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Editor’s Picks
The Sample Clearance “Tax” and the Primary Beneficiaries of the Sample Clearance System
When the music industry first took notice of sampling, their burning question had to have been: How can…
Q-Tip Needle Dropping, As Kanye West and No I.D. Look On
“By 1977, many DJs had followed Kool Herc’s lead, none more notable than Grandmaster Flash and Afrika…
What’s a Loop Really About?
Here's a very important point: No song "comes with" a loop in the way that most people think. Instead,…
Can You Beat The Clock? How Long Does it Take to Develop a Skill For Beatmaking?
How long did it take me to develop a real skill for beatmaking? The beatmaking know-how? That took me…
BeatTips MusicStudy and Source Material: Gwen McCrae – “90% Of Me Is You”
I learned more about how to create drums and drum patterns from this song than I did listening to any hip…
Don’t Over Cook The Beat: Overproducing and How to Avoid It
Picture this. You’re in the lab making a new beat. You’re nodding your head, the beat is dope —…
LL Cool J – ‘Mama Said Knock You Out’: A 30th Anniversary Retrospective
After the success of LL Cool J's double Platinum selling 1987 album Bigger And Deffer, LL was on top of…
Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…: A 25th Anniversary Retrospective
The year was 1994. We were in the midst of a Golden Era, but we had no idea at the time. Within it, a new…
Eric B. & Rakim — Let The Rhythm Hit ‘Em: A 30th Anniversary Retrospective
Eric B. & Rakim released one of the best Rap albums of the Summer in 1988, which was quite a feat…
Stevie Wonder’s Reworking of “Happy Birthday”
Singing Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday,” with the pulsing, rhythmic refrain: happy birthday to you,…