Your thoughts on beat styles?

Fade

The Beat Strangler
Administrator
illest o.g.
Since it's being discussed right now in the shoutbox, I thought I'd create some real conversation in here.

What are your thoughts of making Trap or Boom Bap, or whatever other style?

I think it's best to make whatever you feel like, as long as you're good at it. Right now a lot of beats are Trap but that's because of the popularity. On the other hand, in the 90's it was all about Boom Bap. So it's not a matter of which is better but it's about why you make a particular style.

I just find that if you're making Trap it's most likely because it's either the popularity or the money aspect. The real problem I see is that the young ones starting out don't know any better so they just make what's hot. I've also seen countless beatmaking videos where they were using mad cheesy sounds, trying to make Trap lol.
 

OGBama

Big Clit Energy
I think a producer should make whatever moves them, commerce be damned. Also if a producer and/or artist wants to have a movement it is complicated by the fact that instant gratification doesn't allow for gestation of ideas.

With Trap the mumble rappers vocal non-performance plus repetitive beats is why I don't listen, but the part of me that is open minded will listen to some instrumental Zaytoven, Drumma Boy, etc. regarding the pioneers of Trap.
 
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A.R. DASUPASTAR

A.R. DASUPASTAR
Battle Points: 104
I'm not knocking trap muzik, but I am a boom bap producer. I made like 2 trap beats in my life and they were nowhere near as better as my boom bap style of flipping sounds. There are different moods for different sub-genres of hip hop so there is diversification and versatility. To each it's own.
 

Bugsy

ILLIEN
Battle Points: 206
I think that a Producer/Beatmaker should not have to confine themselves into a genre or style. After all that is what defines Hiphop, combining different elements. The best ones In my opinion is combining both giving respect to both parties.

Most people forget that when Planet Rock came out it was a mixture of disco music and Hiphop and is one of the founding foundations of our music.
The thing that irritates most people is that most trap and mumble rap artists defines themselves as unique and that it has nothing to do with Hiphop or the other way around.
I dont think that the music is the issue, its the disrespect that came out with it.

Dont ever forget that you are an artist and part of being one is to explore and push boundaries not to confine yourself to just one.
 
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Klypse

Space Diggin..
Battle Points: 93
It all depends on the mood I'm in or what I'm doing. As can you tell, I make strictly boombap and sometimes Hyphy but I used to make trap in my earlier days of producing. Like OGBama says, what give Trap a bad name is all the shitty rappers thats doing it right now and most people likes to do it for a quick buck.
 

OGBama

Big Clit Energy
@OGBama I meant what I stated about Trap and thing is I was never a purist who waxes nostalgic about "real" Hip Hop vs. "fake" Hip Hop as music is for different contexts. I always say one person's fake is another person's real.
 
ill o.g.
Used to try and make beats with keyboards and synths and they never really "worked" it was very hit or miss. more miss than hit lol So I made alot of soul/boombap.etc but I've recently started making trap-ish beats and they are coming out pretty dope..In all honesty that "purist" mentality was holding me back. I've learned a lot and grown as a producer learning "trap" and I'm OPEN to explore more EDM styles of music..shyt I like some pop and dance beats. The rules are gone and I make whatever feels and sounds dope now. Best decision ever.
 

DJWIDEBODY

Beatmaker
GO for what U know but being a producer for a whie now , i have to challege myself i never want to get in a box or be comfortable that i think yeilds having the same ol sounding beat or using the go to drums that u dont want to let go of so while the music has changed from 15 years ago everything has to evolve , i just say stay true to it and it will show with your production
 

Sucio

Old and dirty...
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 304
I love trap......It's such a far cry from the boom bap I also love. It's like completely different ends of the spectrum....

I dabble in both as well as electronic music. I like to keep challenging myself to make something... And I just let it flow organically...whether it moves to the boom bap or trap, whatever I feel like doing.
 

