Back in the Myspace days I sent Armageddon from Terror Squad some of my beats. He replied (which was nice or him), and said that my beats 'needed more elements'. I was using loops with very light, simple drums. Now look! I still have those beat CD's and Zip disks.
To everyone bashing the drumless beats...different producers have different philosophies about how their beats are supposed to compliment an artist. Nicholas Craven has always said that his production is not about pursuing the goal of making the best beat or being considered the best producer, it's about activating his artists as much as possible. In his mind, if the beat inspires the artist to write great lyrics and the song as a whole is good, then the producer's job is done. Drumless hip hop also requires special samples which are harder to find and require a different level of digging from the producer. A lot of my drumless beats take longer to create than my percussion-heavy beats when you consider the amount of time spent looking for samples. The video explains this concept well but I think some just don't like it.
I love this statement “activating the artist” it’s so true. Hip-hop/ rap is not a monolith, some artists really know how to paint a picture and sometimes deep sounds without the clutter of 808s and heavy drums are needed to score a song or message. I’m a huge fan of Nicholas Craven and Alchemist for realizing this.
Opposite for me since I mostly make sampled beats. Its actually harder to add percussions to samples because it has drums already, not to mention most boom bap style has been over done, so one criticizes themselves like "naw thats already been done before", causing me to do drumless beats. It is lazy. And it seems like nothing we add to it works. Because the sample is THAT good. So we settle with drumless beats.
@@seanfrance3182its common sense and music production 101. They literally teach this everywhere. A producer works for the artists not the other way around.
Am I missing something here? Loads of us were making drumless tracks in the 80s. It was out of necessity because our samplers couldn’t play a sample and a beat at the same time so we had to find samples that worked with no beat accompaniment. This technique was definitely around before the producers mentioned in this video. Sure, they may have become famous for it, but they didn’t invent it.
Facts bro. Al kills it every time and it’s starting to seem like boldy is finally getting a bit more recognition outside of Detroit. Happy for both of them!
Thank you for acknowledging the RZA as the pioneer of this style. Too many times ive seen other folks given credit for this. Sub Crazy, Black Widow pt 2, 97 Mentality, All that I Got is You, Hollow Bones, Let My N***as Live, etc. RZA was next level on this style 25 years ago.
@@defcreator187 he said “unplugged rap”😂😂😂. I’m talking making records intentionally using this style. Ofc he’s not the first to ever do this in the history of mankind but he brought that style to the hip-hop masses and made it famous.
Great video, it’s important to note that “drumless” doesn’t necessarily mean no drums in the beat at all, it just means that the drums aren’t the most prominent part of the beat. It makes it so that you HAVE TO pay attention to every other element of a sample and really appreciate it and let the sample breathe. Nicholas Craven is probably my favorite producer rn, songs like Smokin Samson, Power Nap, Straight & Tall, Brand New Chanel Kicks, etc… his albums with Boldy… it’s just differenttt
One thing’s for sure, you can’t have a rapper with a weak flow or lyrics over a drum less beat. It’s a beautiful antithesis to the tradition of “booty-shaking” hip hop and a focus on bringing out an emcee’s presence.
Ice Cube, Today Was A Good Day. Perfect example of no added drums, just a fire loop. Not even chopped just straight up. Madlib is also heavy into this style. It’s been around for a while but definitely Roc Marci and the Alchemist plus all the other artists like Earl, MIKE, Boldy etc are just pushing that wave. I’m sure to some it might seem “Lazy” in terms of production but it’s the same as not understanding Picasso painting a masterpiece in five minutes. It’s the ear and the work that was put in years before that adds up to that skill and there’s a feeling of catching lightning in a bottle when you find that loop. Haters will always hate but there’s enough styles in hip hop alone to please everyone’s taste. 👍
Although Alc is known for this style, this hasn’t been his ONLY style in his career. He had drum heavy beats back in the 2000s and he managed to adapt his style to times to remain fresh. Not many producers can change their sound like Alc.
@@sourdiesel681listen to Dead Bodies from his 1st Infantry album and ask yourself when was the last time he produced anything close to that. Alchemist was smart enough to adapt to the times
@@Glol91ABCYou cant be a important man with this minimalist beats but if you already a big man like alchemist you can rest with these beats he is just enjoying with the soul beats now its Art man No need to go in 1 direction kick snare kick snare speed up sample bla bla put trap hi hats 808s etc. Etc.
"Please listen to my demo" by EPMD is my first introduction to this style and that was back in the 80's. I can still bump that track to this day and it's still sounds fresh.
Thanks for this video. I knew I wasn't the only one who noticed this trend. Super interesting to see "true" hiphop change to a wave of no drums hiphop.
I definitely prefer drums over drumless, but I like the fact that drumless makes the rapper put in more effort. A lot of popular artists are completely carried by the beat.
And that makes perfect sense because truthfully, Apollo Brown was never known for his drum programming....at least amongst other producers so, him making a dope album with no drums is right up his lane.
