Originality

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bugz McNair
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Bugz McNair

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I'm a relatively new Hip-Hop producer. I've messed around with it since I was 12, but I've only recently started taking it very seriously. I just now started getting the hang of it, and have been showcasing some of my beats to family and friends.

Well one day I sent a few beats to one of my friends who rhymes, and he told me something. He said, "It's cool, but if you and(insert other producer) both sent me beats, I wouldn't be able to tell who made what.

Now at first I was really offended. For one, I can tell just by listening to the other guys beats, that all he did was find a sample and loop it for 3 minutes. I chop my samples up, filter and EQ them, yada yada yada, and what you get is a beat that most people wouldn't even recognize as far as the original sample goes. I also incorporate live instrumentation into my beats.

But then I thought about it for a bit, and realized that if he can't tell the difference as an MC, then how are casual listeners going to be able to. But more importantly how do I develop my own signature style.

I'll be the first to admit I'm not the greatest beat maker. I'm not even sure that's what I'm aiming for. But I still like to always set myself apart.

Does anyone else worry about this? Or even care? lol
 
Jus like what I left on this other guys post be original bra. You can't drop a whole album with samples use them rarely.
 
To me sampling is an art, and a lifestyle. I know it's not very highly regarded, and I can appreciate where people who see it that way are coming from. But I love digging in the crates, and listening to vinyl, looking for sounds, drum breaks, and open notes. I love the entire process. Whether it's tweaking a sound into my own, by EQing it just right, or arranging it into a totally new piece of music. I play various other instruments(Guitar, drums, keyboard, saxophone), but there's nothing that can quite match a sampled Hip-Hop beat.

I make beats because I enjoy it, and I love to do it. And sampling for me fulfills an urge more so than composing original music for beats. I don't typically make beats with the intention of rapping over it. But I tend to have emcees want to hop on my beats anyway.

I do compose original music, don't get me wrong. That's a whole other process in and of itself. It's just that, ironic enough as it is, flipping samples creatively takes originality too. I understand how looping a song isn't very creative, or original. But you can't tell me that there aren't tons of bands, solo musicians, beat makers, or what have you, that lack originality as well, with their original music.

And so I don't really see a problem with having an entire project done with samples, or any other way for that matter. I was just curious if anyone had any advice or tips to set themselves apart from others when it comes to making beats. It's actually pretty funny, because I have just started realizing how I want to develop my craft, and what I can do to set myself apart lol

Thank you for your response (:
 
Bugz McNair said:
To me sampling is an art, and a lifestyle. I know it's not very highly regarded, and I can appreciate where people who see it that way are coming from. But I love digging in the crates, and listening to vinyl, looking for sounds, drum breaks, and open notes. I love the entire process. Whether it's tweaking a sound into my own, by EQing it just right, or arranging it into a totally new piece of music. I play various other instruments(Guitar, drums, keyboard, saxophone), but there's nothing that can quite match a sampled Hip-Hop beat.

I make beats because I enjoy it, and I love to do it. And sampling for me fulfills an urge more so than composing original music for beats. I don't typically make beats with the intention of rapping over it. But I tend to have emcees want to hop on my beats anyway.

I do compose original music, don't get me wrong. That's a whole other process in and of itself. It's just that, ironic enough as it is, flipping samples creatively takes originality too. I understand how looping a song isn't very creative, or original. But you can't tell me that there aren't tons of bands, solo musicians, beat makers, or what have you, that lack originality as well, with their original music.

And so I don't really see a problem with having an entire project done with samples, or any other way for that matter. I was just curious if anyone had any advice or tips to set themselves apart from others when it comes to making beats. It's actually pretty funny, because I have just started realizing how I want to develop my craft, and what I can do to set myself apart lol

Thank you for your response (:
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Not tryna talk slick to you bra but its common since, come up with your own style. Such as coming up with signature patterns for percussion or tweak a certain instrument (like Zaytoven does) to where if they hear that sound 9/10 its your music
 
mista jones d said:
Not tryna talk slick to you bra but its common since, come up with your own style. Such as coming up with signature patterns for percussion or tweak a certain instrument (like Zaytoven does) to where if they hear that sound 9/10 its your music
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Oh I definitely experiment with time signatures, different instruments, patterns, etc. That's still achievable with samples. Not to mention, I do so many different genres, and work with different people so I kinda of infuse everything I've learned into what I do. Like I said, I still make original music. But that doesn't stop me from loving sample based music so much.
 
I'll have to look up some of Zaytoven's work. I checked out a few people he has worked with. I don't like mainstream rap, really. But who know's I just may learn something (:
 
Bugz McNair said:
I'll have to look up some of Zaytoven's work. I checked out a few people he has worked with. I don't like mainstream rap, really. But who know's I just may learn something (:
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Naw he isn't classified as a mainstream producer but he has produced for many people. He is versatile too he made Usher's "There Goes My Baby".
 
It's cool to get feedback from people, but worrying so much about what people say and letting it influence your growth as a musician won't help you one bit. My suggestion is that you develop your own sound through what sounds right or comfortable to you and you'll end up happier and more successful in the end.
 
I wouldn't say I'm so much worried, just more conscience of everything now. That's the best advise I've heard so far in this thread, thank you! I definitely want to let myself develop naturally.
 
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