Nobody sets out to make a "insert artist" Type Beat when they sit down to create. They make a beats, feel like "insert artist" would sound good on it and add that to the name for SEO.
This is a question I had earlier today. I think that for me and maybe others it could be beneficial to sit down and make a beat intentionally in a specific artists style as a skill building excersize. I know that I early on when I started making beats I was doing this subconsciously. Why not turn it into a skill you have control of.
This is such a great chat, I love all of the tips and the idea behind not selling artist type-beats. I have a unique production style and I think I have a hard time selling because I don't follow that structure or those sounds. So while I do have my beats available for sale at the lower rates, I'm also pushing myself to try and find and build relationships with artists that want and have their own sound. It was real cool how you broke that down.
Well to everyone it's just a choice. It's beneficial to a lot of people and that's what works for them. I don't really do the artist type beat but that's my choice. It's not for every producer out there. Although I do agree that it doesn't help set you apart at all. Either way I love talking about this and seeing all the different points of views it's something that needs to be talked about right now. Thanks for talking about it man you guys said some very important things here appreciate the knowledge and conversation.
Here's the thing though. "Type Beats" is nothing new. Producers have been mimicking other producers from the beginning. I remember in 2000 when local rappers would go "hey man you gotta anything like 50 cent or Scott Storch?... Hey, I'm looking for a Dr. Like or type of beat" Once youtube hit in 2006, people started posting pictures of the popular artist/producer as graphics of their beats insinuating what type of beat/vibe it is. And before that.. people were doing it with soundclick and before that... people were doing that on forums.... It's not new. The only thing that has changed is it's now mainstream. When rappers come into the studio or talk with a beatmaker, this is the lingo they use... They don't want an original sound (most don't), they want a beat like *insert your favorite artist" So it makes sense for a producer to capitalize on that. Honestly, I haven't heard anything original in hip-hop/rap in the last 10 years so to say originality is the key...it's debatable. We all know once 1 new sound hits, every artist wants that sound, indie, major whatever, they want that sound and they'll pay for a knockoff. I agree with Illmind's statements... Production takes lot more time, effort and dedication. On the flip side though... look at today's indie artists and the speed at which they work. Most are walking into studio's knocking out 3-5 songs in 2 hours. They walk in, pull 2tracks off youtube.. lay the hook, verse, dubs, libs and move onto the next track. 8 bar loops.. easy to arrange into an intro, verse, bridge, and hook...Copy, paste, mute... that's how most are doing it... doesn't take too long especially with how these tracks are sounding today. One more thing, there's soo many hit producer's that don't understand their production tools in and out (past and present). They figure out a few things and run with it as most do in any industry. The difference I notice is this... those hit producers have a great ear vs they dude that knows anything and everything about *insert w/e tool* I agree with Illmind's statementss btw
There are unique type beats online and not every major producer sound special either. Lot of us like to make money from type beats while working closely with rappers and trying get placements. I think the prices are going up when there aren't so many people making beats. I agree on lot of things hear and I would like to hear an online producer in your podcast.
Dope interview! Can you make a podcast about placements? Some of us don't even know where to send beats and how does that work. Keep up the great work!
This was a really interesting interview. I totally agree that producers should be working closely with artist they believe in and crafting their own sound, I just think there's room for that, and online sales. I've always looked at type beats as more of an overused marketing scheme than a creative tool. Usually when you hear a beat you'll say, "Oh I can hear (insert artist) on this." and that's what you're trying to show the rapper. I'm in the camp that creativity is drawn from inspiration, so the idea type beats in general are in some way not creative doesn't connect with me. I just look at it kind of like TV placements. You get a brief that says exactly the type of music the show is looking for, you make that type of beat or song, and submit it. The only difference with online beat sales is the market pretty much tells you what type of beat to make and you push that. Dope episode. Thanks!
Just went back and watched your Ryan Leslie interview. Incredibly well done! You guys are right, it's about time we have a legit producer's podcast going...this is dope. However, I really think you guys should reconsider what Ryan Leslie said in your interview. It's better to get paid making beats than cleaning toilets. You guys even repeat it in this video. I think we all agree with the 99cent beat argument, we can leave that alone being that there aren't any 99cent beats at the top of any of the "major" online beat charts. I think we should focus on what's successful online. When it comes to the producer's who are actually doing this and making money, I don't think anyone should be giving them "advice" to stop or do something else...especially if they have made it further online than people in the industry.
I'm def trying to get my vegan pistachio on from time to time. Great advice. I think it's really easy to get in a funk of repetition and being too comfortable in your process. Was just going to watch a few mins but a really good conversation on the grind and price point. I'm a DJ and I still think I sell myself short as far as rates and at a certain level you are what you ask for. Think as big as you can afford I'd say.