Although it’s not the full song and just the intro, Int’l Players Anthem with 3 Stacks’ verse over it is one of my favorite parts in any song without drums. 🔥🔥🔥
"Let the rhythm hitm!!!"...not just the beat. We sometimes find ourselves "hypnotized by the drums" and miss the lyrics. Some productions do that on purpose to sell content. They drown out the lack of lyricism by a banging/catchy beat. Most times when people say they like a song is because the best and the hook are catchy. Without the beat yet using the music to put the lyrics at the for front is brilliant, if you are blessed enough to find a pure lyricist/poet to carry the project.
This style definitely derived from best tapes from producers back in the day. Madlib and Dilla do some of the best drum-less beats on their 2000s tapes
I feel like it’s the opposing answer to the current era of heavy trap style 808s. It’s enjoyable as long as the artist delivers on the mic. If the artist fails short, the track falls apart. It’s a production approach built on a precarious foundation imo.
To see Roc, Alc and Ka on the thumbnail already let me know this video would be 🔥. Drumless hip-hop has become a favorite of mine since my first time actually listening to Ka back in 2020 which led me into Roc since they have tracks together (first heard him in 2017 but I was fresh out of highschool, hadn't experienced enough to really feel it then). Listening to Alc made me search for others too and its taken me on such an incredible journey through music. I couldn't be happier that I've discovered their music Earl, Mike, Mavi and and everyone else have been creeping into and cementing their place in my rotation since last year. Earl solidified it this year when I listened to "Some Rap Songs" earlier this year and couldn't stop listening to "The Mint" with him and Navy Blue. Mike and Wiki made an incredible statement with the Alchemist profuced "Faith is a Rock" and the standout track is easily "Mayors a Cop". Idk what was going on in the studio when that song was made but I NEED a behind the scense explanation
Rs Drumless hip-hop makes the rappers lyricism and delivery stand out a lot more so u really gotta be spitting on it. That’s why I’m one of the best on it
Great Video. Thank you! Finally a Video that acknowledges RZA with this sound (Ghost: All that I got is You '96). As well modern Boom-Bap/Goon-Bap was influenced by the Cuban Linx/Purple Tape sound. Also Dailek doesn't get enough love for their influence on Drumless Hip-Hop
@@Dreso87 Term I use for that "Modern Boop-Bap"/Griselda sound. Slow Looming Heavy Drums. Doesn't actually sound like Boom Bap (DJ Premier-ish) to me Sounds more like an Evolution of that Slow Hard Grim sound RZA was using back in the day. Ex. PLO Style (Method-Man)
I’m just glad to see KA mentioned side by side with other drumless pioneers like Roc Marciano and Alchemist. Been following him for years and KA doesn’t get nearly enough flowers 🙌🏾
Thank you thank you for this vid bro. I love the many flavors and styles of hiphop, but this one has always had a special place in my heart. Just Blaze’s Dear Summer pushed me absolutely over the edge in love with HipHop, and those beats will always find rotation in my playlist, regardless who’s rapping over them. You the real MVP for this one!
@@b-boycastertroysampling dialogue wasn't exclusive to Ultra magnetic if That's the case credits should go to The Bomb Squad as well you remember producers back then they use to sample anything like they didn't have to pay for it 😂
Bomb squad, Prince Paul all over the De La records, KMD had word collages etc, I mean…Diamond D when he used the same sample as Busta’s NY York shit doesn’t have added drums. People always been doing drumless loops…I just never thought producers would just make those 😅
Nice video, but it’s not only crazy that you left out Madlib, but also Pete Rock. We all know Pete Rock has great drums but he has some of the sickest “drumless” beats too like “hold the drums” and “homegrown”
Drumless style will be the evolution of rap and hip hop and I can’t wait until more people catch on to it because if it is done right than it could literally revamp the indrustry I believe but that’s my opinion. Don’t get me wrong, boom bap rap and the drum breaks will never get old to me but I feel like it’s time to finally start experimenting
I love drumless beats man, been listenin to the likes of Madlib, ALC and the rza along with the griselda producers I started makin drumless stuff too, although I do feel guilty sometimes cause after u find the right sample u just gotta find the loop and das the entire beat still I love makin drumless stuff along with chopped up good old style of beats too ofc
I agree. I feel like making drumless beats is probably more palatable when you’re working directly with an artist. The loop becomes part of the final product instead of just being the product. Whenever I’ve tried making them in the past, I always feel the need to add extra instrumentation or fx that probably end up ruining the vibe.
@@ryjt3736 honestly man fuck what the people think, u can make cool and crazy stuff and u can find an insane sample and just loop it too, if they ask for skillful shit then show em the beats that u made that way, simple solution
Not just loop the sample you can manipulate the sample Like E. Coli from ALC People think its straight loop but it isnt or Elizabeth from ALC aswell or Devil in a new Dress from kanye west (producer isnt kanye)
@@baL88537 Manipulation isn't just changin the pitch of the sample bro, what they did was just change the pitch, and devil in a new dress is a bad example, kanye literally put drums on it while we're talking about drumless here
I'd say that these types of beats are a double edged sword. On one end the lyrics tend to be more in focus and can sound really cool if done right either by chopping or by looping an obscure and hard to find sample and breathing new life into it either by mixing it or manipulating the sound of it, but on the other end it looks lazy when you just slap on a sample loop and call it a day, especially if there is room for dope drums and other elements to be added or the sample could be flipped a lot better. I was on the fence a couple of years ago and didn't like the style in the beginning, but now as I've gotten older I've started to appreciate this style more cause it's more soothing to my ear and I can really focus on what rappers talk about in their songs. I recently made a beat with just a sample and I really dug it, but once I tried to add some drums to it, it didn't sound the same, and I'm a drums first kind of guy. It just depends on the vibe and the sample you're flipping. Great video, mate! Salute!
