Question: Do most Hip Hop producers play an instrument?

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mobeatz

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This is specifically for Hip Hop producers.

And I am just wondering if most of them actually play an instrument(s)

Please note I see nothing wrong if you don't. Because making a beat out of sampled bits of records is an art form by itself. Something I could not do.

But since Rap started from DJ's rhyming over bits and pieces of records, I was wondering if this is still a big part. Percentage?

I think Jermaine Dupree for example does not play any instrument but is still a pretty good producer.
 
Well, one thing that matters is how much keyboard/piano do you call playing, instead of "playing at."

If you don't know at least 3 scales, you can't say you play? Hell, I don't know.
 
I'd say starting out a good percentage of sample-based hip hop producers do not play an instrument..after a period of time in the game then they probably learn 1 or 2 instruments
 
GST said:
I'd say starting out a good percentage of sample-based hip hop producers do not play an instrument..after a period of time in the game then they probably learn 1 or 2 instruments
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This is a fair assessment.
 
RZA is a sample based producer. But as far as for that blakroc session he did, he can work that guitar pretty well.

Infact he's a multi talent when it comes to exotic/ethnic type instruments.

Just watch the making of Afro Samurai 1 and 2...there's actually footage on youtube. He shows some pretty ill stuff.
 
Hey Aykey, you might wanna fix your sig. It's linked wrong

missing the .com

:)

I was watching a video of DJ jazzy Jeff the other day and was completely blown away.

That got me to thinking about this.
 
GST said:
I'd say starting out a good percentage of sample-based hip hop producers do not play an instrument..after a period of time in the game then they probably learn 1 or 2 instruments
Click to expand...

That is what I figured. Or if they blow up they just pay someone to do it lol.
 
In the early days not many because of the nature of sampling...I would say for hip-hop though it's doubtful that many play more than keyboard or guitar/bass. In fact I can't think of any that actually play their own stuff(multiple instruments) besides Jazze Pha, Pimp C, 1500 or Nothin or The Justice League...Notice 2 of those are groups so they could still be considered single-instrumentalists.....Ryan Leslie doesn't count IMO because he's more known for his R&B productions.
 
I don't think most do but I also don't think it's necessary and not just for sample based producers.

Not in Hip Hop... maybe in Pop and RnB it's necessary

You could find chords online, have a beat loop for 4 bars and just add as the beat loops.

If you can't play... that's how you build a melody.

- Loop 2 bars of something you played
- Copy and paste that 2 bars, extending it to 4 bars
- Add some additional "playing" on the 3 - 4th bar
- Copy and paste those 4 bars, extending it to 8 bars
- Add some aditional "playing" on the 4 - 8th bar

8 bar loop...
 
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mobeatz said:
Hey Aykey, you might wanna fix your sig. It's linked wrong

missing the .com

:)

I was watching a video of DJ jazzy Jeff the other day and was completely blown away.

That got me to thinking about this.
Click to expand...


Thanks man...i forgot to update the sig hah.


Btw here's the blakroc session with RZA i was talking about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DovWd5MIvQ

It's so inspiring to watch...especially when you hear the endresult.
 
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truth of the matter is...to be beasty, you gotta know theory, and you gotta know the keys
 
I play violin better than I can make "beats". Play guitar good enough to impress people who don't play guitar. I'm guessing piano/keyboard doesn't count? I play keys by ear good enough to impress people who don't play well.
 
deRaNged 4 Phuk'dup said:
I play violin better than I can make "beats". Play guitar good enough to impress people who don't play guitar. I'm guessing piano/keyboard doesn't count? I play keys by ear good enough to impress people who don't play well.
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you should play on street corners..
 
deRaNged 4 Phuk'dup said:
I play violin better than I can make "beats". Play guitar good enough to impress people who don't play guitar. I'm guessing piano/keyboard doesn't count? I play keys by ear good enough to impress people who don't play well.
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I'm in the same league with piano.

I'm a decent rythm guitar player. I know all the RnB cliches and church styles(black gospel).

I bet you can make some killer violin samples :)
 
TomDavids1 said:
truth of the matter is...to be beasty, you gotta know theory, and you gotta know the keys
Click to expand...

I'm not sure about that. I play with dudes sometimes that could'nt tell me what key they are in if I asked them, But they can tear that organ up!

Some learn theory intuitively by playing for a long time.

I'm not saying theory will not help.

But it's like they know theory in their heart but they can not express it verbally.

If that makes sense
 
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