Underground Hip Hop Artists need websites?

This guy from the Portland Underground Hip Hop scene name Mindskillz is putting together websites for underground hip hop artists. If he digs your style and is willing he will put together a website for you. If you are looking for an example he has a work in progress right now at www.badhabitathiphop.com

The dude also does crazy good internet marketing. If you need a promotions guy hit up mindskillz on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/lyrakillmindskillz

New Underground Hip Hop artists that need promotion, marketing, websites, flyer design, etc hit up Mindskillz y'all.

Hip-hop Beat Production

There are many search results online which provide solutions for most issues that unsigned musicians experience. Simply open up google and search for hip-hop beat production.

First you need to know what kind of tools are available. Reason, FL Studio, Acid Pro, Sonar, and ABleton are some of your options. Most professionals will tell you that a combination of multiple suites. If you want to set up and successfully run an independent music business, especially for the URBAN markets such as Hip-Hop, R&B,or even Drum & Bass you will need to learn a few things. First of all it helps if you know how to read and write music. The best Hip Hop Beat Producers know how to play multiple instruments. Second you will need to practice... a lot. No one makes a heater on their first try. Third, and quite possibly most important, you need a combination of software, samples and hardware. I have often seen people make hip-hop beats on their computers using their computer keyboard instead of a real piano keyboard. While this can work it is not optimal for creating good music. Signing up for a hip-hop beat production networking website. There are a lot of them and they can be a great place to get help if you ever get stuck or want to get some tips on making a hot beat.

Hip-hop music has become one of the most popular styles of music in United States of America. It consists of two components such as rapping and record scratching. These two components when combined with break dancing and graffiti develop the important elements of hip-hop music. If you wish to enter in the field of hip-hop beat production, you need to understand more about hip-hop music.

Hip-Hop beat production

Modern hip-hop beat production utilizes sequencers, samplers, turntables, synthesizers, drum machines and live instrumentation. Hip-hop production may involve a drum beat, a bassline, sampled music or originally sequenced loops. Beat and vocals are two basic parts of typical hip-hop song. Sampling and beats are the basic elements for producing the hip-hop music.

Sampling

Sampling is an integral part of hip-hop bit production. Samples are taken from the records and imported into the sequencers or samplers. Producers generally opt for creating totally original recordings using the computer-generated beats. Re-record or overdub the sampled part with the live musician is another solution.

Beats

The drum beat is another important element of hip-hop beat production. It is very essential to understand the beats to know the hip-hop construction. Beats include the following-
• MIDI Drum patterns or audio drum loops which include the complete drum tracks
• A Bassline (MIDI sequence)
• Dubs and snips (samples that accent and give character)
• Supporting orchestration (could be synch pads, horns, string sections)

The beat can be short or long and it is 8 bars in its shortest form. If long, it may consist of different parts for the chorus and verse and may add introduction, break and ending.

The vocal tracks in the hip-hop song consist of

• Main vocal-main vocalist performs the rap
• Second vocal- a guest vocal or second vocal that takes a verse
• Background vocals-created to offer a sense of participation by a whole group
• Overdubbed vocals-the main vocal may be doubled, tripled or quadrupled during the chorus and other parts

Recording

For hip-hop beat production, a multi-track recorder is typically used for recording. Nowadays, digital ADAT tape recorders have become popular. Use of a PC as a multi-track recorder with or without outboard can be good alternative. Professional producers generally prefer the condenser microphone for studio recording because of their high quality and wide-range response. The dynamic microphone is a primary alternative to expensive condenser microphone.

Samplers

Hardware samplers have been involved in hip-hop beat production. Samplers outfitted with pads such as MV8000 and MPC can be conveniently used. Software samplers such as Kontakt 2, Halion, Gigastudio, Battery are quite good and can provide more flexibility if your computer is capable to run inside a sequencer. A control pad surface like the Akai MPD16 can be used to provide some hardware control over your software.

Synthesizers

Synthesizers are frequently used for hip-hop beat production. They are used for basslines, melody, for sound synthesis and as percussive stabs. In addition to the analog synthesizer, old FM synths such as cheap Casios, the DX7 and its offspring and other digital synths can be useful for hip-hop elements.

