Hip hop track for review

[melodist]

Hello Taxi boards!This is my first post on the forum! I've been a Taxi member for a few years, but just now getting serious about it. I quit my day job, moved to a cabin in the woods, and am challenging myself as much as possible. I am submitting this track to an upcoming hip hop listing, and could really use some feedback.http://www.damiansol.com/mp3/Cabin-Fever.mp3NEW LISTING -- HIP HOP INSTRUMENTALS IN ALL CURRENT STYLES are needed by a West Coast-based Music Publisher who typically supplies music to companies such as Muzak (tracks for retail shops, restaurants, malls, etc.) and also wants to find great material for TV projects, as he has prominent contacts in that world as well. Be sure there are no vocals on these tracks and no uncleared samples. He's asked us to be extra selective in what we forward -he wants quality over quantity -so your performances must be excellent.Here are some specific questions/comments:- Would you consider this track as a "current style"?- Is the ending considered a "button ending"? - Does the "gangster lead" sound too dated (I think it might be coming back??)- Does the vocal sample violate the definition of an instrumental track?- Does the clarinet violate the definition of hip hop?- I feel like I need to add a crash (or other washy element) in the beginning of each chorus (needs to pop more in contrast with the previous part)Thanks a lot in advance for any feedback,Damian

[slideboardouts]

Feb 19, 2009, 2:36pm, ig88 wrote:If you pay for samples you should not be a producer. Field record and process samples through effects. Thats a pretty bold and sweeping statement. Not to mention incorrect. Pollow wrote the majority of Ushers last big hit using apple loops, Rhianna's hit "Umbrella" used a garageband drum loop, and as Patrick mentioned Modern Beatz loops and samples are used quite a bit. In fact, a recent ludacris single was done using a horn loop from modern beatz. And that beyonce song, "Single Ladies" I think is what it is called, uses clap samples from modern beatz.There is nothing wrong with buying and using loops and samples, it makes your compositions more dynamic if used properly. What if you need a didgeridoo? I don't even know where to find a didgeridoo, much less a didgeridoo player Thats where buying loops and samples really becomes handy...it gives you access to elements you otherwise wouldn't have (not to mention better gear to record them with). Feb 19, 2009, 2:36pm, ig88 wrote:Seriously no reverb on drums?Are you kidding? The first sign of beginner production is a dry drum kit. Again, you are incorrect. It really depends on the application. A real "sign" of beginner "production" is not using the appropriate tools for the application. Very dry or even completely dry drum kits are used on some very big hits and frequently used library cues.-Steve

[ig88]

Feb 19, 2009, 4:09pm, slideboardouts wrote:Feb 19, 2009, 2:36pm, ig88 wrote:If you pay for samples you should not be a producer. Field record and process samples through effects. Thats a pretty bold and sweeping statement. Not to mention incorrect. Pollow wrote the majority of Ushers last big hit using apple loops, Rhianna's hit "Umbrella" used a garageband drum loop, and as Patrick mentioned Modern Beatz loops and samples are used quite a bit. In fact, a recent ludacris single was done using a horn loop from modern beatz. And that beyonce song, "Single Ladies" I think is what it is called, uses clap samples from modern beatz.There is nothing wrong with buying and using loops and samples, it makes your compositions more dynamic if used properly. What if you need a didgeridoo? I don't even know where to find a didgeridoo, much less a didgeridoo player Thats where buying loops and samples really becomes handy...it gives you access to elements you otherwise wouldn't have (not to mention better gear to record them with). Feb 19, 2009, 2:36pm, ig88 wrote:Seriously no reverb on drums?Are you kidding? The first sign of beginner production is a dry drum kit. Again, you are incorrect. It really depends on the application. A real "sign" of beginner "production" is not using the appropriate tools for the application. Very dry or even completely dry drum kits are used on some very big hits and frequently used library cues.-Steve I apologize for being "bold" i suppose when some one is passionate about their perspective they might express it that way. Maybe we are talking about different things, i am talking about hip hopMADLIBBlockheadElighImmortal Technique That is some flawless production. You are referencing "candy machine" beats that yes sell heavily to our mislead youth who only want a solid 808 and a clap so they can grind on a shallow jock and not spill their cheap can of Pabst. How are you a producer if you use a loop from Garage band? That is a DAW that is given to mac users for free. If my cat had opposable thumbs i could teach it to drag a loop from garage band. And a Digg-a-dooo? we are also on a different page. I am talking about drum loops. Of course every track needs a different approach depending on what you are trying to do. But Hip Hop genre only using dry hits? That is a bold statement