Outkast's song E.T (Extraterrestrial ) was one of the first songs I heard with no drums. Rza is one of the best, ever. I dont think Black Widow Pt. 2 had drums. What The F*ck Is A Jay Electronica is a stellar project. Thank You for sharing.
This reminds me of when Prince dropped one of the only Pop songs to not have a bassline. “When Doves Cry” i watched an interview with his engineer she said “it got really big then during mixdown he kind of removed a lot of things and unproduced it. Then the last thing he did was remove the bass and said “ain’t nobody gonna beleive i’d do this.” At the end of the day he trusted his musical instinct to fit the feel he wanted and it ended up becoming arguably his most successful song.
4:32 when i was getting my fine arts degree, there was one thing i learned that has really fascinated me ever since. it is how major shifts in art are usually a response, and a direct opposite, of what is popular at the time. this drumless response to the drum heavy style of the time is another example of this being the case.
That eternal sunshine riff from the soundtrack has its own fantastic breakdown on how Jon Brion made it. There's a behind the scenes that had came out shortly after the movie was released. The technique uses a very old instrument, called a Optigan. it's an instrument much like a mellotron, but instead of tape, it's an organ that plays back samples from discs.
Thank you, I was trying to explain this to a friend. I started getting bored of hi hat 808s all the time in every song, but there’s a balance with everything I guess.
Finally! Somebody made a video on the Art of ILL Loops. One of my favorites is Cappadonna's 97' Mentality off of Wu's Killa Bees The Swarm Compilation that came out in 1998, Produced by Rza.
The fist drumless beat I know is Sparkle (Mr. Midnight Mix) by Camp Lo, which dates back to 1997. Sure, it’s not based on a film score, but it is drumless. And nobody remembers that.
This guy's voice sounds like a calmed down version of that tiktok guy who says things like "Samson had that dawg in him. He was the original Becky with the Good Hair"
Drumless beats have been hot from day, it's not that new but I'm glad people are recognising the art of it now. Just because a tracks has no drums, that doesn't mean it doesn't have a "beat"
Awsome content. There's always a rhythm in music even without a "beat". The notes are crafted with timing in mind. Poetry has a rhythm even without music. The writer or reciter finds the rhythm in the rhyme or lack there of(haiku) to emphasize the importance of the words spoken. Often at times leaving the rhythm up to the reader. Beats are emphatic giving the listener cues to recognize changes in the subject(s) involved, but the rhythm/cadence has always been the focal point. Not "the beat", The Rhythm. Awsome content Bruh. Keep up the great work.
Hi everyone! I just wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for your time spent watching, commenting, and subscribing to my channel. Honestly, I'm overwhelmed by all the attention this video has gotten in such a short period, it's beyond what I expected! This is the reason I started this channel, to create dialogue and discussions like this about hip-hop. What types of videos or content would you like to see more of in the future? Your feedback is important. Thank you!
i used to have a problem with this style years ago, but nowadays, i love it. been making beats for 11 years, ive always prefered my drums to be soft, light, whatever u wanna call it. sometimes i like bumpin a track with no added drums. idc if its lazy or not. if its organic, ill f*ck with it. funny the same people saying its lazy likely wont say this to rza, madlib, even outkast when they did the e.t. (extraterrestrial) track thats on their atliens album
Most hip hop is sample-heavy, especially with drums. But I’m not hearing a lot of examples of the so-called drumless sound you’re talking about. I can only assume that because of the need to avoid copyright strikes, we only get a few seconds between segments. We still don’t get much to go off of. And I’m not quite sure why it’s suggested that this new production approach is designed to enhance the content of the lyrics. For decades, rap lyrics have been gritty and about struggle, regardless of production style.
What a lot of people in the comments aren’t touching on is musicianship. Yeah sampling can be intricate and it’s a cornerstone of hip hop, and drumless puts emphasis on the music itself - which in most cases is the core of it all… But producers who are musicians and can create from scratch / interpolate and not be constricted by having to find samples / looping: is where it’s at. With such low entry barriers, there’s so many producers that don’t know shit about music, and it shows in the redundant / predictable / mediocre production that keeps getting churned out. Sampling can be creative but often times it’s straight up recycling.
One of the main reasons to "recycle" samples is to shape them into a new sound...somehow. Music culture has progresed far beyond the point of putting a slowed down break over a classic sample from the r&b, funk or disco golden era then kicking an 808. That sound kinda made the music, yet musicians get bored easily.
The sonic density of a perfect moment of rendered sound, that is then used in a unique way...is sort of unmatched for certain forms. 44.1 KHZ of data in a slice of some seconds of sound, that is then used well...can be amazing.
An inverse problem can occur. Someone gets a DAW, some expensive af synths, and some sample libraries, and then they just create something that is...idk: chaos without purpose?
While I appreciate that you mentioned Rza as the Pioneer of this sound, and the song "Hollow Bones", you failed to mentioned the one song that truly is the genesis of this genre: "North Star" (Jewelz) by Raekwon.
