Sound in "Drop it Like It's Hot" by pharrell

  • Thread starter Thread starter MajorSeven
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Screw the cheesy spray can sound. Did anyone notice they used a marching band tuned bass drum for the kick!?!

Coming from a former High School Band member (like the Neptunes) I thought it was their way of honoring their musical roots.

However, I personally think the overall song SUCKED!
 
In the video they have a spray can....i think it came from a spray can or white noise they both work
 
tha song is soooo ****ty, it aint worth this many replies...

dont get me wrong, i like SNOOP (i think hes tha ****) but that song blew major ass
 
nah, that songs kinda hot, its got a lot of style. neither snoop or pharell have any flow, but the song is nice, the dated synths are intentionally dated, thats kind of the point, and that vocoded 'snoooo-ooooop' thing gets stuck in everybody's heads, at least everybody i know. the drums are what makes the track ridiculous though, the different patterns/tones are nice and one of the more creative things i've heard in a while. thats innovative
 
Sounds like ****. pharell is ****. man, this guy has no talent but you guys would be admiring him even if he farted into the mic.
 
I saw the video and I think the sound is meant to be a spraycan. Whether it is or not, we may never know. I did sample my skateboard wheel spinning, it's a interesting sound. I'm also working on sampling a skateboard slap. That would be a cool sound.

Of course pharrell is talented. He's educated too. I respect that. Even though this beat isn't my favorite, it happens to be pretty popular.

Lehoo, if you know anything about art or music - 'drop it like it's hot' is minimalist. I have to give it props because it's relatively fresh compared to today's 120bpm hi-hat Lil' Jon beat. The vintage simplicity of the music and meaning of the song are ironic. There's a business term for it, but irony sells. It's the same reason people buy new clothes that look like they've been worn out (abercrombie, hollister, AE).

Bottom line: It stands out and it sells.
 
MajorSeven said:

Of course pharrell is talented. He's educated too. I respect that. Even though this beat isn't my favorite, it happens to be pretty popular...Bottom line: It stands out and it sells.
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Crack Cocaine was pretty popular, but I'll never get into it.

Point being, the worse something is for the masses the more it'll sell.

...And I do think Pharell is very musically talented, but I have the feeling he's sitting back laughing at us like "look at this B.S. I put out that'll pay my bill for the rest of my life"
 
Port Royale said:
People, please don't post when you don't know the answer. I've said it before and I'll say it again - Its white noise. Not a spray can, not skate board wheels but WHITE NOISE. Learn the theory, then post.
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since you are so sure of yourself, im guessing you were in the studio with the neps while they were making that beat:rolleyes:
 
Man... a beat doesn't have to be complex for it to be good. In fact, very often, the more basic stuff is better.

"Drop it like it's Hot" has a greeeeat groove and a greeeeeat vibe.... not to mention that it has a super catchy vocal hook.

I am not even generally a hip hop fan, and I can see this.

Do you think you measure the quality of a track by how many notes you can fit into it? or how many different chords you can squeeze into a pregression?

Do you see how rediculous that sounds?

Just because you don't get it, doesn't mean it is not a good song.

You don't have to analyze a song to tell whether it is good or not... a good song is simply a song that you like... for whatever reason.... because it makes you nod your head... because it makes you tap your foot... because it makes you smile... because you like it!

When you hear a song for the first time and someone asks if you like it, do you say "I don't know, let me analyze it and see if it applies enough advanced theory concepts, then I will know if I like it. You don't expect my to know just from listening to it, do you? What, do you expect me to have an opinion simply on how it sounds?""


Seems to me, you are missing the whole point of art.
 
One can attribute this arguement to a matter of opinion, but I'm gonna take the step out on the arrogant branch and state that those who consider themselves "Hip Hop Purist" know that 99% of "hip hop" on the radio is COMPLETE BULLSH*T!

To us purist this song is like that one kid who's pointing his finger laughing at you right after you've gotten your ass kicked by the school bully.

With the advent of modern technology, what determines a "hot track" is more so how bass you can put squeez in it and how it sounds in you brand new sound system.

It makes sense that the same songs we nodded our heads to growing up in those tape deck head phones or '83 Chevy Nova speakers wouldn't stand a chance against today's advances in production.

