Amir Said

Amir Said (Said) is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of BeatTips. A writer, publisher, and beatmaker/rapper from New York now living in Paris. Said is a co-founder of the publishing company Superchamp Books and the author of a number of books, including: ‘The BeatTips Manual,’ ‘The Art of Sampling,’ and ‘The Truth About New York.’ He is also a recording artist whose made a number of music projects, including his latest album 'The Best of Times.' Follow him on Twitter at: @amirsaid and @BeatTipsManual

Hip Hop Theory

Amir Said Feb 18, 2026 0

Hip hop/rap music is an art form and system governed by its own principles and rules. It’s based on…

Amir Said Feb 17, 2026 0

Up to the end of the twentieth century, conventional wisdom regarding rhythm was that things like groove…

Amir Said Feb 5, 2026 0

The drums of the ‘60s and ‘70s powered the drums of most hip hop/rap music from the late ‘80s to the…

Amir Said Feb 4, 2026 0

*The following article is an excerpt from The BeatTips Manual, 7th Edition by Amir Said. …

Amir Said Feb 4, 2026 0

Beatmakers (producers) are not simply clever electronic music production “programmers”. They are also…

Amir Said Feb 2, 2026 0

When it comes to making beats, setting the right tempo (BPM) isn't as easy as it might seem. Some…

Amir Said Jan 23, 2026 0

"I’m always a consumer first. Then I’m a DJ. Then I’m a producer. And then I’m an artist!"

Amir Said Jan 13, 2025 0

Comparative analysis in hip hop/rap music is always a tricky endeavor. Taking different rappers and…

Amir Said Jan 7, 2025 0

Call it a product, a brand, or a sound, the best thing that any artist can offer is their own unique…

Amir Said Jan 3, 2025 0

The number of drum sounds that a beatmaker (producer) should have is debatable. There are some who…