@larrylicavoli The purpose of this video is not to find every single hip-hop song in history that has this style of production. Back then, there wasn't a name for this style. In the last decade or so, this style has become more popular in that there is a name for it now. So, the main focus is on some of the artists that made it popular today.
!["Praga" | Drumless Westside Gunn Type Beat [Free]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/UQ_Law1yaPk/mqdefault.jpg)
Back in the Myspace days I sent Armageddon from Terror Squad some of my beats. He replied (which was nice or him), and said that my beats 'needed more elements'. I was using loops with very light, simple drums. Now look! I still have those beat CD's and Zip disks.
To everyone bashing the drumless beats...different producers have different philosophies about how their beats are supposed to compliment an artist. Nicholas Craven has always said that his production is not about pursuing the goal of making the best beat or being considered the best producer, it's about activating his artists as much as possible. In his mind, if the beat inspires the artist to write great lyrics and the song as a whole is good, then the producer's job is done. Drumless hip hop also requires special samples which are harder to find and require a different level of digging from the producer. A lot of my drumless beats take longer to create than my percussion-heavy beats when you consider the amount of time spent looking for samples. The video explains this concept well but I think some just don't like it.
I love this statement “activating the artist” it’s so true. Hip-hop/ rap is not a monolith, some artists really know how to paint a picture and sometimes deep sounds without the clutter of 808s and heavy drums are needed to score a song or message. I’m a huge fan of Nicholas Craven and Alchemist for realizing this.
no drum beats are ok but i feel its being over done lately.
Opposite for me since I mostly make sampled beats. Its actually harder to add percussions to samples because it has drums already, not to mention most boom bap style has been over done, so one criticizes themselves like "naw thats already been done before", causing me to do drumless beats.
It is lazy. And it seems like nothing we add to it works. Because the sample is THAT good. So we settle with drumless beats.
@@seanfrance3182its common sense and music production 101. They literally teach this everywhere.
A producer works for the artists not the other way around.
@@prototype8137They're supposed to work together seeing as the producer is an artist as well.
Am I missing something here? Loads of us were making drumless tracks in the 80s. It was out of necessity because our samplers couldn’t play a sample and a beat at the same time so we had to find samples that worked with no beat accompaniment. This technique was definitely around before the producers mentioned in this video. Sure, they may have become famous for it, but they didn’t invent it.
Great to know man that’s wild
Perfect example today is Alchemist and Boldy James. They’re killing it and it fits very well for both artists. 🔥
Al has a good mix of drums and drumless, so does Marci. All the greats have a hybrid style
Boldy and Al’s albums are masterpieces. So is Al and Marci’s and Al and Freddie Gibbs. Mujah Messiah’s ‘Saran Rap’ is a great Marci produced album.
Facts bro. Al kills it every time and it’s starting to seem like boldy is finally getting a bit more recognition outside of Detroit. Happy for both of them!
Ikr. I just was saying that. This guy is in tuned.
Thank you for acknowledging the RZA as the pioneer of this style. Too many times ive seen other folks given credit for this. Sub Crazy, Black Widow pt 2, 97 Mentality, All that I Got is You, Hollow Bones, Let My N***as Live, etc. RZA was next level on this style 25 years ago.
Gravediggaz - Dangerous Mindz 1997 production by Forth Disciple & RZA.
Rza ain't pioneer that shit tho
@@defcreator187 he said “unplugged rap”😂😂😂. I’m talking making records intentionally using this style. Ofc he’s not the first to ever do this in the history of mankind but he brought that style to the hip-hop masses and made it famous.
nah DJ Muggs
Save for Hollow Bones and ATIGIY, the others use drums, my guy. But yes, I see what you're saying. This style has been around for a long time though.
Great video, it’s important to note that “drumless” doesn’t necessarily mean no drums in the beat at all, it just means that the drums aren’t the most prominent part of the beat. It makes it so that you HAVE TO pay attention to every other element of a sample and really appreciate it and let the sample breathe. Nicholas Craven is probably my favorite producer rn, songs like Smokin Samson, Power Nap, Straight & Tall, Brand New Chanel Kicks, etc… his albums with Boldy… it’s just differenttt
One thing’s for sure, you can’t have a rapper with a weak flow or lyrics over a drum less beat. It’s a beautiful antithesis to the tradition of “booty-shaking” hip hop and a focus on bringing out an emcee’s presence.
Facts
i think willyynova has some of the best instrumentals in drumless hip hop but his delivery is subpar so it kind of ruins it
@@lonelydriver8971 idk why this comment made me laugh lol about to go check it out
@@92kris lol, i recommend trying his album godislove. moscato and smedium ugly are my two favorites but everything on that album is solid
Don't tempt the universe. Before you know it, drumless mumble rap will be popular. (Drumble? Mumless?)
Ice Cube, Today Was A Good Day. Perfect example of no added drums, just a fire loop. Not even chopped just straight up. Madlib is also heavy into this style. It’s been around for a while but definitely Roc Marci and the Alchemist plus all the other artists like Earl, MIKE, Boldy etc are just pushing that wave. I’m sure to some it might seem “Lazy” in terms of production but it’s the same as not understanding Picasso painting a masterpiece in five minutes. It’s the ear and the work that was put in years before that adds up to that skill and there’s a feeling of catching lightning in a bottle when you find that loop. Haters will always hate but there’s enough styles in hip hop alone to please everyone’s taste. 👍
Great post! Did you know they've figured out the actual day that song was written about?