It makes sense for a producer to make a "less than complex" beat so that all of america can sing along to it...HIP HOP IS BIG BUSINESS NOW, and those who buy the records determine the sound. It just so happens the ones buying the records can't comprhend the amount of time it took to find just the right sample...chop...loop...BAM, just right!

I bet you Pharell himself would tell you that half of his tracks are complete BS! I BET THAT!

How many are willing to say that {{insert your favorite crunk producer here}" work would be considered a hip hop classic 10 years from?

Honestly???
 
Bravo(1) said:


How many are willing to say that {{insert your favorite crunk producer here}" work would be considered a hip hop classic 10 years from?

Honestly???
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that is a good point. and a good question to ask sometimes....



peace.
 
MajorSeven said:

Lehoo, if you know anything about art or music - 'drop it like it's hot' is minimalist. I have to give it props because it's relatively fresh compared to today's 120bpm hi-hat Lil' Jon beat. The vintage simplicity of the music and meaning of the song are ironic. There's a business term for it, but irony sells. It's the same reason people buy new clothes that look like they've been worn out (abercrombie, hollister, AE).

Bottom line: It stands out and it sells.
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Ok, call it minimalist, primitivist, avant garde, or anything else that makes this music sound artsy and intricate, as if composed with great care by a fine craftsman. But that's just like giving a four year old a bucket of paint to splatter on a canvas and saying that it's abstract expressionism. The thing is, is this all that music can be? Sure, it's music by definition, it has organized sounds, something of a rhythm, a chord or two, but what about esthetics? You could say it's a matter of taste, but is it going to be fondly remembered in ten years time? Why do minimal if you can do so much more? It is a fact that most hip hop producers do not have a musical education and are not able to do anything more elaborate. Sure, they can say that they choose to be minimalist and what they do is a legitimate artform like any other, but it's hardly musical. Pharell may have an education ...well so do millions of other people. Hey may have talent ..possibly, but why waste it on such tripe? And most objective people do see modern hip hop as just that. There is no hidden value in most of it, there is hardly any effort being put in it and yet its so popular. I think our culture has hit rock bottom, its a slap in the face of talented AND hard working musicians everywhere, who don't get the recognition they deserve. I do respect hip hop for what it used to be and for its possibilities but it's being wasted.
 
Bravo(1) said:

How many are willing to say that {{insert your favorite crunk producer here}" work would be considered a hip hop classic 10 years from?

Honestly???
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not into crunk.. not into most hip hop.. loved the feel on drop it like its hot though.. drum sounds that sound like you're making them with your mouth.. very interesting.. not something I hear on the radio everyday.. who cares about classic.. all classic mean (if classic rock stations are any example) is that you're **** is going to get played untill i can't stand to hear it any more
 
Lehoo said:

Ok, call it minimalist, primitivist, avant garde, or anything else that makes this music sound artsy and intricate, as if composed with great care by a fine craftsman. But that's just like giving a four year old a bucket of paint to splatter on a canvas and saying that it's abstract expressionism.
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There is a big difference between the random splattering of paint and expressing your art in an abstract manner.

There is a big difference between a playing only one note because you cant figure out how to play a second note and making a conscious decision to express your musical ideas in a minimal uncluttered manner.


Lehoo said:
The thing is, is this all that music can be?
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Why does music need to be more than that? Just because something can be done doesnt mean it must be done.

Why should you tell Picasso "Oh, Picasso, if only you would paint some more realistic pictures like that nice Rembrandt."


Lehoo said:
Sure, it's music by definition, it has organized sounds, something of a rhythm, a chord or two, but what about esthetics? You could say it's a matter of taste, but is it going to be fondly remembered in ten years time?
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I actually think it will be fondly remembered in 10 years time. Like I already said, I do think it is a good song... I am musically educated and I can appreciate its musical value.

Hey, "Baby Got Back" is fondly remembered, why not "Drop it Like its Hot"? There are plenty of very simple songs that are fondly remembered over the years.


