OK -- Im gonna be HONEST...

  • Thread starter Thread starter crunkthanamug
  • Start date Start date
C

crunkthanamug

New member
First of all, i assume we all come to this forum to better ourselves. (I know I do!) That being said, I hope no one takes OFFENSE at what Im about to say -- because Im REALLY trying to keep this CONSTRUCTIVE. It seems like every other day someone posts a link to a wack ass song or a wack ass beat, that they actually WANT someone to listen to! I honestly dont know whats worse -- these SONGS, or the people that reply saying they're "HOT." If I just stood by and said nothing, I wouldnt be doing my part for the forum. Now Im not gonna say any names, cuz that would be bogus. What I am gonna do is drop a few general "tips" that might actually help you get better...

As far as the vocals go...

All of songs Ive heard have decent lyrics. All of the rappers have good "rap" voices. The thing that evades most of you is proper delivery! Some people might say "2 outta 3 aint bad", but shit thats still a "D."
Ride the beat, but dont strap yourself to it! One of MY artists had this same problem until we started working together... I would ask to see his notebook and then flow his same rhyme differently to show what I was talkin about -- 9 times out of 10 you can take the same verse (that didnt fit before) and just flip it into something usable! If you follow the beat too closely, the song loses all of its "dynamics" and sounds STIFF. The goal of a beat is to "sell" a VOCAL performance, the vocal being the #1 element of the song. If you ride the beat too hard, the vocals NEVER stand out, they never occupy their own "space."

Rule #1 -- If you find yourself "stretching" words all the time to make them fit, you probably wanna use a different rhyme scheme! "If it dont fit, dont force it!"
Rule #2 -- Some of you sound like you try to squeeze 2 pages of lyrics into 16 bars...rapping fast is only effective when done with a well-planned rhyme scheme...if done poorly it only sounds sloppy and RUSHED.

now for beats...just a few suggestions

(1) Thick ass arpeggiated piano melodies sound AMATUER! Especially when they are the only thing that distinguishes the verse part of the beat from the chorus.
(2) There should DEFINITELY be that difference I implied in (1)
(3) Something should happen at the start of the 9th bar of the verse...if only a cymbal or windchime (something to "refresh" the beat) You might even wanna put a pad or low level string in at this point to add some "drama" and set the stage for the chorus...
(4) The same loud string melody playing all the way through a song is ANNOYING, no matter how much you tweak the drum pattern.
(5) This is probably the most important rule...Dont over-produce the beat, know when to stop. You dont need 5 different synth sounds on the same beat! How can you fit vocals over a beat that youve already STUFFED?
(6) When playing keys, use realistic patterns and velocities. Every note SHOULDNT be the same volume
(7) Strings should be used SPARINGLY (most of the time)
(8) If youre using a soft synth, take advantage of the effects (when needed). Especially the reverb and delay. Sometimes thats all you need to make the beat sound better, instead of just putting in more notes cluttering it up.
(9) Chords sound better than individual notes as far as making a melody.

Just shoot for the stars! :D Dont try to be the best artist on soundclick, try to be the best PERIOD! (That helps me step my game up every day)
Thats all I could come up with off top, but feel free to add to the list if you think i missed something. And if you think Im wrong, I wanna know that too. Holla back.
 
Last edited:
I'll say this I think there is alot folks that cant take critisism well. On the flip side thought its easier to just say something is whack or hot. I think alot folk just want to hear what you really think of thier stuff or else they wouldnt post it in the first place. I know Id rather see 18 folks post and say its whack and why they think so then to have 18 folks like it and dont post anything at all. Or 18 folks post and say it's hot and those that think it's garbage dont post at all. You are really not doing the person justice by not saying anything at all. Regardless if they can take critism or not in the end they will think about it and be like well maybe this song wasnt as good as I thought it was. I know my self I have decided on what singles to push by posting songs on this board. You cats are my peers we all love music so respect your opinions. The raw public will like anything sometimes if they hear it enough so that's why I come here.
 
Crunk ..i feel what you saying..but like Cha Said most cats come for pointers to improve on what they have..and they listen to what we have to say to each other..everyone has a say about each track or song dropped..but if they think its hot the way it is and 100 others think it is they might have a hit in their eyes...

Let take a look at D4L "Laffy Taffy" i think its the simpliest beat, typical strip club lyrics, in the world right now..but someone told them it could be a hit..now its all over the airways..and like anything you play 24 times a day its going to grow on you..and that is what happending with that song..they play it so much now it has grown on people that didnt like it before..but some of them like it now..

I see it like this if they can take the heat..then they wont post anymore..but the one that can..you will see improvement..cause they listen to what is being said..and use it for the next project they do..
 
