If you can’t build a beat around drums then that is simply a deficit in ability. That’s all it is. If you’re really talented then you can make fire period it don’t matter how or what order lmao

Word and if you talking just specifically them two then I can’t argue against that because I don’t know. I’ll try and do some research.

I just know Dilla comes from that era of Lib and Pete and them and they have all stated they do drums first. And I just kinda connected the dots cus Dilla is known for having the best drums outta those group of guys. But maybe he’s sample first like Kanye.

But honestly it isn’t hard fitting samples to a drum loop if that’s what you may think. Essentially you gotta warp your sample so whatever way you pitch the sample it’ll still match the BPM

Before I was using Maschine and didn’t know how to warp so i would have to start with the sample first to see how I was pitching it and what tempo it was and then add the drums from there. But now I found out how to warp so with that you can make a sample fit whatever BPM your song is in.

And also wether you do drums first or not it doesn’t necessarily mean you go into a project and just do drums and then from there start digging for a sample to match. Usually those guys will hear a sample first they love, bring it into the MPC. But then lay down drums first so they have a groove to run off of rather than playing chops to a metronome. I know for me personally I can play chords and chops better to a drum groove rather than a metronome. It makes you more into it I feel like.

But you say “now” as if these hip hop producers haven’t been doing it this way since the 90s

Also look at someone like 9th. His samples really drives his beats. But he lays the drum groove first and then chops over that

Honestly I think it’s just a way to groove better. Cus regardless you have to have something dictating the tempo for you wether it be a metronome or drum groove

For me I get into the melodies and chops more when grooving to a drum pattern I laid

This! Even tho producers say they do drums first. You can bet anything they can do sample first as well.

Just for most they rather lay the main instruments/samples to a drum groove rather than a metronome

Drums first makes no f***ing sense

Are you a producer?

If not then that’s fine if you don’t get it. But if you are how can you see examples of most producers doing drums first and think “that makes no sense”

Both tbh

Yeah I am

In my opinion melody first guarantees your beats will never sound the same

Personally I almost always start w melody but that’s jus cuz melody always comes to me first

But for these kids to entirely dismiss the idea of starting with the drums just shows they don’t produce or aren’t good at it lol

yeah but its different now can't explain it. For newer producers it might be like 80/20 drums to melody while back it didn't seem as slanted. It's like they took this mindset to the extreme.

I do not make beats, but personally, I wouldn't stick to a formula as to how I crafted one, because, well.... then I'd be formulaic. I would start with whatever I wanted to be the focal point of the song. The other pieces of the song would act as support to the main structure. If I made music it would be some real weird s*** though. We starting with the rhinoceros grunts.

been trying out drums first recently and it's worked out surprisingly well. don't have a preference really

does that method still work as simply when you dont want the sample to match the bpm or time signature of the beat? that does seem like it would make live recording on pads sound a little more natural

so stupid that people are criticizing producers who start with drums first without any reason at all.
everyones got their own style.

Starting with drum or bass makes 0 sense to me

Entirely depends upon the mood

When I'm writing dnb I like to throw down a couple drum breaks, then flip a sample and see if I can make something work

Lol no it doesn’t. There’s plenty of people that recycle the same sounds and chord patterns.

Regardless of what order you go it doesn’t guaranteed anything.

Unless you think majority of hip hop producers from back in the day and no all sound the same I don’t see how your comment adds up to “drums first makes no sense”

I agree 100% it’s one thing to have your personal method. But to dismiss a method that the majority uses makes no sense

Try to vary my approach as much as possible but writing chords/melody or cutting loops first usually feels more natural & I find it easier to sequence when I’m fleshing out the song

If I start off w a drum break or loop the song will generally jus revolve around that loop w variance & less song structure

I wouldn't talk s*** about producers starting with drums first...9th ...Madlib

Considering what they have cooked up I wouldn't talk s***

If the end result bangs...why complain? I am a pretty s***ty producer but my best beats started with laying drums

in general? most Rap producers do drums first

personally? depends where the inspiration takes me, i can go either way

if im doing drums first then im doing kick & snare in right away

hi hats next

then 808

then percs/accents IF needed