Timbaland is widely considered one of the greatest producers in hip-hop, and for good reason. His innovations to the hip-hop production game have included hyper-syncopated grooves, new sounds, and exotic music beds. In today's article, we'll take a look at some of these innovations and we'll talk about what every beat maker can learn from him. By paying attention to these innovations, you'll in turn become a better producer.
When he first burst onto the music scene, his productions were a fresh new sound that nobody had heard before in hip-hop. The funk beat of hip-hop was stretched to its limits with the hyper-syncopated kick drum falling on beats that were unheard of before. Sounds that were traditionally used in cartoons or TV shows began popping up and forming the basis of beats in commercial songs. Today's list will highlight some of his top contributions to the beatmaking game that producers can learn from:
Groove: Before him, the sound of hip-hop was boom-bap. The drum sounds were longer and heavier and the beat was more steady. He changed all of this by introducing hyper-syncopated kick drums, blazing hi-hats, and crispy snares. His sound would pave the way for other southern producers to follow. For an example of this new groove, listen to "Let Me Know" by Aaliyah and then compare it to "4 Page Letter" by Aaliyah and notice how the vibe has changed completely.
Sound FX: Anyone that listens closely to one of his tracks will discover a layer of sound effects peppered throughout his beats. To begin with, he traditionally beat boxes over a lot of his beats. Furthermore, he incorporates sounds such as a baby crying in "Are You That Somebody" by Aaliyah or the sound of a dog barking in "Can We Get Freaky Tonight" by SWV. However, these sounds aren't just thrown into the mix without thought. Rather, these sounds are intelligently blended in the track and fit the overall vibe of the music.
Sampling: One final hallmark of his is his ability to find exotic samples. Whereas the traditional staple of hip-hop sampling was jazz, soul, and funk records, he broadened those horizons to include TV themes, video games sound tracks, and world music. Some examples of these exotic sounding tracks include "Get Ur Freak On" by Missy Elliot and "Call Me" by Tweet. His creative use of other-worldly samples would inspire other producers to start doing the same thing in hip-hop.
Timbaland is one of the great ones in hip-hop and it is a worthwhile effort for any aspiring beat maker to study some of his classic records.
When he first burst onto the music scene, his productions were a fresh new sound that nobody had heard before in hip-hop. The funk beat of hip-hop was stretched to its limits with the hyper-syncopated kick drum falling on beats that were unheard of before. Sounds that were traditionally used in cartoons or TV shows began popping up and forming the basis of beats in commercial songs. Today's list will highlight some of his top contributions to the beatmaking game that producers can learn from:
Groove: Before him, the sound of hip-hop was boom-bap. The drum sounds were longer and heavier and the beat was more steady. He changed all of this by introducing hyper-syncopated kick drums, blazing hi-hats, and crispy snares. His sound would pave the way for other southern producers to follow. For an example of this new groove, listen to "Let Me Know" by Aaliyah and then compare it to "4 Page Letter" by Aaliyah and notice how the vibe has changed completely.
Sound FX: Anyone that listens closely to one of his tracks will discover a layer of sound effects peppered throughout his beats. To begin with, he traditionally beat boxes over a lot of his beats. Furthermore, he incorporates sounds such as a baby crying in "Are You That Somebody" by Aaliyah or the sound of a dog barking in "Can We Get Freaky Tonight" by SWV. However, these sounds aren't just thrown into the mix without thought. Rather, these sounds are intelligently blended in the track and fit the overall vibe of the music.
Sampling: One final hallmark of his is his ability to find exotic samples. Whereas the traditional staple of hip-hop sampling was jazz, soul, and funk records, he broadened those horizons to include TV themes, video games sound tracks, and world music. Some examples of these exotic sounding tracks include "Get Ur Freak On" by Missy Elliot and "Call Me" by Tweet. His creative use of other-worldly samples would inspire other producers to start doing the same thing in hip-hop.
Timbaland is one of the great ones in hip-hop and it is a worthwhile effort for any aspiring beat maker to study some of his classic records.
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