How to Make Rap Beats - Your Best Choices

No matter how good a rapper is, it boils down to the beats...

Think about it: how many times have you heard a completely wack rapper on the radio, and thought to yourself "If this guy's popular, why aren't I winning Grammies?"

The painful answer is: you weren't produced by Dr. Dre, Kanye West or The Neptunes. The truth of the matter is, you've got to learn how make dope rap beats if you want to succeed. Here's some advice on how to do this as quickly as possible:

Purchase beats from a site

Beats365.com has got some really good beats, though you may have to search around to find one you really like. I really like having access to the additional special sound effects, which come in handy.

Beats2rap2.com has a better variety, though that may be my personal taste. Clean production and royalty free beats.

Craiglist.org can be a place to advertise for beats, though this route tends to be more expensive, as they generally charge by the beat.

Learn To Make Your Own

There are a whole slew of resources out there that will teach you how to make rap beats. RapBeatTips offers a solid introductory course on how to create beats, probably the best in my opinion.

Technology

Fruity Loops: Nothing but solid technology here. Very easy to learn, and can really get you up and running in no time.

Cakewalk

Here's a site that offers free software: http://making-music.blogspot.com/2006/01/big-list-of-free-music-making-software.html

I would suggest that if you don't have any musical experience, that you focus more on beatmaking software first, and leave things like specific instruments, melodies and harmonies alone for now. Get your feet wet, then proceed as your skills improve.

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