@@treyhudson73tell us !
This Ice Cube song Is a Semi-Drumless song...but i get what you mean ...
That’s what I meant by no added drums, it has drums in the sample but no added layered drums. 👍🙂
That's a drum break.
Not mentioning Madlib in here is criminal. He’s on the Mount Rushmore to all this. One of the originals and still does it today.
Although Alc is known for this style, this hasn’t been his ONLY style in his career. He had drum heavy beats back in the 2000s and he managed to adapt his style to times to remain fresh. Not many producers can change their sound like Alc.
he change his style after working with Oh No... now ALC is a cheap copy of madlib
Alchemist didn't change his style though his shit still sounds like an "Alchemist Type Beat"😂😂😂
@@sourdiesel681listen to Dead Bodies from his 1st Infantry album and ask yourself when was the last time he produced anything close to that. Alchemist was smart enough to adapt to the times
@@Glol91ABCYou cant be a important man with this minimalist beats but if you already a big man like alchemist you can rest with these beats he is just enjoying with the soul beats now its Art man
No need to go in 1 direction kick snare kick snare speed up sample bla bla put trap hi hats 808s etc. Etc.
@@sourdiesel681 wtf you talking about? I didn't said shyt about minimalist beats
"Please listen to my demo" by EPMD is my first introduction to this style and that was back in the 80's. I can still bump that track to this day and it's still sounds fresh.
Good call. Definitely no bass. Pioneers frfr.
Yes sir! I second this.
This!!
True! Erick Sermon, Definitely Under Rated!! Question, does "Power of God"- by LL, Produced by Marley Marl qualify???!
Link please 😊
Thanks for this video. I knew I wasn't the only one who noticed this trend. Super interesting to see "true" hiphop change to a wave of no drums hiphop.
I definitely prefer drums over drumless, but I like the fact that drumless makes the rapper put in more effort. A lot of popular artists are completely carried by the beat.
The lyrics have to be good on a drum less.
That’s one of the things that makes Griselda great
Jail Pt 2 is the best
A Major Team and Producer is LNDN DRUGS!!!! Jay Worthy, Gworthy, Sean House, Larry June to name a Few are always Rockin his Beats
Disclaimer: drumless here means without an added drum, not without drum. The example made - RZA beat - has a drum.
That's right. Drumless here doesn't necessarily mean that there's no drums. Sometimes the drums are light or minimal.
@@RhymeReport When Is like that ...some people called Semi-Drumless
Apollo Brown & Planet Asia - Anchovies
A drumless masterpiece, every track, every loop, every detail… utter perfection 👌👌
+ Sardines
There is a few tracks with drums on their but very minimal, unbelievable project tho. Apollo is so slept on as a producer
Apollo Brown is amazing. An underrated producer. I could've mentioned this album in the video.
Apollo…exquisite!
And that makes perfect sense because truthfully, Apollo Brown was never known for his drum programming....at least amongst other producers so, him making a dope album with no drums is right up his lane.
Although it’s not the full song and just the intro,
Int’l Players Anthem with 3 Stacks’ verse over it is one of my favorite parts in any song without drums.
🔥🔥🔥
"Let the rhythm hitm!!!"...not just the beat. We sometimes find ourselves "hypnotized by the drums" and miss the lyrics. Some productions do that on purpose to sell content. They drown out the lack of lyricism by a banging/catchy beat. Most times when people say they like a song is because the best and the hook are catchy. Without the beat yet using the music to put the lyrics at the for front is brilliant, if you are blessed enough to find a pure lyricist/poet to carry the project.
This style definitely derived from best tapes from producers back in the day. Madlib and Dilla do some of the best drum-less beats on their 2000s tapes
Straight and Tall by Boldy James and Nicholas Craven is my favorite song like this I can think of. Super dope.
KA and Marciano pushed this sound since 2010
KA is underrated
Fam I said the same shxt .... salute
I like their lyrics but their beats are lacking because of that.
you're the one lacking in here lmao@@dassolosyndikat5113
@@dassolosyndikat5113 Roc new shit on Jay worthys album is pretty nice. alc and Larry Junes great escape is great work too
Earliest drumless beat I can remember is Cormega ft. Mobb Deep - Killaz Theme, produced by Havoc
I feel like it’s the opposing answer to the current era of heavy trap style 808s. It’s enjoyable as long as the artist delivers on the mic. If the artist fails short, the track falls apart.
It’s a production approach built on a precarious foundation imo.
Still remember playing Ka's "Honour Killed the Samurai" so, so, so, so many times when that came out.
