Confused over "West Coast Hip Hop" listing specs

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AlexanderFox
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Confused over "West Coast Hip Hop" listing specs

Post by AlexanderFox » Tue Apr 29, 2014 9:00 am

Hi all, I'm putting together a track for listing #Y140506WH but I'm a bit confused by the listing and apprehensive about my track sounding "dated." The referenced artists, with the possible exception of The Game, are veteran rappers/producers from the heyday of Gangsta Rap (early-mid 90's), but the listing says they want "contemporary" tracks. What does this mean? Do I "update" the WC sound or go for something that sounds retro?

Any thoughts?

Here's the listing and the track (first rough mix) if anyone wants to take a listen.

https://soundcloud.com/alexanderfox/wes ... st/s-qT8Tp

WEST COAST, HIP HOP INSTRUMENTAL TRACKS are needed by an Independent Record Label owned by a top dawg Hip Hop artist (he's one of the biggest and best!). They need contemporary Instrumental Tracks in the general ballpark of artists like Dr. Dre, The Game, Too $hort, Ice Cube, etc. Please submit Tracks with plenty of bounce, bottom end, and Gangsta Rap appeal. Your Track's production, tempo, and vibe need to be authentic to the WEST COAST, HIP HOP genre. Do NOT submit any material with unauthorized samples of other artists' songs, sounds, or any other form of media. Please submit one to three Instrumental Tracks online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a Yes/No basis by a person handpicked by the Label- No full critiques. Submissions must be received no later than Tuesday, May 6, 2014.
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Re: Confused over "West Coast Hip Hop" listing specs

Post by cassmcentee » Tue Apr 29, 2014 10:06 am

I like what you've got going Alex!
The only thing standing out for me (listening through little speakers)...
Is the scratch.
We have so many to choose from and the one you picked feels a hair slow to me for where you have it and the tempo of the song.
Could do one of two things.
1. Take the initial one as a wave form and do a negative timestretch on it (not much) so that it is a hair quicker or
2. Pick another scratch that resolves a hair sooner
2 cents from my first impression
Good Luck!
Robert "Cass" McEntee
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Re: Confused over "West Coast Hip Hop" listing specs

Post by AlexanderFox » Tue Apr 29, 2014 11:02 am

Thanks cass, it was the scratch in particular that I was concerned made it sound too dated, but it sounds from your comments that it's the quality of the scratches (ie, speed) that jumps out as needing fixing, not the presence scratches themselves. Thanks for lending your ears and feedback!
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Re: Confused over "West Coast Hip Hop" listing specs

Post by cassmcentee » Tue Apr 29, 2014 12:06 pm

I hear ya Alex, are scratches dated? Yes they are to some degree...
But not if they are spot on, done to perfection!
Modern Production technique has a lot to do with Top Line Hip Hop
Used in new creative ways... 2 cents
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Re: Confused over "West Coast Hip Hop" listing specs

Post by Russell Landwehr » Wed Apr 30, 2014 4:31 am

cassmcentee wrote: 2 cents
I thought it was 50 cent and 2 chains
Multi-Genre Composer and Producer of TV and Film music Providing Easy to Use Cues for Every Scene

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Re: Confused over "West Coast Hip Hop" listing specs

Post by AlexanderFox » Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:51 am

Thanks all for your comments. Results came out and this track was returned as being insufficiently "fresh" and "contemporary." I'm still scratching my head over why they would reference an artist (Dre) who hasn't released an album since 1999 and then tell me my track in that style sounds dated. Oh well.
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Re: Confused over "West Coast Hip Hop" listing specs

Post by andygabrys » Sat Jun 07, 2014 1:50 pm

likely in this case they collapsed the two distinct facts in the listing making it sound unclear.

style like DRE etc.

and contemporary.

my read - Like what would DRE be doing today, but trying to draw a line between DRE and other artists of note.

I agree with Cass - scratching and 16th note double time hi-hats are both somewhat dated, as are IMO based on what I hear really moving bass lines. They are a quick way to make the listener believe its Hip-hop, but the contemporary aspect is another story. Look at the number of songs in hip-hop and pop these days that have extremely rhythmic double-timed vocals against a really basic kick and snare or kick and clap beat. Take the vocal away and the locomotion goes away. So when doing an instrumental you might need to depend on some of these things like the 16th note high hats to provide that drive. How its actually employed makes it sound like today or yesterday.

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Re: Confused over "West Coast Hip Hop" listing specs

Post by GavinKMusic » Sun Jun 08, 2014 5:55 am

Hi Alex, Love the track. I guess they were looking for more of a current sound. I'm thinking an element of Trap is whats going on in Hip Hop now. Also with some Dub Step thrown in. 808 booming bass always good and of course some solid kicks, snares and hi hats.

However I'm sure your track will find a home. Sounds very West Coast and authentic. Street cred. 8-)

as for scratching on my last track I made an effort to stay way from it as I thought it would date my track. I don't think they are using much scratching anymore.
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