Great conversation but I personally think "type beats" are dope. If I upload a beat and just put "Trap Beat" in the title, it will get overlooked because it looks like it will have no definition to it. But if I upload it and say "Future Type Beat," that might be just what the artist was looking for in terms of emotion for the instrumental. Doesn't mean the song will sound like any other Future song though. I could give the same beat to Future and Big Sean and they will sound like 2 completely different songs. The artist defines the beat with their vocals.
I personally hate it. Which is also why I'm sick and tired of this trap beat movement. Everyone sounds the same. And it's also why I stay away from beat battles.
Before saying this, I KNOW this is a past episode and yall don’t necessarily think like that anymore but when you rewatch it I want yall to ask yourself this very question : hmmm, we’re telling type beats producers that this will never happen for them but didn’t we all come from people telling us “NO, this will never happen for you?”🤔
I make type beats to get extra cash. I also clean toilets for a living. But my main focus is making my own original shit without rappers or singers, be it hip hop, electronic, orchestral, etc. You can do all of those things. You don't have to just focus on one thing.
My thing is this... i make original music in fact it's too original compared to other music in my lane for the most part... but if i put my own title on it i'll be lucky to get a few hundred views. I put a (insert artist) type beat as the title and people say i'm copying styles when in fact i'm just naming it that for the click bait and more time the actual beat has not got much to do with the artist i named it after itself. I don't want to be naming my music after an artist but people won't click on it unless i don't do that.
producers overthink things.. its all about getting paid, period.. you can have hella placements and still be broke.. if anything do both.. but if your just going after placements you going to be fucked up lol
God i can listen to perfection talk all day long. But that did make me feel better about the amount of beats a day. I work 12 hour shifts 3 days a week. 4 days out of the week I alot myself 5 hrs a day just for making beats and learning to mix. But I get blinded by social media and seeing cats say oh I made 10 beats today oh I made 20 beats a day. But I know I have to stay my course because its working for me. I want to make quality songs, rather than quantity. I may do 2 beats on my days off or 1 beat, go back to my old ideas, and mix. So I know I am putting in the work but social media can cloud you.
Too much pride to say so and so type beat. Of course I don't sell em.. but still that's hard to imagine. Although I've heard good beats that were impressive.. still it feels sacreligious
Yeah the "type beat" shit is wack. It's an SEO and click bait tactic to try and exploit the lowest quality rappers on the internet. You automatically dilute the equity of your brand by leveraging this scheme.
Somewhere, you talk about how important inspiration is and that you gradually develop. and here you say something completely different. I get confused.
type beats only come about because the producer is simply trying to reach the quality level that the type beat sounds like. I make a track and it sounds like popular artists current sounding tracks and an unknown rapper gets on it and buys or leases it, kills it, then all of a sudden shit sounds good to people smh lol. I can do all types sub genres of hiphop so it doesn't matter to me, hell I'm simply trying to make the dopest sounding track everytime no such thing as a throw away track.
500-1000$ exclusive or lease? and dont ever take advice from sara j bc she doesnt know wtf shes talking about . if she did shed be making alot more money with managing and not cutting hair instead.
You guys are putting too much emphasis on people biting off other producers. You guys take the idea way too far. Is everyone just supposed to be able to hook up with the dopest rapper, best singer, and start producing hits? I mean obviously that’s the goal but come on now, how are you gonna do that without an established portfolio? I don’t know that anyone is biting creativity or trying to be any less, but the ones at the top are the same (at times) as the ones at the bottom, sometimes a beat that even sounds recycled or over hyped. They didn’t bite AT ALL? They just built a brand just because? Putting in sweat equity revolves around working with great artists, but how are you supposed to just get people to fuck with you right off the bat? 100 followers on Instagram? I’m supposed to just get with Pharrell and just start making great music? I’ll let you when I get that contract, cause the position I’m in, I just simply won’t.
![Chris Langan - The Interview THEY Didn't Want You To See - CTMU [Full Version; Timestamps]](/img/n.gif)
I love the amount of production invested in filming these podcasts. That's how you know this is gonna blow up.
we try to keep it as high quality as possible.... thanks!
Nobody sets out to make a "insert artist" Type Beat when they sit down to create. They make a beats, feel like "insert artist" would sound good on it and add that to the name for SEO.
...That's pretty much what he says in the video....7:21 Just sayin...
This is a question I had earlier today. I think that for me and maybe others it could be beneficial to sit down and make a beat intentionally in a specific artists style as a skill building excersize. I know that I early on when I started making beats I was doing this subconsciously. Why not turn it into a skill you have control of.
This is such a great chat, I love all of the tips and the idea behind not selling artist type-beats. I have a unique production style and I think I have a hard time selling because I don't follow that structure or those sounds. So while I do have my beats available for sale at the lower rates, I'm also pushing myself to try and find and build relationships with artists that want and have their own sound. It was real cool how you broke that down.
me and you are in the same boat, checking your beats now!