My personal opinion is if you can't take criticism than don't hope to make music professionally, because you're going to hear a lot of no's before you hear a yes. I don't know about everybody else, but I know I heard a LOT of criticism from back when I was 13 all the way up to now. I don't sweat that because I know that it's not being said (in most cases) out of haterism, but it's their true opinion and sometimes other people see what I'm blinded by in my own work.
 
I agree with bknot1 and chalin27, Im new as hell. And I still got alot of learning to do. I posted up some lyrics, People are giving me honest advice about them and how I wrote them. and I love it, cause its helping me out. Im gonna keep getting better and better til I cant get no better. There honest advices is whats helping me out. And when I do get my first recording, Ill probably post it up so people can tell me what I need to work on. Like bknot1 and fieve taught me a little about bars, I didnt know anything about that, and I still wouldnt if they didnt tell me. I still wouldnt know.
 
i think more often than not, its all about how u say something than what it is you are saying. generally speaking, especially at this site, we all are looking to improve. we do not simply want a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" response . . . but on this site - the nature of this site should compel us all to provide concrete, constructive criticism (which really is more like "tips for improvement" than criticism) to any post where someone is asking for opinions . . . .

no one should even be told "ur hot" without some type of explanation
n certainly a "ur wack" statement should be backed up with reasons
 
See you can't take it to heart if someone tells you that they're not feeling what you've got. If you have a lot of people that are telling you that, usually it means there's something that you might want to re-check in your flow, beat, whatever it might be. You can't please everybody all the time though. I mean look at the Laffy Taffy song. Me personally I hate it (but when I look at it, the flaws keep me from seeing it for what it really is). But I know a LOT of people who like simplistic strip club songs that they can shake their ass too. A lot of females like this song. So do I hate on it? I'd like to but I won't. I just take my own skills and work with that. Who knows....two years later that might just be known as "that Laffy Taffy song".

Anyway, if I'm really feeling something or seeing improvement on anybody here, it's easy for me to say so. If I like something that someone else has done and I think I can learn from that, I'm more than likely to just come out in an email, PM, or whatever and just ask you. Most of you here know that firsthand lol. To the newbies, it's good to see that you guys are grindin' and tryin' to learn and add on to what you have. It's also good that the criticism that you have taken you haven't taken it as everyone hating on you. I've had some cats that I mentored on stuff act like that and it gets annoying to the point you just want to stop.

So keep on your grind and it's all good,
Fie.
 
I'm not gonna lie I come here all the time to just listen to what you cats have cause I cant stand some stuff that's out now. I generally dont listen to new post unless there's nothing else to listen to on here. I'll try to listen to new post more often.
 
Nativikee said:
I agree with bknot1 and chalin27, Im new as hell. And I still got alot of learning to do. I posted up some lyrics, People are giving me honest advice about them and how I wrote them. and I love it, cause its helping me out. Im gonna keep getting better and better til I cant get no better. There honest advices is whats helping me out. And when I do get my first recording, Ill probably post it up so people can tell me what I need to work on. Like bknot1 and fieve taught me a little about bars, I didnt know anything about that, and I still wouldnt if they didnt tell me. I still wouldnt know.
Click to expand...

Im not mad at the people who come here KNOWING they need help...because thats what this place is for! And I do post when someone genuinely needs help...its just these other people who come through only to advertise some BULLSHIT so bad im mad i wasted my time listening to it! The ones that post here just to "up" their spins on soundclick. I mean some of this shit can make you wanna say "Come on man...you KNOW you had no business even saving THAT!" Thats why I wrote down those general "guidelines." Im trying to raise the bar of what people here think is "hot," and at the same time show them how to get their material there. I mean when your vocals are all over the place sounding clumsy on a track, how can you even post it here like "Some more FIRE from... [artist name here]" Do people REALLY think THAT is hot??? They must be smokin that "GOOD" I guess thats my real peeve...my standard of "hot" is different than that of many people here.
 
Everyone has different opinions of what's hot. I do agree with you about the spam type shit where people only seem to post their stuff and not reply to others and so on.

I know that I've improved vastly since first coming to this site and I have to say that I learned more here than anywhere else.. not just THIS board, but the whole HR.com BBS.

I've gotten my share of bad feedback in the past too and it's always driven me to do better next time around. I'm still learning and improving and I look forward to people's responses when I post a new track.

But, as you said, I'm not in the clear because I only tend to respond to tracks I like and I'm not too big with the detail why. I'll try to be more specific in the future, but my overall taste in music isn't gonna change. If I like something now, I like it.