RekRaptor

Producer / Composer
Battle Points: 21
I like to make music that has an ambient/spacey vibe to it, but also mix in various other styles. In terms of trap and boom bap, I prefer to make boom bap.
 
Ive always been about the boom bap, never was a fan of trap, but that said, there is some fucking good trap beats out there. When I make other styles of music other than hip hop though, its open season.

Yo, yo sucio!!! You still here. Thats whatsup.

Used to try and make beats with keyboards and synths and they never really "worked" it was very hit or miss. more miss than hit lol So I made alot of soul/boombap.etc but I've recently started making trap-ish beats and they are coming out pretty dope..In all honesty that "purist" mentality was holding me back. I've learned a lot and grown as a producer learning "trap" and I'm OPEN to explore more EDM styles of music..shyt I like some pop and dance beats. The rules are gone and I make whatever feels and sounds dope now. Best decision ever.
I hear you completely on the "purist mentality holding you back" same with me. It took me starting sampling to appreciate genres other than hip hop, and it took me making reggae and bashment to appreciate sub genres of hip hop. Life has a funny way of challenging our "never will I" moments.

@OGBama I meant what I stated about Trap and thing is I was never a purist who waxes nostalgic about "real" Hip Hop vs. "fake" Hip Hop as music is for different contexts. I always say one person's fake is another person's real.
I think there are caveats to that statement. I personally have found rap to have become a cliche of itself. Its become very predictable and so much of it all sounds the same. I get nostalgic about the "good old days" because hip hop as an art was so much more diverse back before music became a quick cash cow to people that had no passion for it(execs). Music lost its longevity in an industry that became cookie cutter and lost most of the diversity it once had.
Hell, all music used to be so much more diverse and songs made 20-30 even 40 years ago, get regular airplay. I cant see the same happening for anything post 2010, Im probably wrong, but hey, its my opinion.

I would like to add, trying to make something completely different from your comfort zone is a great tool for any producer, regardless of genre. Getting out of the comfort zone can lead to some of the biggest epiphany moments of realisation and understanding.

Since it's being discussed right now in the shoutbox, I thought I'd create some real conversation in here.

What are your thoughts of making Trap or Boom Bap, or whatever other style?

I think it's best to make whatever you feel like, as long as you're good at it. Right now a lot of beats are Trap but that's because of the popularity. On the other hand, in the 90's it was all about Boom Bap. So it's not a matter of which is better but it's about why you make a particular style.

I just find that if you're making Trap it's most likely because it's either the popularity or the money aspect. The real problem I see is that the young ones starting out don't know any better so they just make what's hot. I've also seen countless beatmaking videos where they were using mad cheesy sounds, trying to make Trap lol.

Im not sure if its society in general that has become more self centered and money orientated. People used to make music for the passion for the music and love and respect for the art and its forefathers. Nowadays people are chasing the money with little to no respect for the artform. The noobs I can understand why they think music will be the answer to their career problems, but if you are in it for just the money, then you are better off getting a real career, than chasing pipe dreams of fame and fortune if you arent willing to put the work in, and it takes a fucking hell of a lot of work.
 
