Are hip hop producers really musicians?
- Thread starter McLovin Beatz
- Start date
Griffin Avid
Media Editor
People that use PC to make comic books now are still considered artists.
Actually, they are called Digital Artists.
And there's a difference between using a drawing stylus and pure digital manipulation.
A Drawing stylus (it's a pen/pencil/brush like tool) is the equivalent of using VSTs and keyboards etc.....
It's artwork created with electronic/machine aid.
Digital Manipulation is like using Photoshop and thus sampling.
@Jtroup: you said:
I can play a few instruments. But not proficiently...
If you look at most definitions of MUSICIAN, that skill or talent IS PART OF THE DEFINITION. And that is how that word applies to the person.
If you lack that, you are not a musician, you make music and the quality of that music can be at whatever level.
That's why it's false to say "I make music, therefore I'm a musician."
just like "I make crafts, therefore I'm a craftsman."
But whatever. This is the same thing as the Producer and Composer thang.
Truth is, everyone knows and nobody cares about what you/we call each other or consider ourselves.
Actually, they are called Digital Artists.
And there's a difference between using a drawing stylus and pure digital manipulation.
A Drawing stylus (it's a pen/pencil/brush like tool) is the equivalent of using VSTs and keyboards etc.....
It's artwork created with electronic/machine aid.
Digital Manipulation is like using Photoshop and thus sampling.
@Jtroup: you said:
I can play a few instruments. But not proficiently...
If you look at most definitions of MUSICIAN, that skill or talent IS PART OF THE DEFINITION. And that is how that word applies to the person.
If you lack that, you are not a musician, you make music and the quality of that music can be at whatever level.
That's why it's false to say "I make music, therefore I'm a musician."
just like "I make crafts, therefore I'm a craftsman."
But whatever. This is the same thing as the Producer and Composer thang.
Truth is, everyone knows and nobody cares about what you/we call each other or consider ourselves.
Last edited by a moderator:
andrewsayward
New member
Well from what i've seen most big hip hop producers have great keyboard skills for example Timbaland, Dre and Pharell, theres just an element in society that doesn't want to see hip hop as music, i do find it funny when people say hip hops not music because it all just uses samples (which isn't even true half the time anymore) yet will be fans of daft punk or the prodigy.
mwandishi
New member
Okay I got my years wrong with birth date, but I'm almost sure he made the jump to conductor arranger pretty quick. By the 1960s he was touring with his band as a conductor and I've never seen him play with them (I could be wrong). Every clip or movie after sixties I've seen of him was writing, arranging, producing, record exec. I've seen play the piano, not as a player but demonstrating a tune.
I would personally argue that a DJ, in the classic hip-hop sense, is a musician because they are scratching which is creating a different sound rather just playing records.
KelevraOne
Not too Kelevra son
I disagree the ability to make music makes you be definition into a musician. Whether or not the creator is skillful is a different story. If you have to be talented to be considered a musician. Where's the bar set for the level of talent to be considered a musician.
ultra auris
New member
guys, quincy can play, he can play really really well. ive seen him play piano. You dont play with Lionel Hampton, Dizzy, and Ray Charles when your 14 if you dont have great chops. All of those guys are on a completely different level of players than any hip hop artist has ever been. Maybe you want to google Nadia Boulanger who Q studied under.
mwandishi
New member
You're missing the point. We all know Quincy is a great musician/arranger/composer (duh), ("In the pocket" is his official documentary/biography i believe and they talk about all this stuff).
My point is that someone attached "performing" to the criteria of being a "musician," and i said oh well Q don't play anymore(as in performing) so--is he still a musician? Context.
Last edited:
infradead
Moderator
the subjective is my favorite part of music
BiggRome 2.0
Can you dig it ?
Yes.
I cook therefore I am a chef.
Nobody gives a phug, if you don't have the "professional" title... don't call yourself anything.
I ride a bike... I'm a cyclist
I phuck and film myself... I am a porn actor...
People get to hung up on titles. My job pays me... I am a Payroll Accountant. Can't dispute that - no gray area.
Mr. sickVisionz
New member
Not this shit again...
There was a movement of people manipulating tape into new sounds back in the 1960s. What they were making could literally be considered noise as it had no melodic or percussive structure at all. I don't remember what is was called (found music maybe, it's been years since I read about it). If that passes as music, your typical rap hip-hop producer is Beethoven.
If you do more than put multiple loops together, you're a legit musician. You may not be up there with Miles Davis, but you're a legit musician.
There was a movement of people manipulating tape into new sounds back in the 1960s. What they were making could literally be considered noise as it had no melodic or percussive structure at all. I don't remember what is was called (found music maybe, it's been years since I read about it). If that passes as music, your typical rap hip-hop producer is Beethoven.
If you do more than put multiple loops together, you're a legit musician. You may not be up there with Miles Davis, but you're a legit musician.
ultra auris
New member
re
I do think that if you do it, you a musician, to some degree. its kind of up to the audience to decide if you are "good" or whatever. I can think of pro musicians that I think are terrible and I wonder how people listen to them. Though I would consider tape manipulation and early electronic real music. Many of the most important composers of the 20th century come from experimental electronic music world (not what we call that today, but what you are talking about with tape manipulations and modernism in the 60s). And almost all of them come from academia where they have extensive music backgrounds like for example guys like Stockhausen and Cage, unlike a typical hip hop producer.
I do think that if you do it, you a musician, to some degree. its kind of up to the audience to decide if you are "good" or whatever. I can think of pro musicians that I think are terrible and I wonder how people listen to them. Though I would consider tape manipulation and early electronic real music. Many of the most important composers of the 20th century come from experimental electronic music world (not what we call that today, but what you are talking about with tape manipulations and modernism in the 60s). And almost all of them come from academia where they have extensive music backgrounds like for example guys like Stockhausen and Cage, unlike a typical hip hop producer.
supernovab17
New member
IMO yes
BiggRome 2.0
Can you dig it ?
Until it pays you... you are a hobbyist. Simple.
I cut my sons hair with a pair of dirty clippers from a bathroom drawer... I am a barber / hair stylist...
Not... no certifications anywhere. No payments...
I cut my sons hair with a pair of dirty clippers from a bathroom drawer... I am a barber / hair stylist...
Not... no certifications anywhere. No payments...
Last edited:
KelevraOne
Not too Kelevra son
payment wouldn't make one into a musician. Payment and training is what separates you from being considered amateur or proffesional.
Nasir33149
New member
Sure man, I know it sounds easy to make sampled beats and not creative but you're making stuff that sounds different, I always say, its not hard to make a beat but its hard to make a really good beat...