If you ever browse producer forums, sooner or later, you'll run into posts discussing equipment needed to be a hip-hop producer. Inevitably, the Akai MPC, ASR-10, and other famed pieces of hip-hop equipment will come up in the discussion. Some will say that these pieces of equipment are necessary to be a true hip-hop producer while others will come to the defense of software instruments and more modern machines. How important is equipment to becoming a hip-hop producer and does equipment truly matter? If so, what equipment is the best? In today's article, we will discuss this idea and more.
The answer (in my opinion) to whether or not equipment matters in getting a true hip-hop sound is yes and no. As a producer, you need equipment that you enjoy using and that inspires you or else you won't enjoy making music. When you don't enjoy making music, your music won't sound inspired and the end result won't be as good. Thus, in regards to the question of whether or not equipment matters, it does. It matters that you enjoy, understand, and are inspired by the equipment that you use.
However, an individual piece of equipment is not core to being a hip-hop producer. What matters more than the selection of an individual piece of equipment is a named brand instrument is whether or not a producer is comfortable and knows how to use that equipment. If a producer prefers the workflow of Fruity Loops over an Akai MPC, he'll make better music on Fruity Loops...period. Furthermore, hip-hop predates any of these legendary production machines. Hip-hop started by manually looping records by spinning two copies of the same record on a turntable. The equipment that came after certainly aided in this process, but hip-hop was being produced before these machines came out.
Secondly, few people understand why these pieces of machinery became legendary. When hip-hop was growing, instruments such as the MPC and SP-1200 were best-in-class for what they did at the time. The producers of yesteryear bought and used them for this reason. However, producers and musicians become very attached to their instruments and are reluctant to change them. After all, how many people really want to learn a new tool and production workflow after they've been using the same workflow for years? Of course, that generation of producers influenced the generation of producers after them and gave them the impression that they "needed" these pieces of equipment to produce hip-hop. Of course, when every producer in a generation has a piece of equipment, it certainly can appear like those pieces of equipment are must haves. However, at the end of the day, that's like saying you need to wear Nike shoes to be a good basketball player since Nike is so embedded in the world of basketball.
Despite the prevalence of these classic machines, technology has grown tremendously since the classic wave of hip-hop instruments were produced. Many of the classic instruments have modern day incarnations of their ancestors. However, there are also other manufacturers making great equipment as well.
Do not think that any one piece of equipment will make you a great producer. The important thing is to find a piece of equipment that you enjoy to use and to master that. With all of the great hardware and software options these days, there are many paths to getting the sound that you want.
The answer (in my opinion) to whether or not equipment matters in getting a true hip-hop sound is yes and no. As a producer, you need equipment that you enjoy using and that inspires you or else you won't enjoy making music. When you don't enjoy making music, your music won't sound inspired and the end result won't be as good. Thus, in regards to the question of whether or not equipment matters, it does. It matters that you enjoy, understand, and are inspired by the equipment that you use.
However, an individual piece of equipment is not core to being a hip-hop producer. What matters more than the selection of an individual piece of equipment is a named brand instrument is whether or not a producer is comfortable and knows how to use that equipment. If a producer prefers the workflow of Fruity Loops over an Akai MPC, he'll make better music on Fruity Loops...period. Furthermore, hip-hop predates any of these legendary production machines. Hip-hop started by manually looping records by spinning two copies of the same record on a turntable. The equipment that came after certainly aided in this process, but hip-hop was being produced before these machines came out.
Secondly, few people understand why these pieces of machinery became legendary. When hip-hop was growing, instruments such as the MPC and SP-1200 were best-in-class for what they did at the time. The producers of yesteryear bought and used them for this reason. However, producers and musicians become very attached to their instruments and are reluctant to change them. After all, how many people really want to learn a new tool and production workflow after they've been using the same workflow for years? Of course, that generation of producers influenced the generation of producers after them and gave them the impression that they "needed" these pieces of equipment to produce hip-hop. Of course, when every producer in a generation has a piece of equipment, it certainly can appear like those pieces of equipment are must haves. However, at the end of the day, that's like saying you need to wear Nike shoes to be a good basketball player since Nike is so embedded in the world of basketball.
Despite the prevalence of these classic machines, technology has grown tremendously since the classic wave of hip-hop instruments were produced. Many of the classic instruments have modern day incarnations of their ancestors. However, there are also other manufacturers making great equipment as well.
Do not think that any one piece of equipment will make you a great producer. The important thing is to find a piece of equipment that you enjoy to use and to master that. With all of the great hardware and software options these days, there are many paths to getting the sound that you want.
About the Author:
Frank Lubsey is a part of the Jam Sonic production squad and composes jingles for small companies and instrumentals for artists. Visit his site for hip-hop beats for sale and to purchase beats.
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