One of the Realest Songs in Hip Hop….In a Long, Long Time

May 28, 2012 by strat - Comments Off

THE REASON I MAKE RAP BEATS

Nas has long been one of my favourite hip hop artists and perhaps one of the top 5 MCs of all time. April 19, 1994: Illmatic’s release date. This date was also the date that hip hop music changed for me forever. I had never heard an MC say the things Nas was saying in the way in which they were being said. Blew my mind. That album took my writing and rhyming to a whole new level. Not to mention the beats. Blew my mind again. From “New York State of Mind” to the Q-Tip produced “One Love”, It felt as though the energy of the culture itself had possessed Nas and his collaborators and producers for the period while this album was being created. I felt as though I had to make beats and make them as sick as what I was hearing. Of course back then there was no one to buy beats online. Shoot I didn’t even know too much about the internet then, or computers for that matter. Music like that is why I do what I do. Some like to call it “real hip hop” but I prefer not to imply that newer hip hop is less real because most of you young artists who are presently doing your thing, some of you even buy beats online at my site, are in this present era and honestly you’re doing good work. I’d rather say that songs which define the overall feeling of the culture are the songs that continue to inspire me to make rap beats.

INSPIRATION: THIS IS WHY YOU BUY BEATS

The video above is Nas’ latest offering from his upcoming album “Life Is Good”. The song “Daughters” is simply Nas speaking on his life as a father and the ups and downs of raising a girl, not only in this society, but raising a girl as a single black man with his own past transgressions still haunting him, and raising a girl as, well Nas. This song is inspirational on so many levels. To those of you who have daughters it will make you stop and think about your own relationships with them. To you artists, just listening to the beat, Nas’ flow and his lyrical content are sure to send you straight to your rhyme book or to your studio to pour out the creative juices that come spilling over. To you guys, this is why you need original rap beats. This is why you’ve always wanted and still feel that urge to be the best MC ever. This is why you buy beats online, and thus, this is why I’m here. Thank you and thank Nas and every other artist that continues to inspire the engine of hip hop.

How To Create Beats the Industry Will Demand

May 21, 2012 by strat - Comments Off

CREATING RAP BEATS THEY WILL WANT TO BUY

In the video above, I take you step by step and part by part through the creation of one of my latest beats. I’ve started to attract more success in terms of getting more beats sold, working with more artists and creating and selling more loopsets and sample packs for other producers. Most recently, I was connected with a licensing company interested in placing my music (rap beats, pop beats, full songs etc) in advertisements and TV shows. I’ll have an update on that in another post. Right now I’m just giving a little insight into what i do to make my sound more appealing to a wider cross section of artists who buy beats online and producers who use loops and samples.

There is no magical formula for making hot rap beats that artists will want to buy online and I can’t teach you what is not naturally a part of the talent you would need to possess. However I will give you a few points to give an idea of my personal process

PROFESSIONAL RAP BEATS START WITH A PROFESSIONAL MINDSET

If you are a producer trying to achieve a marketable sound with your rap beats, or if you are an artist who buys beats online then these points may interest you:

Develop at least a basic musically understanding. Learning to play chords, understand scales and the formulae for identifying major and minor scales are great ways to improve your skills. (Google the “Circle of Fifths” as well)
Understand the genre. Different genres are made up in different ways and they each carry their own unique sounds and styles. Learn which types of drums and tones suit which genre and use them well.
Listen to the music being released in your genre. If you’re making rap beats, listen to what’s hot in the hip hop world, both the mainstream and the underground. Chances are you will want to be able to cater to either type of artist.
Remember you are in business to succeed. Learn as much as you can about marketing and the psychology of why people buy things. It’s not just about great beats but also about an overall mindset.
Try to collect sounds and instruments that are being used in the latest styles. If your sound seems dated then it will be more difficult to attract artists with that they hear from you.

BUY BEATS ONLINE FROM THOSE WITH PROVEN EXPERTISE

Artists, it will be easy to tell the producers who follow the points above (or similar guidelines). The ones who don’t will have beats that are probably not well mixed or just don’t have the appeal of today’s hits (both mainstream and underground) that you are looking for. If you do buy beats online, make sure your money is well spent on quality beats.