Hip Hop Magazines, Read About It

Hip hop magazines are the best way to know the latest on what is happening with your favorite hip hop bands. Want to look great donning your favorite hip hop bling bling? You have to know what the latest fads are in hip hop clothing. Stay connected to the hip hop world by getting in a few great hip hop magazines each month. With so many great choices in these magazines available to you, why wouldn’t you have any? Can you call yourself a true hip hop fan without knowing what is happening in the hip hop world?

Okay, so what’s out there? Magazines like Vibe and The Source offer the hip hop fan an inside look at what is happening in hip hop today. Interviews with the hottest stars are always there. Articles on the latest happenings keep you informed. Even talk politics with the hip hop artists.

Other hip hop magazines like URB and Rap Sheet offer the best of the hip hop culture. Yes, they give great interviews and articles but they also tell you what to wear, how to be, and what to stand up for when it comes to hip hop. Culture and in depth coverage of the hip hop you want is what they offer. Who is talking about whom? Who is on their next album? What is happening to your favorite artists? And, go one step beyond and find out why it is the way it is. These hip hop magazines offer a great look into the world of hip hop.

Of course, you can get into the world of hip hop with these awesome magazines coming right to your door or buy them. You can also get connected on the web with them as well. Find more information and interviews on the web. Take it to the next step and check out the latest in hip hop clothing and hip hop jewelry on the web as well. These hip hop magazines on the web are even better because they are up to date!

Getting Hip Hop News

Hip hop news is a huge priority of many people. Let’s face it, no other class of artists are involved in so many things, good and bad. But, where do you find just the information that you need? How can you learn what is happening? There are several ways that you can do this, but some are often times better than others. It never fails that you will find the latest in hip hop news available to you, but where you get it will tell you how good it is as well as how old it is. And, when you want the real thing, it matters where you go to get the hip hop news you want.

First, you can of course get a lot of information from hip hop magazines. These are great for the latest information right from the hip hop artist’s mouth. These magazines often incorporate quite a bit of information on the details of the latest happenings in the world of hip hop, but they are not the fastest method for getting the news you want and need about hip hop.

So, what is a better way to get hip hop news? A great way to learn what’s happening in the hip hop world is by tuning to your favorite hip hop radio stations. Yes, there are often a large amount of great news stories happening on them. Live interviews are always happening as are a large amount of in depth coverage of the inside story.

Yet another way for you to get the hip hop news that you want in a way that you can read it when you have the time is by using hip hop websites. They are available throughout the web and offer a huge amount of detailed information about the artists, the music, the culture and life in hip hop. Many of them offer inside information about hip hop as well as help to get you in contact with the hip hop artists you want to know. Regardless of where you get it, getting hip hop news is the key. You will find a wide range of all the news you need in several different ways.

Hip Hop Radio Stations, The Source To Know

Sure, you can listen to hip hop radio stations to hear all the hip hop music that you want, but this is also the perfect location for much more including interviews, information about artists, and finding concert information as well. Throughout the radio waves there is an increasing amount of hip hop radio stations. And, whether they play hardcore rap or if they play a combination of hip hop and pop, you can really turn to these stations for much more information.

Hip hop radio stations offer the best of hip hop. There is no doubt that people can tune in to hear 50 Cent’s latest or to find out when he’ll be in concert. What is great is that you can count on hearing a wide range of information including new artists as well as the older artists with new songs and their old. And, with so many people looking for this type of music in this type of setting, there just seems to be quite a few hip hop radio stations happening.

But, they offer more than just music. In many cases they are full of more information about the hip hop world than you can find almost anywhere else. By the time hip hop magazines hit store shelves, the information is already old. Instead of waiting to hear it there, simply turn the dial. Now, we are talking about what is happening with the artists at any given time as well as when concerts are who will be interviewed next and even political topics that set the artists off. If you want to know their view and need an inside look, you can count on getting it from the hip hop radio stations out there.

Of course, you probably tune to your favorite hip hop radio stations to find the latest and hottest hip hop on the radio. But, you really can gather a wealth of information from these radio stations as well. To find out what is out there, check the websites featuring them as well as other hip hop websites.

Hip Hop Record Labels, The Job The Fame

Hip hop record labels are the companies that sponsor and produce the music that you love to hear. Hip hop is one of the hottest types of music on the market today and that is due at least in part to the advertisement and promotion of these artists by their hip hop record labels. So, we can thank them for bringing the artists we love to the forefront in music, but that is not all that they do. In fact, the hip hop record labels play a large part in the production of the music itself.

