Instrumental Mind Control
I’ve been making beats for about 9 years now. I’ve made a lot of beats over time and I have learned a LOT! I’ve learned the basics and have built my style to where I’m comfortable with how I’m doing it. But lately I’ve gotten a little bored with the same old filtered sample, boom bap drum style and what not. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love that about hip hop beats. I use filters a lot and sometimes that boom bap is beautiful! The problem is, I wish that I could do more.
I had to think of a way to feel refreshed and more motivated. I love making hip hop and I will always have love – those are my roots. With what I’ve already learned and the style that I’ve settled with, I just want to introduce another element into that, you know? So I decided to play around with some different sounds. I’ve been sampling for years and it’s cool. But I thought about learning a new genre. Switching up the whole feel and timing of it all. Sounds that I’ve never really used much in the past. And new drums that are just real and instruments that will just motivate me. Right? I want to make music. Hip Hop music.
In the next few months and into the future, you’ll start to hear more of a variety of hip hop music. By that I mean, I’m trying to mix different things into my already hip hop style. Some of it I think will be ok and some of it I’m sure will end up trash. Either way, I’m just trying to learn. I want to give y’all a variety. I want to bring more into our hip hop. More guitars and phatter drums. Less synths and more instruments. But we’ll see. I have the will, I just need to practice.
So bear with me through all of this experimentation. I think we’ll all benefit from it once I get more advanced.
Thanks for reading!
This is Acoustic Rock / Hip Hop Attempt #1.
Ok this was actually something different that I forced myself to try, so this will fall under the experimental category. I have no idea what genre this would fall under. Can anyone let me know what they think? My purpose for doing this was that I’m trying to think differently and use sounds that I’ve never used before.
I don’t know a whole lot about the general Rock genre or it’s huge lot of sub genres. So This came out a little bland with respect to the arrangement . The drums and main guitar riff don’t change much but it’s a start. I think once I can learn more about what actually goes into a rock song, I can start to incorporate that into my hip hop and start blending the two a little better.
When I hear this, the first thing that comes to mind is someone telling a story about an angry man. And apparently his name is John…
Thanks for listening, all comments are appreciated!
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Here’s another experimental beat. Very short and simple. Just a little Al Green and my drums. All there is to it. No special filters (except a high pass on the organ chops), no special effects. I layered a few chops and programmed my drums over it.
The drums were recorded with no timing. The sample is really difficult because it naturally speeds up and slows throughout the loop. So I had to specifically place the drums where they would fit which created this really off feel. So rappers beware!
As simple as this sounds, it was really a challenge getting the drums together and in a suitable pattern that worked with the sample. Really good practice for me so I hope it came out ok.
This beat was made in FL Studio 10.
Tempo: 93 bpm
From the 24/Seven tape.
Relax, it’s Sunday. 
Tempo: 90 bpm
Watch those kicks! I screwed up and left the kicks a little too high so be careful. I thought organs sounded cool over the sample too. As simple as it seems, this beat took 2 days of frustration. Drums took a while to get going. Thanks everyone.
Oh and don’t ask why I chose that picture cause I don’t know! 
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I sampled a few songs recently and this is one of the beats that I was working on. This sample is from Bill Brandon. This is pretty simple as far as the sequencing. Hook verse hook verse… No special effects or anything fancy. Drums not as hard as I would like. Just a few blended samples, clav and some drums.
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This is a pretty simple beat that dosn’t really do much. Vibes and rhodes along with a creepy synth for the hook. Simple drums. Enjoy.
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I kinda like this. A lot of harps. The drums were a pain but I got it laid out how I think I want it. The fills are a little repetitive though… I think I got tired of trying. 
Hope the mix isn’t too bad. I don’t have my good monitors anymore. This one is chill.
Tempo: 88 bpm
This was originally supposed to be on The R&B EP but it didn’t make it. A bit repetitive but came out ok. I like using effects, so you’ll hear some phasing in there somewhere. Smooth keys.
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From The Rhythm And Blues EP.
This track has a steel guitar and a ton of string action. They add a lot of feeling. This beat is pretty clean. Hope you like.
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From The Rhythm And Blues EP.
Harmonicas? Yeah. This track may distort a little. Hopefully it’s just me and my troubled car stereo system.
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From The Rhythm And Blues EP.
This is a sad guitar instrumental. A lot of feeling wrapped in such a simple beat.
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