To see Roc, Alc and Ka on the thumbnail already let me know this video would be 🔥. Drumless hip-hop has become a favorite of mine since my first time actually listening to Ka back in 2020 which led me into Roc since they have tracks together (first heard him in 2017 but I was fresh out of highschool, hadn't experienced enough to really feel it then). Listening to Alc made me search for others too and its taken me on such an incredible journey through music. I couldn't be happier that I've discovered their music
Earl, Mike, Mavi and and everyone else have been creeping into and cementing their place in my rotation since last year. Earl solidified it this year when I listened to "Some Rap Songs" earlier this year and couldn't stop listening to "The Mint" with him and Navy Blue. Mike and Wiki made an incredible statement with the Alchemist profuced "Faith is a Rock" and the standout track is easily "Mayors a Cop". Idk what was going on in the studio when that song was made but I NEED a behind the scense explanation
Cypress Hill's "Scooby Doo" produced by Muggs back in 93! No kicks or snares! Just a muhfuckin ride cymbal and a Scarface score sample! Genius!!
Too many beatmakers on here sniffing their own fartery complaining about how "easy" drumless beats are to make. Hip Hop snobbery has got to go.
💯
Wordd! I remember when it was about what was felt! Overall we're so outta touch with ourselves it's not even funny
maybe a dumb question, but I'm mesmerized by the beats in the background. where can I find em, I need em for my study sessions :D
I can honestly say my music is evolving hip hop. 💪🏽 💯
And what a brilliant way of describing the sounds of Hip Hop. Spot on!!!!! 🎉
Rs Drumless hip-hop makes the rappers lyricism and delivery stand out a lot more so u really gotta be spitting on it. That’s why I’m one of the best on it
Great Video. Thank you! Finally a Video that acknowledges RZA with this sound (Ghost: All that I got is You '96). As well modern Boom-Bap/Goon-Bap was influenced by the Cuban Linx/Purple Tape sound. Also Dailek doesn't get enough love for their influence on Drumless Hip-Hop
Honest question: Goon bap?
@@Dreso87 Term I use for that "Modern Boop-Bap"/Griselda sound. Slow Looming Heavy Drums. Doesn't actually sound like Boom Bap (DJ Premier-ish) to me
Sounds more like an Evolution of that Slow Hard Grim sound RZA was using back in the day. Ex. PLO Style (Method-Man)
@@wahyagabriel6167 Got it, love the term. Its definitely a sound of its own
@@Dreso87 I agree, hey kept refining it to make it something it's own
Thanks for putting this together. I'll be back to follow up on some of the names new to me.
Awesome, thanks. Subscribed right away. Looking forward to more
Thank you! I appreciate the sub!
I’m just glad to see KA mentioned side by side with other drumless pioneers like Roc Marciano and Alchemist.
Been following him for years and KA doesn’t get nearly enough flowers 🙌🏾
Thank you thank you for this vid bro. I love the many flavors and styles of hiphop, but this one has always had a special place in my heart. Just Blaze’s Dear Summer pushed me absolutely over the edge in love with HipHop, and those beats will always find rotation in my playlist, regardless who’s rapping over them. You the real MVP for this one!
Thank you!
It's really been a technique since the 90's.Gangstarr "Just to get a rep"had eq to boost the sound but no drum.
The Rza is responsible for a few genre's and styles The Rza clearly is the godfather of this movement
RZA got some ideas from Ced Gee Ultramagnetic MCs. Sampling movies for one.
@@b-boycastertroysampling dialogue wasn't exclusive to Ultra magnetic if That's the case credits should go to The Bomb Squad as well you remember producers back then they use to sample anything like they didn't have to pay for it 😂
Bomb squad, Prince Paul all over the De La records, KMD had word collages etc, I mean…Diamond D when he used the same sample as Busta’s NY York shit doesn’t have added drums. People always been doing drumless loops…I just never thought producers would just make those 😅
Nice video, but it’s not only crazy that you left out Madlib, but also Pete Rock. We all know Pete Rock has great drums but he has some of the sickest “drumless” beats too like “hold the drums” and “homegrown”
Thank you for giving RZA is props for pioneering this sound
This is a great video! Well informed and full of knowledge keep it up mane
Thank you! I'm just a fan who appreciates this amazing art form called Hip Hop. I'll keep pushing more content like this!
Muggs makes some ot the dopest drumless tracks I heard so far. It’s slowly growing on me.
Drumless style will be the evolution of rap and hip hop and I can’t wait until more people catch on to it because if it is done right than it could literally revamp the indrustry I believe but that’s my opinion. Don’t get me wrong, boom bap rap and the drum breaks will never get old to me but I feel like it’s time to finally start experimenting
I love drumless beats man, been listenin to the likes of Madlib, ALC and the rza along with the griselda producers I started makin drumless stuff too, although I do feel guilty sometimes cause after u find the right sample u just gotta find the loop and das the entire beat still I love makin drumless stuff along with chopped up good old style of beats too ofc
Metoo I like making olschool beats, I think it depends on if the artist is feeling drums or no drums
I agree. I feel like making drumless beats is probably more palatable when you’re working directly with an artist. The loop becomes part of the final product instead of just being the product. Whenever I’ve tried making them in the past, I always feel the need to add extra instrumentation or fx that probably end up ruining the vibe.
@@ryjt3736 honestly man fuck what the people think, u can make cool and crazy stuff and u can find an insane sample and just loop it too, if they ask for skillful shit then show em the beats that u made that way, simple solution
Not just loop the sample you can manipulate the sample
Like E. Coli from ALC People think its straight loop but it isnt or Elizabeth from ALC aswell or Devil in a new Dress from kanye west (producer isnt kanye)
@@baL88537 Manipulation isn't just changin the pitch of the sample bro, what they did was just change the pitch, and devil in a new dress is a bad example, kanye literally put drums on it while we're talking about drumless here
Anyone over here knows maybe which plug ins to use for thedmse drumless grooves to make it sound dope?Much appriciated Gs!
