Hiphop track too late for S070509HH...

[triviul]

I've only just joined Taxi and the following listing caught my eye in the first set of listings I got:"A Los Angeles-based Independent Label with major distribution is seeking slammin', "street drivin'" HIP HOP TRACKS/BEATS for one of their Rap artists, who will be recording their next project in mid-2007. They've been working with numerous multi-platinum producers, but are still seeking great beats for their newest CD. Style-wise, they're open, but think Kanye West, Timbaland, Dr. Dre -- unique yet accessible/commercial tracks with huge hooks."I'd been wanting to try my hand at a hiphop backing track for a while, and this listing inspired me to get off my arse and have a go. However, I saw the listing too late to be able to finish the track in time to submit it to the listing before the deadline. Although I listen to the name-checked artists a lot, this is my first foray into putting together this kind of material myself, so I'd appreciate anyone's feedback on whether I'd have had a snowball's chance in hell of getting a forward for this one. Also, if anyone here *was* forwarded, it would be great to hear what you submitted so that I can get a better idea of how high the bar is for this kind of thing.The track is on my Taxi homepage, and is called "Widow".

[sgs4u]

your stuff is wicked, brother. I thoroughly enjoy your music. I don't know if it's hip hop, but it's really unique. I thought maybe in the "Widow" tune, the bass is too prominent. But WOW! I like what you do.

[triviul]

Quote: your stuff is wicked, brother. I thoroughly enjoy your music. I don't know if it's hip hop, but it's really unique.Thanks for the encouragement! Most of the stuff on my Taxi page is my own music, which isn't really hiphop at all. It's just that I listen to hiphop a lot and thought I might be able to do a bit of that alongside my own music.Quote:I thought maybe in the "Widow" tune, the bass is too prominent. I know what you mean. I think I pushed it a little hard. I think it sounds alright on small speakers, but I think I might tone down the sub-80Hz stuff so that it doesn't leap out too much on the bigs. Thanks again for the feedback!

[jeffe]

MY favourite of yours is still "Better" . I was trying to imagine singing/rapping on this one. If anything it seemed a fraction too fast for the content. Only a few BPM.This is only my opinion though I think this would have a good chance for that sort of listing because it's close to the style, and It's different. Sort of what it was asking for.

[triviul]

Quote:MY favourite of yours is still "Better" . My wife's a big fan of that one too -- it was the last one I finished. Everyone seems to have their own favourite though -- there doesn't seem to be one that everyone I've played these tracks to agrees on.Quote:I was trying to imagine singing/rapping on this one. If anything it seemed a fraction too fast for the content. Only a few BPM.I was restricted a bit by the loop I used. In a couple of weeks I should be getting Recycle, so then I'll probably pull things back a bit tempo-wise.Quote:triviul, "Widow" sounds like a usable Hip hop backing though it lacks any real hook. It's more of an atmosphere then a driving beat track... base is prominent but it lacks the kind of groove you wanna hear again and again.Fair enough. I'd imagined the vocal sample to be the main hook (hence the track name), but I can see that it's not perhaps the hookiest of vocal phrases. Besides, I haven't played it back at double speed to get that chipmunk effect... Quote:also, if "Gimme Dorothy Alright", is what you produce with a lazy arse. I'd love to see what happens when you've had a pot of coffee. Honestly! I really enjoyed discovering your sound. There's a lot to like, but what I found most compelling, production aside, is how you express yourself vocally... you tell a story and create texture at the same time. You push the voice completely forward in the mix, without apology.Glad you liked the tracks! My voice is a bit unusual, so I figured that the best policy was to make it a feature rather than acting embarassed and burying it in the mix. Incidentally, I just checked out your Myspace -- thanks for turning me on to Paolo Nutini!