Rihanna – This is Why You must ALWAYS Follow Your Dreams

May 10, 2012 by strat - Comments Off

Rihanna_Terry Richardson

A SALUTE TO RIHANNA FROM A PROUD BARBADIAN, WHO HAPPENS TO MAKE RAP BEATS

Hot off the press comes Rihanna’s new racy photos, taken by Terry Richardson. As usual she is the epitome of sexy, but this is not what I’m here to talk about. Hot on the heels of her debut acting stint in the blockbuster “Battleship”, Rihanna has apparently been cast in the role as a villain in the upcoming “Fast & Furious 6”. So let’s see, she’s been on top of the music world with hit after hit since 2005, she is a perennial trendsetter in the fashion world and now, a movie star. A bet she’s glad she went down the rabbit hole!

As a fellow Barbadian I just want to send all my love and support to Rihanna. Though some of us trash talk her and openly disapprove of what some call raunchy behaviour, me I’m open minded and think she should just keep doing her. Not to mention the fact that since her music has taken on a much harder edge, I’m hoping I can get her to check out the rap beats I’m slingin’ LOL!

MESSAGE TO ALL ARTISTS, WHETHER YOU BUY RAP BEATS ONLINE OR MAKE YOUR OWN

Rihanna is a great example of why you must ALWAYS follow your dreams. No matter how many times naysayers tel you that you’re being unrealistic, tell them reality is created by thought, emotion and action and that you intend to align those three things to create yours as you see fit! She has gone from a little girl singing at the Combermere School (here in Barbados) to…well, Rihanna.

If your aim is to be a rap artist, whether you’ve got multi-platinum dreams or you just want to be a hometown hero, the only one responsible for investing in your dream is you. Don’t expect everything to come free. This is why we are here, to offer support and a place where you can buy beats online at really affordable rates. Obviously you can’t keep using industry instrumentals because the world wants to hear your originals, and for that you need original rap beats.

I WANTED TO MAKE RAP BEATS FOR A LIVING, I BELIEVED IN ME AND NOW…

Well I’m not doing Rihanna numbers yet but that’s the aim and no matter what your dream is, it will only come to fruition if you can see it in your mind’s eye and feel it as though it’s already real. Instead of looking at what others have and feeling as though you’re lacking, look at all the blessings you have and use that as fuel to go harder after your dreams. Don’t sit there and criticize successful people as though they’ve done wrong, be glad for there success. Yours is coming. Get up and get what you need. If you’re a rapper, buy rap beats. If you’re a basketball player buy new kicks and new ball and get on the playground. If you’re an aspiring doctor or lawyer, get the books you need. Life is actually not that complicated!

MIXTAPE REVIEW: Jay. D & Nelly Nell – The Outline

May 03, 2012 by strat - Comments Off

The Outline - Jay. D & Nelly Nell

Every once in a while in Hip Hop this happens. An artist or group/pair artists comes along and brings a project that makes you say “Why the fuck are these guys not household names worldwide?” Then you remember that fame in this era is not necessarily based on talent. This is why I love independent artists. This is why I continue to strive to make the best rap beats possible, so that I can support the indie Hip Hop world.

Enter Jay.D and Nelly Nell and I’m sorry but I need to say this. This mixtape is one of the most refreshing things I’ve heard in Hip Hop in a while. I almost felt like I was transported back to what I like to call the glory days of Hip Hop, which saw the rise of Jay-Z, Nas, Fat Joe, Wu Tang, Busta Rhymes and others.Representing Philadelphia, Jay. D and Nelly Nell came through and delivered “The Outline”. The tape plays like an album from start to finish. From the opening track, which happens to be the title track, the pair of MCs spit bars over soulful yet hardcore beats like their lives depended on it. Listening to these guys brings to mind legendary duos Hip Hop like The Beatnuts, Raekwon & Ghostface, Heltah Skeltah and Mobb Deep. The subject matter ranges from clever braggadocio lyrics to getting high (“Roll Another Plane R.A.P” on that ill Jill Scott beat “Long Walk”) to women and more. Many of the songs have the potential to be hits with the right marketing.

Witty lyrics abound and instead of trying to quote any of the punchlines, I’ll simply suggest you take a listen. More than just the lyrics, these guys come across on the mic with such an effortless flair and ability to paint pictures and mesh seamlessly with the beats. In short the tape is a pleasing listening experience especially if you’re a true Hip Hop head. I give this tape a straight 5/5, no joke. Go download it NOW it’s right here. And to all you artists that may be reading this, here is a challenge. The next time you look to buy beats online and get your lyrics together to drop another tape, push yourself to reach the highest level possible because these cats are setting the bar way up in the stratosphere.

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