Roc Marciano. Nuff said ‼️
“Iron Age” Ka ft. Roc Marciano is one of the hardest songs ever
Love it. It’s a gem of its own. Alchemist, Conductor Williams, Roc Marci, Daringer etc.
Conductor is 🔥🔥🔥
@@charismatickidd yesss, Frank Murphy is a fckn masterpiece
The algorithm was right on with this video right here! Love the drumless wave
What about Madlib?! He been rockin that style for a while
I'd say that these types of beats are a double edged sword. On one end the lyrics tend to be more in focus and can sound really cool if done right either by chopping or by looping an obscure and hard to find sample and breathing new life into it either by mixing it or manipulating the sound of it, but on the other end it looks lazy when you just slap on a sample loop and call it a day, especially if there is room for dope drums and other elements to be added or the sample could be flipped a lot better. I was on the fence a couple of years ago and didn't like the style in the beginning, but now as I've gotten older I've started to appreciate this style more cause it's more soothing to my ear and I can really focus on what rappers talk about in their songs. I recently made a beat with just a sample and I really dug it, but once I tried to add some drums to it, it didn't sound the same, and I'm a drums first kind of guy. It just depends on the vibe and the sample you're flipping. Great video, mate! Salute!
Outkast's song E.T (Extraterrestrial ) was one of the first songs I heard with no drums.
Rza is one of the best, ever. I dont think Black Widow Pt. 2 had drums.
What The F*ck Is A Jay Electronica is a stellar project.
Thank You for sharing.
Yeah, that Outkast song is dope! I love it.
Yea black widow part 2 had no drums he just brought them in at the end of the track
Out of this world....are you alien?
What was the first drumless album? one who really embodied the shit in a total way
Rip people waiting for the drop.
This reminds me of when Prince dropped one of the only Pop songs to not have a bassline. “When Doves Cry” i watched an interview with his engineer she said “it got really big then during mixdown he kind of removed a lot of things and unproduced it. Then the last thing he did was remove the bass and said “ain’t nobody gonna beleive i’d do this.” At the end of the day he trusted his musical instinct to fit the feel he wanted and it ended up becoming arguably his most successful song.
This definitely needs to be talked about more in today's Hip-Hop! This is important. Great video
4:32 when i was getting my fine arts degree, there was one thing i learned that has really fascinated me ever since. it is how major shifts in art are usually a response, and a direct opposite, of what is popular at the time. this drumless response to the drum heavy style of the time is another example of this being the case.
Just earned yourself a new sub. This piece was as much a work of art as the music it discussed 🙏🏽
Thank you! Appreciate the sub 🙏🏽
Heavy Mental by Killah Priest is the first drumless song I can recall. A great tune.
That eternal sunshine riff from the soundtrack has its own fantastic breakdown on how Jon Brion made it. There's a behind the scenes that had came out shortly after the movie was released. The technique uses a very old instrument, called a Optigan.
it's an instrument much like a mellotron, but instead of tape, it's an organ that plays back samples from discs.
Thank you for that information 🙏
Big facts drumless beats are my favorite to spit on
Thank you, I was trying to explain this to a friend. I started getting bored of hi hat 808s all the time in every song, but there’s a balance with everything I guess.
Maaannn same!!! Especially with me living in the south. I’m so tired of trap drums I don’t know what to do.🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️
@@MarkHallOfFamebulldoze the trap house
Love that style when done right! You failed to mention 3 of the originators Madlib, J Dilla and MF DOOM
All of them definitely contributed to the style. If I went more in-depth, there were lots more artists that I could've mentioned.
@@RhymeReport Yep but Madlib and DOOM were 2 who made that style popular! Their track 'Rhinestone Cowboy' is like a blueprint to that style!!
Finally! Somebody made a video on the Art of ILL Loops. One of my favorites is Cappadonna's 97' Mentality off of Wu's Killa Bees The Swarm Compilation that came out in 1998, Produced by Rza.
fantastic report! loved this
The fist drumless beat I know is Sparkle (Mr. Midnight Mix) by Camp Lo, which dates back to 1997. Sure, it’s not based on a film score, but it is drumless. And nobody remembers that.
One of my favorites for sure
This guy's voice sounds like a calmed down version of that tiktok guy who says things like "Samson had that dawg in him. He was the original Becky with the Good Hair"
We're here. Salute. It is revolutionary. The breathing room it brings when done proper.
My algorithm is pumping! This is spoken art my friend 10 stars.
Drumless beats have been hot from day, it's not that new but I'm glad people are recognising the art of it now. Just because a tracks has no drums, that doesn't mean it doesn't have a "beat"
Such a clean style of music, I love it
Real music lovers have no issue with this
You mean Cats who don't need Adderall 😂
@@GOAT-HRDRZ This is so GD accurate 💀💀💀💀🤣🫡💀💀💀💀
Awsome content. There's always a rhythm in music even without a "beat". The notes are crafted with timing in mind. Poetry has a rhythm even without music. The writer or reciter finds the rhythm in the rhyme or lack there of(haiku) to emphasize the importance of the words spoken. Often at times leaving the rhythm up to the reader. Beats are emphatic giving the listener cues to recognize changes in the subject(s) involved, but the rhythm/cadence has always been the focal point. Not "the beat", The Rhythm. Awsome content Bruh. Keep up the great work.
