16 Hip Hop Production Tips

Because of its popularity, there's a staggering number of producers working in the hip-hop market. This being the case, you'll need to know what you're doing if you want to have a chance of standing out. A good thing, then, that MusicRadar is here with a selection of essential production tips…

1. Don't be afraid of grime. The Wu Tang Clan's first single, Protect Ya Neck, is one of hip-hop's nastiest sounding records from a production point of view, but the techniques are spot-on. It kicks like a mule and cuts like a knife – hence its all-time-classic status!

2. Don't be afraid of cheese. Hip-hop acts have always been unashamed samplers of ridiculously cheesy hits and catchy hooks, and none of them ever gets accused of selling out. But that doesn't mean Vanilla Ice is OK…

3. For the most part, you should keep EQ and effects to a minimum and pick the right sounds instead.

4. Decide early on how you want to process your vocals. Chorus, a little delay and some stereo spread can sound great on the right track, but don't feel like you have to use them. Trust your ears.

5. Try to acquire as big a music collection as possible. These are your sound sources. Jazz, funk, pop, soul – it doesn't matter what your records are, just that you listen to them with a careful ear. Is there a section where you can only hear that killer drum or horn? There usually is, so listen closely.

6. Don't adhere to any formula. If Snoop Dogg, one of the finest lyricists ever, can rhyme over a track without a bassline or kick drum in sight (Drop It Like It's Hot), then the sky truly is the limit.

7. Hip-hop was initially created by mixing other genres of music in a creative fashion. Now it seems as though hip-hop is feeding on itself and the creativity is gone. To bring a fresh approach to hip-hop production, listen to other genres of music. Try listening to some classic salsa or even tango. DJ Quick sampled some Indian music for a track with great results (even if he did to clear the sample!), and Timbaland sampled an Arabic song, Khosara, for Jay-Z's Big Pimpin. Some fresh musical inspiration from ethnic instrumentation could be just what you need to bring those tracks to life.

8. Don't be afraid to let bass notes start before the kick occasionally. Hip-hop's meant to sound live – or at least groove-driven – rather than strictly quantised.

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