Well to everyone it's just a choice. It's beneficial to a lot of people and that's what works for them. I don't really do the artist type beat but that's my choice. It's not for every producer out there. Although I do agree that it doesn't help set you apart at all. Either way I love talking about this and seeing all the different points of views it's something that needs to be talked about right now. Thanks for talking about it man you guys said some very important things here appreciate the knowledge and conversation.
yoo everyone love gary vee haha
Here's the thing though. "Type Beats" is nothing new. Producers have been mimicking other producers from the beginning. I remember in 2000 when local rappers would go "hey man you gotta anything like 50 cent or Scott Storch?... Hey, I'm looking for a Dr. Like or type of beat"
Once youtube hit in 2006, people started posting pictures of the popular artist/producer as graphics of their beats insinuating what type of beat/vibe it is.
And before that.. people were doing it with soundclick and before that... people were doing that on forums.... It's not new.
The only thing that has changed is it's now mainstream.
When rappers come into the studio or talk with a beatmaker, this is the lingo they use... They don't want an original sound (most don't), they want a beat like *insert your favorite artist" So it makes sense for a producer to capitalize on that.
Honestly, I haven't heard anything original in hip-hop/rap in the last 10 years so to say originality is the key...it's debatable. We all know once 1 new sound hits, every artist wants that sound, indie, major whatever, they want that sound and they'll pay for a knockoff.
I agree with Illmind's statements... Production takes lot more time, effort and dedication. On the flip side though... look at today's indie artists and the speed at which they work. Most are walking into studio's knocking out 3-5 songs in 2 hours. They walk in, pull 2tracks off youtube.. lay the hook, verse, dubs, libs and move onto the next track.
8 bar loops.. easy to arrange into an intro, verse, bridge, and hook...Copy, paste, mute... that's how most are doing it... doesn't take too long especially with how these tracks are sounding today.
One more thing, there's soo many hit producer's that don't understand their production tools in and out (past and present). They figure out a few things and run with it as most do in any industry. The difference I notice is this... those hit producers have a great ear vs they dude that knows anything and everything about *insert w/e tool*
I agree with Illmind's statementss btw
Diy Music Biz
This. And to be honest it has been going on in Hip Hop since the beginning of time with every major artist.
Well stated opinion. I cant disagree with what you said at all.
I understand illmind and I agree I never did type beats because I cant replicate it because I like using my own creativity .
There are unique type beats online and not every major producer sound special either. Lot of us like to make money from type beats while working closely with rappers and trying get placements. I think the prices are going up when there aren't so many people making beats. I agree on lot of things hear and I would like to hear an online producer in your podcast.
Word and word
Lit
Dope interview! Can you make a podcast about placements? Some of us don't even know where to send beats and how does that work. Keep up the great work!
This was a really interesting interview. I totally agree that producers should be working closely with artist they believe in and crafting their own sound, I just think there's room for that, and online sales. I've always looked at type beats as more of an overused marketing scheme than a creative tool. Usually when you hear a beat you'll say, "Oh I can hear (insert artist) on this." and that's what you're trying to show the rapper. I'm in the camp that creativity is drawn from inspiration, so the idea type beats in general are in some way not creative doesn't connect with me. I just look at it kind of like TV placements. You get a brief that says exactly the type of music the show is looking for, you make that type of beat or song, and submit it. The only difference with online beat sales is the market pretty much tells you what type of beat to make and you push that. Dope episode. Thanks!
cash money ap is on the rise getting placements and also linking with good producers he's starting
Just went back and watched your Ryan Leslie interview. Incredibly well done! You guys are right, it's about time we have a legit producer's podcast going...this is dope. However, I really think you guys should reconsider what Ryan Leslie said in your interview. It's better to get paid making beats than cleaning toilets. You guys even repeat it in this video. I think we all agree with the 99cent beat argument, we can leave that alone being that there aren't any 99cent beats at the top of any of the "major" online beat charts. I think we should focus on what's successful online. When it comes to the producer's who are actually doing this and making money, I don't think anyone should be giving them "advice" to stop or do something else...especially if they have made it further online than people in the industry.
so glad you think so.. it's a really good discussion to have... thanks for subscribing!
great episode ! thank you!🙏🏼❤️
Issa hit
I'm def trying to get my vegan pistachio on from time to time. Great advice. I think it's really easy to get in a funk of repetition and being too comfortable in your process.
Was just going to watch a few mins but a really good conversation on the grind and price point. I'm a DJ and I still think I sell myself short as far as rates and at a certain level you are what you ask for. Think as big as you can afford I'd say.
i'm glad u thought it was helpful.....
