Good Thing

As music producers, we tend to spend a lot of time alone making beats, mixing, or just coming up with ideas for our next creation. We also spend a lot of time digging for records and shopping for new gear. What if you were to spend that time with other producers? What would be the outcome?...

5 Reasons Why You Should Never Make Beats

Making beats seems to be very popular nowadays and with good reason. There are plenty of beat makers out there that are looking to make that next big hit that could possibly land them lucrative work amongst some of the top Hip Hop artists on the planet. The problem is that you should not make beats. Ever. This is why....

5 Reasons Why You Suck At Making Beats

Yes, you suck at making beats. Okay, maybe not, but too often I've heard beats that were either good or sub par and could use a lot of work. I'm not saying I'm a Hip-Hop-making genius, far from it, but let's face it - most beat makers don't like to receive feedback unless it's positive....

Are Young Rappers Stealing Classic Hip Hop Songs?

Hip Hop is based on sampling, from the early days when DJ's would spin two copies of the same record and creating their own breakbeats. Rap music has come a long way since then, yet producers, beatmakers, and rappers are still sampling. Some sample small snippets, others take entire songs and claim it as their own....

Is Graffiti Art Or Vandalism?

Graffiti in this day in age is usually very temporary. Most graffiti writers accept this and understand that something they paint might be gone the next day, it comes with the territory. I've noticed a recent trend for more legal murals or ones commissioned on store walls to deter tagging. It's worked for a large part, but you still have crackhead kids who will tag over anything....

The Downfall Of Rap Battles

This past week, the entire world witnessed a tragedy in Hip Hop music. There was a rap battle between Canibus and Dizaster at the King of the Dot event on June 9th. For all of the fans that saw what went down, they were completely shocked. Canibus was "freestyling" by reading off of a notepad!...

How To Not Sound Like A Rookie, Or Fake It Until You Make It!

It is fantastic working with new up and coming talent, the perspective is fresh and often the newer artist still has that fire that the industry tends to beat out of you. But at times I notice a few habits that less experienced artists have that make them look like a newbie. So I figured I would make a list of the worst problems I have observed that make you look like a rookie!...

In The Lab: Are You Afraid To Sample?

The Beastie Boys have been presented with a lawsuit claiming that they used un-cleared samples on "Licensed to Ill" and "Paul's Boutique". The tracks in question are Trouble Funk's "Say What" and "Drop The Bomb". The lawsuit claims that these samples were used without permission and the fact that these two albums have been in circulation for over twenty years, means that they have profited tremend...

Rap Albums Are Still Needed

I can remember back to when I first heard an entire rap album. It was 1986 and I was listening to the Beastie Boys' "Licensed To Ill" on vinyl. The whole rap concept was new to me even though I had been listening to what some would call "Electro" since I was heavily into breakdancing and its culture....