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Rodas

I don't even know
Battle Points: 43
I already had this discussion with OGBama in the shout box but i'll share my opinion again xD. I have no problem with trap/southern music. I enjoy Freddie Gibbs, Jeezy, Outkast, Big Krit, Bone Thugs, Dead Prez for example are one of my favourite acts ever and most their songs are in a southern style.
My problem is with the wave of "nonsense" rappers, "Everybody got the same swag now/ Watch the way that I tear it down" is a lil uzi vert verse. Do you get the irony? He then follows up with the best bars i've ever seen and i'm a battle rap fan "Clothes from overseas, got the racks and they all C-Notes/ You is not a G though/ Lookin' at you stackin' all your money, it all green though/ I was countin' that and these all twenties, that's a G-roll" savage.
21 savage came out with this fire of a verse " Niggas rappin' 'bout shit they ain't even lived/ Niggas lyin', I can hear it in their ad-libs/ I'm poppin' Percocets, bitch, not Advil/ It's kinda fucked up what they did to Black, damn/ If I catch him in the trap, I'ma whack him/ I catch that boy in traffic, nigga, I'ma whack him/ Nigga, try to keep up with this fashion".
I think this "genre" that emerged is detrimental to music and to people. It makes them think that they can do anything without effort. Meanwhile, behind most these rappers is a huge machine that works all day to make those songs aesthetically pleasing to the listener despite having no content so that he will keep coming back for more.
Meanwhile, "It's February, it's much different from the past year/ That was the worst time, the opposite of cashmere/ And you know when life kicks you all in your ass rear/ When you down to your last blunt while you downing your last beer/ Catching your close friends in every lie/ Had you wiping your hands clean 'til they were sanitary dry/ Then you noticed the snow was standing very high/ Because yesterday it fell from the January sky". This song has 200k views on YT. Elzhi tells a phenomenal story and makes the listener really hear his depression in the song while envisioning the elements of his verse in your head. This is some Nas like shit and the man has a very small fan base compared to savage, vert, kodak, xxx, among others that don't come close to his.
I don't like "nonsense" rap. I don't even like discussing it. It just makes me mad that a lot of great projects are released every month and we don't pay attention to them because we're too busy listening to Kodak Black and seeing if he's actually trash or if there's anything worthwhile in there. BTW if you didn't catch it, Apathy and O.C.'s project Perestroika is pure flames
 

Rodas

I don't even know
Battle Points: 43
Forgot this. Beat wise, I find a lot of trap music hard to listen, but, as I already stated, some songs just do it for me. Jeezy and Gibbs for example have some beats that I absolutely love.
 

OGBama

Big Clit Energy
@Rodas nonsense has been in Rap since the beginning. One of my faves, CL Smooth, was the king of nonsense lines but the voice is why he never came under fire.
 

Rodas

I don't even know
Battle Points: 43
It's completely different @OGBama. You talking about an MC who can spit dope bars and when he wanted he (they) put out amazing songs with content, as well as nonsense songs, of course. Slick Rick also had a lot of nonsense lyrics but he's considered one of the best because of his ability to write a song. These rappers have 0 content, weak ass bars and their fanbase puts them on a pedestal that is simply ridiculous. I just get annoyed at things like this:
Russ sold a 4k arena and had to be moved to a 20k arena. Meanwhile, Pete Rock and CL Smooth only sold out on the morning of the concert in a place that holds around 500 people (jam packed).
I think nonsense rap/ ad-lib rap/ mumble rap has taken a prominent position in the forefront of hip hop and i feel that it is undeserved and very toxic. This is not what hip hop is about. It's sad that the culture that helped a lot of people to share their struggles, their vision on the world, their life experiences, in order to reach other people's hearts and create a connection, is now about "sipping lean and popping pills while smoking a cocaine laced blunt and having 5 b*s suck your dick". Drugs are becoming more and more prominent with younger people, the fuck tomorrow attitude as well, and some if it stems from the exposure that these idiots have gotten. I've done my fair share of shit you shouldn't do but I wasn't popping mollys at 15 I can tell you that and I damn sure won't glorify any of the shit I did.
P.S.: Compare any of what 21 savage is doing with this xD. A lot of nonsense lyrics but a powerful song nonetheless, with a clear message that everyone can relate with: Pete Rock & CL Smooth - They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) (Video)
 
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Fade

The Beat Strangler
Administrator
illest o.g.
Well said @Rodas. I think at this point there should be Hip Hop for the real stuff and all the crap (that's classified as "Hip Hop" today) should be thrown into the Pop category.
 

Sucio

Old and dirty...
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 304
Why should they make music that makes cents when they can make dollars?

Respect is great when you made what you wanted in the 90s and kept loyal fans throughout....
Usually those dudes have made their money, already.......

Then you had dudes like Waka rapping like this...but got no love..
 
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