[dommydom]

Feb 19, 2009, 4:09pm, slideboardouts wrote:What if you need a didgeridoo? I don't even know where to find a didgeridoo, much less a didgeridoo player i'm sure my mate Nathan kaye would be more than happy to help with that!http://www.nathankaye.com/***blatent plug over***

[slideboardouts]

Feb 20, 2009, 12:43am, ig88 wrote:Feb 19, 2009, 4:09pm, slideboardouts wrote:Thats a pretty bold and sweeping statement. Not to mention incorrect. Pollow wrote the majority of Ushers last big hit using apple loops, Rhianna's hit "Umbrella" used a garageband drum loop, and as Patrick mentioned Modern Beatz loops and samples are used quite a bit. In fact, a recent ludacris single was done using a horn loop from modern beatz. And that beyonce song, "Single Ladies" I think is what it is called, uses clap samples from modern beatz.There is nothing wrong with buying and using loops and samples, it makes your compositions more dynamic if used properly. What if you need a didgeridoo? I don't even know where to find a didgeridoo, much less a didgeridoo player Thats where buying loops and samples really becomes handy...it gives you access to elements you otherwise wouldn't have (not to mention better gear to record them with). Again, you are incorrect. It really depends on the application. A real "sign" of beginner "production" is not using the appropriate tools for the application. Very dry or even completely dry drum kits are used on some very big hits and frequently used library cues.-Steve I apologize for being "bold" i suppose when some one is passionate about their perspective they might express it that way. Maybe we are talking about different things, i am talking about hip hopMADLIBBlockheadElighImmortal Technique That is some flawless production. You are referencing "candy machine" beats that yes sell heavily to our mislead youth who only want a solid 808 and a clap so they can grind on a shallow jock and not spill their cheap can of Pabst. How are you a producer if you use a loop from Garage band? That is a DAW that is given to mac users for free. If my cat had opposable thumbs i could teach it to drag a loop from garage band. And a Digg-a-dooo? we are also on a different page. I am talking about drum loops. Of course every track needs a different approach depending on what you are trying to do. But Hip Hop genre only using dry hits? That is a bold statementYou sound like you are on some kind of righteous music snob kick here. I'm not going to argue with you about what "true" hip hop production/composition/whatever is or is not. Luckily, I realized years ago that none of that kind of stuff matters. I've signed a ton of hip hop cues using nearly or even completely "dry hits." None of them are righteous enough for you I'm sure, but a contract is a contract and royalties are royalties...and I thoroughly enjoyed writing each piece. Right now I'm collaborating with a guy whose worked with a number of a-list artists and everything I've sent over uses dry drums - not a problem. Our projects are still going forward for both artist and film placement. Again, it depends on the application. Sometimes alot of verb is called for and sometimes it is not.You can do whatever, but don't come on here telling people that they shouldn't be composing hip hop because they use bought samples etc. That comment of yours to Patrick is what really rubbed me the wrong way, especially since Patrick was giving the OP good advice. Not only was your comment incorrect, but it came off as arrogant and its not beneficial to anybody here learning how to better their craft. We're not here on a musical crusade, most of us are here learning how to make a living off of doing what we love to do. Using every resource that we can get our hands on is part of that process.-Steve

[partyofone]

hey guys, yeah no hard feelings.. I certainly can relate to being disappointed in the unoriginality of much popular music, be it hip-hop, rock, or whatever. I'm certainly no expert and I as write that I'm hearing drier drums in most mainstream hip-hop there's some hit climbing the charts with the wettest snare ever ha ha. no wrong way of course, but some of the taxi listings do cater to trends in mainstream music.and certainly nothing wrong with having a strong opinion.. I think around this forum we just tend to take more of the approach like there isn't necessarily a right and wrong way to go about things. people give good advice but it's definitely given with a dose of humility. also I do dig madlib and checked out the other mc's you listed... pretty good stuff. I'd never heard eligh. that being said...how'd the track end up Damian?