Great conversation but I personally think "type beats" are dope. If I upload a beat and just put "Trap Beat" in the title, it will get overlooked because it looks like it will have no definition to it. But if I upload it and say "Future Type Beat," that might be just what the artist was looking for in terms of emotion for the instrumental. Doesn't mean the song will sound like any other Future song though. I could give the same beat to Future and Big Sean and they will sound like 2 completely different songs. The artist defines the beat with their vocals.
I personally hate it. Which is also why I'm sick and tired of this trap beat movement. Everyone sounds the same. And it's also why I stay away from beat battles.
sadboy
Damn, $500 for a 8 bar loop is way more than a "sweet spot".
I have not even sold my first one!
we need blapchat channel on youtube
Before saying this, I KNOW this is a past episode and yall don’t necessarily think like that anymore but when you rewatch it I want yall to ask yourself this very question : hmmm, we’re telling type beats producers that this will never happen for them but didn’t we all come from people telling us “NO, this will never happen for you?”🤔
I make type beats to get extra cash. I also clean toilets for a living. But my main focus is making my own original shit without rappers or singers, be it hip hop, electronic, orchestral, etc. You can do all of those things. You don't have to just focus on one thing.
My thing is this... i make original music in fact it's too original compared to other music in my lane for the most part... but if i put my own title on it i'll be lucky to get a few hundred views. I put a (insert artist) type beat as the title and people say i'm copying styles when in fact i'm just naming it that for the click bait and more time the actual beat has not got much to do with the artist i named it after itself. I don't want to be naming my music after an artist but people won't click on it unless i don't do that.
just gotta try to stay as true as possible...
Tbh i tend to click on videos that have a pastel/ bright color scheme. To what you will with that info
producers overthink things.. its all about getting paid, period.. you can have hella placements and still be broke.. if anything do both.. but if your just going after placements you going to be fucked up lol
God i can listen to perfection talk all day long.
But that did make me feel better about the amount of beats a day. I work 12 hour shifts 3 days a week. 4 days out of the week I alot myself 5 hrs a day just for making beats and learning to mix. But I get blinded by social media and seeing cats say oh I made 10 beats today oh I made 20 beats a day. But I know I have to stay my course because its working for me. I want to make quality songs, rather than quantity. I may do 2 beats on my days off or 1 beat, go back to my old ideas, and mix. So I know I am putting in the work but social media can cloud you.
@21:40 I cam here to see if yall heard about TazTaylor/ Internet Money signing with APG/ Atlantic
Too much pride to say so and so type beat. Of course I don't sell em.. but still that's hard to imagine. Although I've heard good beats that were impressive.. still it feels sacreligious
CashMoneyAP probably the only type beat producer I can think of that made it
I should get him on my podcast..
you should..
Yeah the "type beat" shit is wack. It's an SEO and click bait tactic to try and exploit the lowest quality rappers on the internet. You automatically dilute the equity of your brand by leveraging this scheme.
nipsey hustle put me on to that contagious book a few years ago, i feel like illmind take bits from everyone and acts like he's the founder of it
Somewhere, you talk about how important inspiration is and that you gradually develop. and here you say something completely different. I get confused.
type beats only come about because the producer is simply trying to reach the quality level that the type beat sounds like. I make a track and it sounds like popular artists current sounding tracks and an unknown rapper gets on it and buys or leases it, kills it, then all of a sudden shit sounds good to people smh lol. I can do all types sub genres of hiphop so it doesn't matter to me, hell I'm simply trying to make the dopest sounding track everytime no such thing as a throw away track.
Man if the beats are dope fuckit! We producers don't have to make everything so complicated lol
The 4th principle in that book made me think about this Tedtalk th-cam.com/video/V74AxCqOTvg/w-d-xo.html
damn I'd hate to be the dude he forgot lol
500-1000$ exclusive or lease? and dont ever take advice from sara j bc she doesnt know wtf shes talking about . if she did shed be making alot more money with managing and not cutting hair instead.
Lol you guys eat you're words now....cashmoney ap all I gotta say
You guys are putting too much emphasis on people biting off other producers. You guys take the idea way too far. Is everyone just supposed to be able to hook up with the dopest rapper, best singer, and start producing hits? I mean obviously that’s the goal but come on now, how are you gonna do that without an established portfolio? I don’t know that anyone is biting creativity or trying to be any less, but the ones at the top are the same (at times) as the ones at the bottom, sometimes a beat that even sounds recycled or over hyped. They didn’t bite AT ALL? They just built a brand just because?
Putting in sweat equity revolves around working with great artists, but how are you supposed to just get people to fuck with you right off the bat? 100 followers on Instagram? I’m supposed to just get with Pharrell and just start making great music? I’ll let you when I get that contract, cause the position I’m in, I just simply won’t.
Tbh you really gotta be a producer AND engineer cause that’ll get you into rooms as opposed to sending things out