LA Times piece on Making Beats

"According to a number of top-selling producers and industry observers, the beat has largely superseded the rapper performing over it as the driving force of the industry. And the music's true core today is the instrumental track — that is, everything but the words." LA Times November 20


http://www.calendarlive.com/music/cl-ca ... =cl-suncal

You may need to register to get on the LA times site, but this article is good reading