Hip Hop: Beats and Drum Machines

Raphael Dabbs

Beats are a core element of hip hopproduction. Some beats are made using drummachines such as the Roland TR-808 and theAlesis SR-16.

Beats

Bloke with rather hairy hands demonstrates a drum machine in action

Other beats are sampled, and somebeats in hip-hop have been createdout of a combination of drummachine and sampling.

Live Drum Beats

Before samplers and synthesisers camealong, early hip hop hits such as “Rapper’sDelight” by the Sugarhill Gang and “TheBreaks” by Kurtis Blow were recorded withlive bands, including drummers.

Some modern hip-hop and rap artistssuch as The Goats, Common, and DJQuik.

Hip hop beat played on a drum kit

• Top Ten Best Hip Hop Beats