Lehoo said:
Why do minimal if you can do so much more? It is a fact that most hip hop producers do not have a musical education and are not able to do anything more elaborate. Sure, they can say that they choose to be minimalist and what they do is a legitimate artform like any other, but it's hardly musical. Pharell may have an education ...well so do millions of other people. Hey may have talent ..possibly, but why waste it on such tripe?
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Minimal production is fine if that is what you want to do. Whether "most hip hop producers do not have an education and are not able to do anything more elaborate" does not matter right now since we are talking about "Pharrell" and "Drop it Like its Hot" (so I will not comment on the relation between having a musical education and the ability do create more elaborate music.)

The fact is, he has a bunch of hits and a many songs that are more typically structured and not as minimal and more 'elaborate'... so we know he is capable of other types of production, and we know that he didn't just get lucky with randomly throwing a simple beat together. His track record shows that this was an intentionally minimal track that was thought out and recorded withy a particular musical vision.

Of course it is musical... and to say his talent was wasted on "such tripe" is your opinion, but I will say that this song may be my favorite song he has done.




Lehoo said:
And most objective people do see modern hip hop as just that. There is no hidden value in most of it, there is hardly any effort being put in it and yet its so popular.
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Why does there need to be some "hidden value"? The value is that it has a great groove and it is a fun and catchy song. And just because something is simple does not mean that there was no effort put into it or that it has any less emotion behind it or any less value.


Lehoo said:
I think our culture has hit rock bottom, its a slap in the face of talented AND hard working musicians everywhere, who don't get the recognition they deserve. I do respect hip hop for what it used to be and for its possibilities but it's being wasted.
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As a professional hardworking musician myself, I surely don't see the popularity of music like this as a "slap in the face" at all. I think Pharrell is very talented and he must be hard working to have achieved all his success. I would have been proud to have written "Drop It Like Its Hot."

And, sure, there was a lot of good old hip hop... but times change... music changes... that's life. As music changes, people always say "it is not as good as it used to be" but as far as I am concerned, it is just "different."

There is a lot of music that I love from times past... and I look upon it fondly... but I don't wish that they would still make music like the old days. As the new styles emerge, I like some of it and I dislike some of it. I always look forward to the new stuff. But I never judge its artistic merit.

Once you start judging music like that, where does it end?

This beat is too minimal.

That guy is not even singing it is just rapping.

Those arent even real instruments.

Thats not real music, it was recorded on a computer.

That was all overdubbed, not a pure live performance.

That is all samples.

That's just a drum loop, not a programmed beat.

That guy can't play fast.

Classical is the only real music.

Rock isnt music, it's just noise.

That song doesn't even have a hook.

He didn't go to music school.

He doesn't even have long hair.

He's not even using a Triton.

That is not a real 808, it is just samples of an 808.

Those drums weren't even programmed in the drum machine, they were sequenced in the computer.

That album didn't even go platinum.

...so it must not be good.



:)
 
dvyce said:


And, sure, there was a lot of good old hip hop... but times change... music changes... that's life.
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i thought that was bob dylan..

oh wait different song

my bad ;)
 
First of all, I think you're taking this too seriously. None of those examples of biased or ignorant criticisms you posted relate to me so I don't know what you're trying to prove. I think I'll just leave it here, you think Pharrel is an inspired songwriter, i think he is lazy. A little talented (i know his other stuff), musically educated but lazy. Even if it is inspired minimalism, i don't subscribe to it, it makes me sick. That's just me. Anyways, i respect your opinion. Peace.
 
rapmaster_e said:


since you are so sure of yourself, im guessing you were in the studio with the neps while they were making that beat:rolleyes:
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No, but to someone with knowledge regarding synthesis its quite obvious that it is due to the phase charachteristic when it is swept through the HP filter :rolleyes:
 
Lehoo said:

The thing is, is this all that music can be? Sure, it's music by definition, it has organized sounds, something of a rhythm, a chord or two, but what about esthetics? You could say it's a matter of taste, but is it going to be fondly remembered in ten years time?
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I have to agree with dvyce on this one. Often simple and effective yield the best result. Take Jeru's "come clean" for instance. Its got a dead flat beat that runs through the whole song, no melodic element and Jeru spitting on top of it. Anyone with the slightest knowledge of HipHop history knows that this song is one of the true classics.
Whether Drop it will be a classic is another story - just remember that Snoops "Doggystyle" got 3.5 mics in the Source on release, 10 years later it is dubbed one of the top five albums of all time by the same mag. It's often difficult to spot a classic on the first look...
 
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