Hip-hop beat-makers are usually unseen. Not all sample-based producers are as reclusive as the torch-bearing loop artist Madlib, but even the most prominent among them are part of the backdrop. After ...

In June 2007, Rihanna reached the No. 1 spot on the Hot 100 for what was then only the second time in her career. “Umbrella,” written and produced by The-Dream and Tricky Stewart, was originally meant ...

Trip-hop is a style that’s highly dependent on its laid back feel and this is often achieved using slowed down sampled loops and breaks. Building your track from loops is definitely a valid approach, ...

Ever noticed how the same beat can hit differently each time you hear it? That’s the magic of repetition. It's not just doing something repeatedly; it’s turning it into something new. Whether it's a ...

Hip-hop at it's core is lyrics on a beat, with both being vital for the final product. Throughout the genre's history, there have been some truly incredible beats that turned producers into stars, and ...