In hip hop music, the producer or the hip hop record label is responsible for much more. In fact, they often are responsible for composing the music along with arranging it. They often times create what is called an instrumental track or the beat of the music. Then, artists will often work with them to finish the recordings making them their own in their own way. But, there are still those hip hop record labels featuring producers who do it in the traditional way of supervising a team of musicians. One example of this is Dr. Dre.

Such hip hop record labels often have been founded by huge names within the music genre. For example, Dr. Dre’s record label that includes 50 Cent is one of the largest and most popular. Look for Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment to feature some of the best that is out there in hip hop. 50 Cent is also working under the record label of Eminem called Shady Records. Another famous hip hop record label is Death Row Records and No Limit Records. Both have been brought to light by some of the hottest names in hip hop including Snoop Dogg.

Hip hop record labels offer you the ability to find new music as well as to listen to the old. It is through their promotions and advertisements that stars like these come to light. If you want to learn more about the various hip hop record labels and who they have signed lately, check out the web where you will likely find all the information that you need.

Underground Hip Hop

You’ve probably heard many people say “Hip hop is dead” and “Most of the mainstream hip hop coming out is watered down. It’s just too commercial”. You most lightly have two burning questions: Who are the real underground hip hop artists? and Where can I find the best underground rap music?

These’s no doubt that some of the mainstream hip hop being released is pretty good. After all, these artists generally have big budgets behind them. But have you ever wondered why you sometimes hear new songs on the radio and you absolutely hate them? And after a while, those same songs find a way of growing onto you.

Just to give you some background, one study showed that an ad from a new product or service has to be noticed by a prospect a total of nine times before that prospect becomes a customer. Two out of every three times a prospect is exposed to a new product or service, it’s ignored. That means that a customer has to be exposed to a new product an average of 27 times before he or she will buy. So what does that tell you about the music on the radio?

Quite simply, it means you have a personal musical taste that goes beyond the standard mainstream music on the airwaves. That’s why you fall in love with certain songs the instant you hear them. You don’t normally wait for a song to grow onto you, unless you’re forced to hear it again and again. Think about it. If you’re forced to hear a song that you don’t particularly like for an average of 27 times, wouldn’t you start to know some of the lyrics and maybe even sing along with it? You would, and you might even buy it.

Here’s the slap-in-the-face reality: In our experience, the typical hip hop consumer is only exposed to music that makes it onto radio play lists. It’s not necessarily the best music, but since the labels behind it have deep pockets, they can afford to have their material played over and over again, even if it means using payola tactics to get the job done. This obviously doesn’t make life easier for smaller labels since they don’t operate with big budgets. And in the end, the hip hop consumer is the one that ultimately suffers because he or she might never get to hear some of the best underground hip hop available.

How Hip Hop Started

Hip hop means many different things. It was first used to refer to the culture and way of life of urban city New York City. But, since then, the term has taken on a life of its own. The most popular meaning of hip hop is now music. Hip hop or rap as it is also called has several origins. In fact, there is no one origin that can be called the only one. There are several histories about how hip hop got started.

First of all, the influences that helped to inspire hip hop are thought to be traced back to African culture, but it isn’t until the multicultural mix of New York City that the music began to flow. But, even if we do not have a clear picture as to when hip hop was started, we do know that there are some major players in its history.

For example, one type of hip hop called dub is traditionally Jamaican style. Other forms such as Reggae are evident from the 1960’s. Through development with artists such as U-Roy, Dr. Alimontado and Dillinger that most began to change to incorporate a more obvious baseline and percussion element. Blues music also came to light inspiring another turn in the culture.

When we talk about the term of hip hop, we are often brought back to Kool Herc, a DJ when he began working with Afrika Bambaataa. There are many more people that fold into the story of how hop hip hop got started. If you want to take it back to decades ago with the combination of African music, reggae and blues you will find a line of wonderful artists. Or, with the urban culture of inner city New York, there is another line of artists that have made their mark. One thing is clear, though; hip hop continues to make history for years to come.

To find more information about how hip hop got started, you can find a wide range of information available to you right on the web. And, with so many people needing this information and wanting to know the roots of this music genre, it is safe to say that what you need to know is available to you here, on the web.