Hip Hop Material (suggestions/comments needed)

[inno]

Hi all!I'm not a member of TAXI at this time, but I think I may join. A friend of mine (taxi member) is going to remix/mix a couple of my songs in order to submit for video games, commercials, etc.. I would really appreciate any comments on my music (song structure, vocals, beat, etc.). Any and all comments are welcome.Below you will find the links to the three songs we feel may be submission material...and with your help they will be. Thanks for your time and ears! Inno"Check It Out":http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... m=true"Who Am I":http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... tream=true

[slideboardouts]

Hi inno,Its nice to see another hip hop guy in here. We're few and far between it seems.IMO, "Life" is the one that has the most potential so thats the one I'll focus on. Also, what little bit of success I've had with forwards and deals is with hip-hop instrumentals so I can't really give you any good feedback on lyrics/vocals (although I do think that the opening lines of "Life" are quite good).The drum pattern sounds fine, but the actual drum sounds themselves seem like they aren't quite right. They actually give the track a little bit of a dated sound. The kick sounds a little too much like a real kick with a hard beater on it. I would find a couple of other kick samples and then layer them on top of each other. Use compression to add a good thump. The same goes for the claps/snares. A dry crack snare layered with 2 different clap sounds usually yields some pretty good results. I think that the horn line sounds good, but a little too synthy IMO. If you had realistic horn samples I think that it would give the track more bite and a better feel overall. And then if you wanted you could layer the synthy horn sound underneath the authentic horn sounds to make it nice and thick...of course that might sound like crap too, you just have to try it and experiment a little. I'm not sure what gear you are working with, but for horns check out Kick Ass Brass. A buddy of mine that plays trombone in my city's symphony and who is particularly picky with his sample libraries thought that it sounded extremely good. Thats what I'm planning on getting The lead synth that comes in during the hook seems interesting, but its a little too low in the mix. I'd bring it up a little bit...maybe do some EQ or compression.Theres my 2cents. Hope it helps.-Steve

[inno]

Thanks Steve!I really appreciate the comments. We'll address them in the mix. Hopefully, we can get a few more comments before we actually do the mix. Thanks again...To the fresh ears, comments (good or bad) are welcome and appreciated.inno

[inno]

Hi all, I have received one comment for "LIFE..." I'm hoping to get comments (good or bad) on all three songs. Thanks for listening...don't forget to drop me a couple of lines once you've listened to all three songs. Help is beautiful,inno

[deantaylor]

Hey Inno,I can't help you much with production stuff .. not my thing, but I listened to all 3 songs and I liked your vocals and your lyrics seem good. It is a little much to ask people to review 3 songs. You might just post one at a time .. next time. I find it usually goes better that way.Dean

[ibanez468]

Inno,Listened to all 3. As mentioned above, the vocals are pretty good, lyrics seem good as well IMO. Not sure about the profanity. On "Who Am I", the double kick beat there seems a little fast to me. Possibly delay that second kick hit a little more? Maybe that was your intention, just seems a little too fast there. I'll have to agree with slideboard, "Life" has more edginess to it. Sounds more current to me. Builds up nicely @ the chorus, and has a little more goin' on, which keeps it more interesting. There's more energy flowin' with this one. Slides also makes a good point about the horns too. OTOH, you may be able to get away with it for this type of music, can't say for sure. Focus on pumping out more tunes that sound like Life, as that sounds more like somethin' that would possibly get forwarded for a rap/hip-hop listing. BTW, dean makes a good point too, 3 songs is a little excessive for most people to want to listen to. One at a time'll probably get you better results. Just my .02ibanez468

[inno]

Thanks Dean and ibanez468, and to everyone who listened. I think i was a bit overzealous with the three songs...next time, I just to one! I appreciate the time you took to respond, and look forward to more comments on other songs in the future.inno