You made great points in both your comments
Beautiful
Well, the drums are part of the Groove section after all. The loop is finding the groove in more than the drums.
💯
Hi everyone! I just wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for your time spent watching, commenting, and subscribing to my channel. Honestly, I'm overwhelmed by all the attention this video has gotten in such a short period, it's beyond what I expected! This is the reason I started this channel, to create dialogue and discussions like this about hip-hop.
What types of videos or content would you like to see more of in the future? Your feedback is important. Thank you!
i like drumless but i also like jazzy boom bap stuff too
First beat I heard like this as a kid was “all that I got is you” ghostface killah. That Shit was so fresh to me at the time! 🔥
Mary J. Blige slayed the hook too
@@yomelo biggg facts!
Great, informative video, thank you.
Thank you
I was gonna sub off rip but once I seen Ka I knew this was the deep vein of culture. Great video.
Algorithm hooked it up.
Appreciate the sub!
Great insight, thanks.
This was a great video!
Thank you!
Simply throwing KA in the pic is enough 🙏🏾
i used to have a problem with this style years ago, but nowadays, i love it. been making beats for 11 years, ive always prefered my drums to be soft, light, whatever u wanna call it. sometimes i like bumpin a track with no added drums. idc if its lazy or not. if its organic, ill f*ck with it. funny the same people saying its lazy likely wont say this to rza, madlib, even outkast when they did the e.t. (extraterrestrial) track thats on their atliens album
The most superb thing about drum less soul is you can focus on everything the MC says more 💯💯💯💯
Great video and history! Thank you
Thank you!
First time I heard Gangrene's "Play It Cool", I was blown away by how intense a beat can be while without drums
Thank you..
I thirdly
Thoroughly enjoyed it..
Most hip hop is sample-heavy, especially with drums. But I’m not hearing a lot of examples of the so-called drumless sound you’re talking about. I can only assume that because of the need to avoid copyright strikes, we only get a few seconds between segments. We still don’t get much to go off of. And I’m not quite sure why it’s suggested that this new production approach is designed to enhance the content of the lyrics. For decades, rap lyrics have been gritty and about struggle, regardless of production style.
Check out foul play da$h
Simply put , the drum-less beat is the last bastion of the MC 💯
Anyone know the name of the track after "Kitchen Lights" that starts around 5:40? Cheers.
Dusty Conscience by Matt Large
@@RhymeReport Amazing! Thanks very much.
Well researched video, props.
Ransom and Nicholas Craven joints be hard as well
KA's drumless beats gives off a Silent Hill ambience, which is 🔥 asf imo
What a lot of people in the comments aren’t touching on is musicianship.
Yeah sampling can be intricate and it’s a cornerstone of hip hop, and drumless puts emphasis on the music itself - which in most cases is the core of it all…
But producers who are musicians and can create from scratch / interpolate and not be constricted by having to find samples / looping: is where it’s at.
With such low entry barriers, there’s so many producers that don’t know shit about music, and it shows in the redundant / predictable / mediocre production that keeps getting churned out. Sampling can be creative but often times it’s straight up recycling.
One of the main reasons to "recycle" samples is to shape them into a new sound...somehow.
Music culture has progresed far beyond the point of putting a slowed down break over a classic sample from the r&b, funk or disco golden era then kicking an 808. That sound kinda made the music, yet musicians get bored easily.
The sonic density of a perfect moment of rendered sound, that is then used in a unique way...is sort of unmatched for certain forms. 44.1 KHZ of data in a slice of some seconds of sound, that is then used well...can be amazing.
An inverse problem can occur. Someone gets a DAW, some expensive af synths, and some sample libraries, and then they just create something that is...idk: chaos without purpose?
Thank you for being these artists to my knowledge!
My pleasure!
Conductor, we have a problem! Conductor, we have a problem!
Let's start giving Prince Paul his flowers y'all don't do it enough.
We NEED that ROC and KA album, This is a dope vid
While I appreciate that you mentioned Rza as the Pioneer of this sound, and the song "Hollow Bones", you failed to mentioned the one song that truly is the genesis of this genre: "North Star" (Jewelz) by Raekwon.
That's right. Rza produced a few songs before "Hollow Bones" in that style. Also, "All That I Got is You" by Ghostface Killah is another example.
@@RhymeReportI was about to list "All that I got is you" as an example, as it is one of my favorite tracks of all time
Doom The Finest...i could go on. There's many before rza. These youtube researchers dont have fact checkers, making their videos not worth watching
@larrylicavoli The purpose of this video is not to find every single hip-hop song in history that has this style of production. Back then, there wasn't a name for this style. In the last decade or so, this style has become more popular in that there is a name for it now. So, the main focus is on some of the artists that made it popular today.
Everyone is doing drumless beats now, but it takes a producer who has a true ear for music and samples to make them sound good.