Alright there...
Here's my instrumental hip-hop tracks I've written for various people. Basically, the tracks which are free downloads can be freely used for any non-commercial purpose. The others are basically just to give an idea of my approach to hip-hop, which admittedly isn't the most conventional.
If you would like me to write a beat for you, get in touch. I'm always looking to work with interesting MC's who actually have something to say....
As far as hip-hop goes, I got into it by second-hand exposure: by listening to bands who had hip-hop influences. Stuff like The Prodigy, Rage Against The Machine, Eels, Space, Asian Dub Foundation, etc. Later, I met UCallMeSir and started writing beats for him and various others, including Stain(ed) Art and Click.
The first proper hip-hop I recall hearing was on Liam Howlett's "Dirtchamber Vol 1" mix album. The thing that really caught my ear was the breakbeat style drums on tracks like "Give The Drummer Some". My first musical love really was rave and I later discovered that a lot of that was built on hip-hop drum tracks which had been sped up, as well as numerous vocal samples from the likes of Rakim, Kool Keith and Public Enemy.
Also, because I had been writing instrumental dance stuff (breakbeat, jungle, techno, house and much else besides) for years, my approach to hip-hop instrumentals is to employ the same sort of structures and techniques. I'm not interested in making crap minimalist, repetitive beats where the same 4 bars go round and round until everyone is overcome with nausea. To my mind, a good hip-hop beat should be able to stand up as a purely instrumental track. It should have dynamic variation.
Anyway, my idea of good hip-hop is stuff like Saul Williams, The Coup, Mr Lif, Edan, Eyedea & Abilities, Eric B & Rakim, Ultramagnetic MCs, Public Enemy, RJD2, Klashnekoff, Jehst, Skinnyman, Son of Nun, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, etc
Renoise for all my sequencing, tons of VST/i's, electric guitar, Line 6 Guitar Port, Alesis M1 Active 620 monitors, Audiophile 2496 soundcard.
Check my main page: .