Are their any protocols for recording big name rappers?

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Lanstar0

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I have a session with Young BloodZ tomorrow (http://www.youngbloodzatl.com/) but have never recorded rap, let alone big name, national acts!

I was wondering if their is a protocol to use for recording a major label rap group that has experience in much bigger studios than the one I'm working at? We are using an HDR96 and an Otari Concept 1 console. For vox, probably a BLUE Kiwi through a Manley VOX BOX.

What about "ad libs" as i think they call them, when members of the group are overdubbing talking/shouting/or just doubling individual words? Do they all want to stand around the mic at the same time to do those parts? (I know, that's a stereotype, but I don't know how true they are).

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!
 
Have plenty of bobblehead dolls handy.

It's kind of the new secret "protocall."

The rappers will think you are hip and cool if you have lots of bobbleheads -- the more, the better. Bobblehead on the console . . . Bobblehead on the toilet . . . Bobblehead in the refrigerator.

Anywhere you can think of.

Oh yea, and Vanilla Ice. Hang some Vanilla Ice posters on the wall. They'll know you mean business.

Peace out
 
Wear a basketball jersey and keep your 9 on top of the console.

Don't forget bitches. You need lots and lots of bitches.
 
:eek:

Thanks, I guess! :)

Let me clarify: I didn't mean social etiquette.. I meant protocols in recording techniques for how to achieve what they want....
 
Dude . . .


You're at homerecording dot-com. And you're asking us what to do when recording a big-name rap artist. :D

What kind of answers are you looking to get?

"Well, yea, I just got done recording JayZ in my walk-in closet. I'd highly recommend shutting off the washer/dryer, putting a nuzzle on the dog and telling the neighbors to quiet down. SSShhhh ! ! I'm trying to record Fitty and Jay-Z in here! Could you quiet down for a sec? ! "
 
chessrock said:
Dude . . .


You're at homerecording dot-com. And you're asking us what to do when recording a big-name rap artist. :D
Click to expand...

You DO have a point!

I didn't know where else to ask, though, and didn't have time to look for the appropiate forum....

Subtract "big name" from my posts, therefore making it: what to do when recording A rapper, any rapper, come on for the LOVE OF GOD!!!!!! :)
 
Appear professional and ask them how THEY want to record and give them the two options. They will appreciate that you are giving them control of their own session... or at least the illusion of control.

I always ask people HOW they want to record and give them a few scenarios and options to contemplate. Makes it look like you think of everything and have tons of experience.
 
Yea, Cloneboy makes a good point.

As far as my limited experience goes, rappers will have their own little system down already. They'll usually tell you ahead of time how they're going to be doing the session. And they tend to be very methodical and consistant about it, so as the sesssion moves on, you'll get used to it and you'll know what to do next.

It'll usually go something like: Lead > lead double (if there's a double) > hook double > backup, then listen to board mix, take a break and repeat for next song.

It's pretty easy stuff. Imagine you're hosting rap karaoke. :D Only you're recording it.
 
I wouldn't start right off the bat calling him "My Nigga"!

The guy may have a record deal, but if you've been recording for very long you may have a lot more in-studio experience.

Be self-confident, do your job the best you can, make them feel at home.

Just like you would do with any other client.

We're all just folks.
 
i just typed a huge message, then hit back on accident and it dissappeared. boy does that piss me off, i'll try again

i do rap all the time - and some people are new to the studio and they listen to me.

now just last saterday i had some people who have been in a lot of local studios. i warned them, this is in my parents basement - there is no booth/control room/etc. - and they will do it one at a time. it's one big room.

they came, insisted that they must record in a "booth" - aka my bathroom with a door that wont shut all the way - they must fit 3 opeople in there at once to record with the same mic - i must turn up the beat on the speakers very loud too, outside of this so called "booth" (complete with mass blead through to the microphone! ha) - etc.

I told them they could do all that, but not to blame me when it doesnt sound as good as the samples they listened to from me earlier. hell, i get paid either way.

they said fine, and did it.

what really was funny is that they complained about it being to hot in the booth to me. I laughed, and told them "i told you not to go in there in the first place. it feels great out here." - i got them some water though, none the less.

anyway, how'd you get Young BloodZ in your studio?! that's crazy, they are huge. I would assume they got a style of how they like to record down. just ask them, and tell him what you'd suggest, see if he'll adapt. I assume they will be a lot more proffessional than my experience with the 17-24 year old local kids (i'm 18, by the way).

just dont let em smoke in your studio! ha.
 
shackrock said:
anyway, how'd you get Young BloodZ in your studio?! that's crazy, they are huge. I would assume they got a style of how they like to record down. just ask them, and tell him what you'd suggest, see if he'll adapt. I assume they will be a lot more proffessional than my experience with the 17-24 year old local kids (i'm 18, by the way).

just dont let em smoke in your studio! ha.
Click to expand...

I got done with the session earlier tonight. It went pretty well; it was definitely pretty stressful for me, but I think they are happy with the priduct. They came in with a crew of about 12, and to this moment I still don't know who was the producer. As in, I was getting producer-like input from many people there, even though they had a producer....

They had a show in Columbus tonight, and wanted to record a song at the studio i'm working at (Blue Moon Studio) beforehand. They informed us about 1 day in advance.

And yes, they had a style of their own BUT their was some miscommunication going on that slowed us down; the producer had me record the 1st and second verses first, and then wanted to put the chorus in between. He then had me do the 2rd verse. Then he had me copy and paste the chorus between the 2nd and 3rd verse and after the 3rd verse. Pretty simple, right? Or not, since I was recording to a Mackie HDR96 .. which means after coping and pasting their was alot of moving, zooming in and lining the vocals up to the beat type deals going on!

Oh and they smoked alright - but we have a lounge adjacent to the studio! :)

They filled me in that they are going to push this track as their next single!
 
hahah, yes miscommunication was huge when those guys came in with me. the 25 year old dudes (2 of them) were the "label" people...little local label i assume, dont really know - but they DO have a PO BOX, ha!
The rappers were like 17-20, or so it looked.


i DID mean to tell you, copying the hook is one thing that EVERY SINGLE GROUP that has come in has wanted me to do. It saves them studio time/money, and that way you can be sure the hook is exactly the same each time - aka people can learn it and sing along easily, etc etc...

Lucky for me I'm on vegas 5, so It's pretty much a control C control V thing and wallah! haha.

I defiantely want to know if it's your track i'm hearing on the radio in the near future man - would you PM me so i know if it IS on?! hahaha. I dont like youngbloodz at all, but that's TITE! haha.

you sohuld send an mp3 or something even, (but of coruse, if it's not ethical to do that - send it in a month from now maybe?) haha.

PEACE
 
Lanstar0 said:
I have a session with Young BloodZ tomorrow (http://www.youngbloodzatl.com/) but have never recorded rap, let alone big name, national acts!

I was wondering if their is a protocol to use for recording a major label rap group that has experience in much bigger studios than the one I'm working at? We are using an HDR96 and an Otari Concept 1 console. For vox, probably a BLUE Kiwi through a Manley VOX BOX.

What about "ad libs" as i think they call them, when members of the group are overdubbing talking/shouting/or just doubling individual words? Do they all want to stand around the mic at the same time to do those parts? (I know, that's a stereotype, but I don't know how true they are).

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!
Click to expand...

The best approach would be to put them all in front of one mic.Simply sub-
stitute the xlr cable with a half inch gas line,put some sturdy locks on the
vox booth,and ta-dow!!!!!!!!!You got yer self a hit factory!!
 
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