I love this beat, the way there's so many elements that match together perfectly. It's one of my all time favourites.
I loved the melodies, fills and the song structure but i don't really like the drums. It was a good idea to use 2 different kicks. The first kick i don't really like. It sounds too sampled like there's sounds on top of it. I like
the sub kick. I don't really like the clap. I did at first but now you mention it i've realized i now don't. It sounds too plastic. Like he's stacked a thick clap with a reverbed crunchy clap. In my opinion there should be a thick natural sounding clap in the middle to glue it together. And i think the highs have been EQ'd off of it a little too much.
In my opinion the drum pattern should have had a couple more little switch ups to keep it interesting. There should have been some percussion instruments to fill the beat up when the upbeat parts kick in and there should have been a longer tom fill to go with the shorter one. There's 2 at the moment i think, one quarter bar one. There should have been a little break-down at the second time with a longer half bar one to bring the beat back. And the little break-down at the end with the drums is too short. He should've had a little 4 bar one in the middle or 2 3rd's of the way through and then a little one at the end.
So in my opinion with a little change to the sound selection, some percussion and a couple small changes to the arrangement this to me could have been a perfect beat.
I haven't heard too many epic sounding tracks like this. I don't think any ofter ones like this. You think he has a team of session players and "helpers" like Dr Dre or Timbaland have or you think that since he's a smaller producers and already trained musician he plays everything himself?
Anyway, i think i'm gonna try to remake/break this down and analyze it. And when i can i'll probably make beats with this kinda style. Capture the vibe and essence with my own little twist. I suppose that won't happen till i find myself a good pianist though.
I think i've only heard a this maybe once or twice but didn't really listen to it. I came across the song on my bro's PS3 or Youtube and straight away searched for the beat. It's funny how when i heard some of the newer Beyonce songs i found them and her really fuking annoying but Halo i've found really nice since the first time i heard it and Beautiful Nightmare grew on me after the first 5 listens.