-Springfield
 
I think it might be unfair for you to tell someone what is HOT and what is NOT. Unless, of course, your just giving your own opinion of what you think of the song. For example, what is HOT to you means nothing to me! Now, for you to critique what you think the song needs is Constructive. You can't get mad at someone who is proud of what they did, just give them an honest opinion. Everyone starts out as a Rookie! You can only learn by posting and accepting feedback!
 
Saying Whts Hot N Whats Not Is An Opinion. No One Says It (i Certainlyl Hope Not) As If They Are Under The Impression That The Staement Is A Fact -- Its Their Opinion About Something

Other Than That, I Think We R All In Agreement . . . Now . . . Hmmm Lets Go Evaluate Somethin!!!
 
Trumpspade said:
I think it might be unfair for you to tell someone what is HOT and what is NOT. Unless, of course, your just giving your own opinion of what you think of the song. For example, what is HOT to you means nothing to me! Now, for you to critique what you think the song needs is Constructive. You can't get mad at someone who is proud of what they did, just give them an honest opinion. Everyone starts out as a Rookie! You can only learn by posting and accepting feedback!
Click to expand...

Thats true...my opinion of whats hot isnt universal. Thats really not what I was trying to say...Id like to clear that up. I know the kinda beats I was making when I first started...pure GARBAGE! -- but if you asked me back then I woulda said they were hot too! After I started this thread I realized EXACTLY how I got better. My idea of what was hot evolved (ex. an arpeggiated chorus didnt cut it anymore) ...and by following those principles I outlined earlier, I became MUCH BETTER. Thats why I shared them, those are things I had to learn on my own -- now some of you dont have to. Thats what I was trying to get at earlier...just couldnt find the right words. I wasnt aware of this (beats) forum when i was starting out, everything was trial and error. Reading your reply reminded me of my "rookie" days and that I need to be more patient with those just starting out while they are still "evolving." So I thank you. :)
 
crunkthanamug said:
Im not mad at the people who come here KNOWING they need help...because thats what this place is for! And I do post when someone genuinely needs help...its just these other people who come through only to advertise some BULLSHIT so bad im mad i wasted my time listening to it! The ones that post here just to "up" their spins on soundclick. I mean some of this shit can make you wanna say "Come on man...you KNOW you had no business even saving THAT!" Thats why I wrote down those general "guidelines." Im trying to raise the bar of what people here think is "hot," and at the same time show them how to get their material there. I mean when your vocals are all over the place sounding clumsy on a track, how can you even post it here like "Some more FIRE from... [artist name here]" Do people REALLY think THAT is hot??? They must be smokin that "GOOD" I guess thats my real peeve...my standard of "hot" is different than that of many people here.
Click to expand...

Yeah I kind of know what your saying. If I was already recording and making songs right now. Id be posting them up to get opinions. Me though I would just be asking oppinions and what I need to work on. I would ask for atleast 10 opinions if more than 5 are negative than I woulndt put them on my album. I guess what you are saying is for the people who say there song is tight but yet 10 opinions, 10 negatives and 0 positives than I feel you on that, Because someone can think there own shits good but really its the people who listen too you thats counts. Until I came to this sight. I didnt know how much learning I was in for. And I really cant learn as much right now cause I got to get a new computer, which im getting that in march. Which I was reading what you were saying about beats up there. I got a bad habit doing that. Using mainly piano and stuff. Which Im still learning that and I am gonna keep what you said in mind. Cause that probably will help me out a little.
 
Last edited:
I AM VERY IMPRESSED!!!!!

I like the sharing of opinions, knowledge, views, humbleness, and thoughts (especially without arguing).
 
It's good that it doesn't turn into drama just for speaking what's on your mind. I can respect that.
 
criticism

Man I don't know about you guys, but I've learned to always want and take criticism. It makes you grow and go to the next level. If I never got criticism, I don't think I would be at the level I'm today. And I'm still growing... When I ask for criticism, I just ask to tell me what works and what doesn't. And if something is wack, tell me what is bad about it and what can I do to make it better. If you just get criticism without what you can do to make something better, you'll never grow. You'll just go back to the lab and try ta find out what everyone thought was wack or good about it and you'll never go to the next level. In this industry eat criticism with a spoon. Take all you can get. Cause you will get criticism everyday. Some good some bad. And most important, if someone says something is wack, DON'T THROW THE PRODUCTION IN THE TRASH!!! Sit back, think of what people have said and fix it! I've turned a wack production into some tight sh*it. Then when someone hears it again, they'll say, "Man! You flipped that sh*it! Now that's the best feeling. So keep on the grind and if you love making music, you'll stick with it and never give up! :cool:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top