[apjc10]

it's good man but...it's not on that level. I would back down the tone of the kick, there is a crackle behind it that may have been intentional but...I don't think it works with what you are trying to do. Hip hop recently is very repetitive...just sit down with one hot drum loop and come up with a sick synth or bass line progression that you like enough to hear over and over for 5 minutes and you got a winner. There are exceptions to that but they are rare recently. God bless

[liamkelly]

HelloYou've asked for my 2 cents so you're gonna get it. Although I must warn you - me commenting on hip-hop is a bit like a ballet dancer commenting on architecture. Not impossible, but highly unlikely to mean anything.Firstly, the Middle Eastern chant is a good-ish hook but you've over-used it. So you've gone from tension/release to release and the horse has bolted down to Cambridge.Secondly, there's no vocal hook. And (I think) this defines contemporary American hip hop. I respect the difference between rap, gangsta, HH, HH soul, R & B etc but your track sounds like a hip hop track with the rap/vocal hook taken out.I also get a trip-hop feel here - it reminds me of that Bristol sound of the late 90s (Tricky, Massive Attack) which is by no means a bad thing, but maybe not right for a USA hip hop listing. But then again, what do I know?!

[triviul]

Quote:it's good man but...it's not on that level. I would back down the tone of the kick, there is a crackle behind it that may have been intentional but...I don't think it works with what you are trying to do. Hip hop recently is very repetitive...just sit down with one hot drum loop and come up with a sick synth or bass line progression that you like enough to hear over and over for 5 minutes and you got a winner. There are exceptions to that but they are rare recently. Thanks for the feedback -- particularly because I think this is more your home style than mine! I've had several comments now that are basically pointing to my hook being a bit lame, so that's obviously something I've got to work on more. I'm not sure I can bring myself to be really repetitive, because most of the hip-hop tracks I like best have a bit more in the way of arrangement dynamics than that. I might just have to wait for that to come back into fashion... Thanks again!

[triviul]

Quote:You've asked for my 2 cents so you're gonna get it. No problem. I am officially Incredible Teflon Ego Man.Quote:Firstly, the Middle Eastern chant is a good-ish hook but you've over-used it. So you've gone from tension/release to release and the horse has bolted down to Cambridge. Interesting one this. Do you think I should maybe use it either in the verse or in the chorus, but not both? Or is it just that it occurs too frequently? I already made it less frequent in that version, so I'd be intrigued which other ones you'd have canned. If I canned, say, the verse vocal phrases, would it then need some kind of different verse hook? Sorry -- overflowing with questions...Quote:Secondly, there's no vocal hook. And (I think) this defines contemporary American hip hop. I respect the difference between rap, gangsta, HH, HH soul, R & B etc but your track sounds like a hip hop track with the rap/vocal hook taken out. I can understand having a hookier vocal sample, but adding in rapped hooks? I was under the impression that this was the artist's job... Maybe I'm just being naive.Quote:I also get a trip-hop feel here - it reminds me of that Bristol sound of the late 90s (Tricky, Massive Attack) which is by no means a bad thing, but maybe not right for a USA hip hop listing. I'll put my hands up on that one -- I'm a big Massive Attack and Portishead fan, although I wasn't consciously thinking of them here. Maybe I should! Anyway, thanks again for the comments.

[liamkelly]

Ah Teflon. Non stick. Unlike me!I didn't think you should lose the sample. At all. I thought it appeared too many times. Maybe less times. Also maybe filter it as the song progresses. So it unwinds. Tension, release, tension, release.Good point about the rap being the artist's responsibility - I didn't read the spec (in typical fashion) so I've ended up commenting on a track without properly reading the spec. Sorry. I thought you had to submit the rap component too.I personally wouldn't be put off about comments re it being too bass heavy. That deep draggy bass is a sort of hook in itslef IMHO.I got a lot of returns when I first joined Taxi because I kept submitting to nearly opportunities ' Maybe they'll see the rock element in this', 'Maybe they'll see the pop element in that'. It didn't work for me. I now have a great forward rate because I'm really selective with my submissions.I'm not sure why I said that.I've also had many great mornings after listening to Portishead. Maybe it's a careful submission thing.I'm rambling. Sorry.Liam