Copying beats

Have you ever tried, like when you were starting out, to copy a beat made by someone else? Using similar, if not the same samples etc and actually emulate a beat from an album? Just wondering...

still do sumtimes

i havent yet !! but i think about doin it , just get sidetracked.
but i think this is a great way to learn from. don't put the song on an album or anything but just learn how to assemble a song this way.

learn to sett your swing and sett bars drop out and everything else.
i would'nt call it biteing if you and your own style to it.

I've done it before just to freak the sample to my liking. Most cats who has heard what I did even like the way I freaked the sh!t. So I would say try it. To me emulating one of your favorite producers makes you grow and understand how they produce a track and making a track to your style shows you that you can be on the same level.

loo2004ep wrote:still do sumtimes

exactly. it helps you get a glimpse into how that given producer puts things together. but most importantly.....i did it in the beginning.....it was like training wheels for me. helped me see how to layer it, etc....no doubt.

i do this with every beat i hear...except that i do it in my head.

i take apart each sound and figure out what its doing...then i look at the whole picture and see how each sound interacts with each other....also how the transitions work, chorus,etc.

then i also compare differant producers.

eventually you pick up on things that make your tracks better.....things like how the bass accents the piano, or how the kick is layered, etc.

the other day i was wonder how i should incorporate my chorus...i heard a similar rza beat, and decided to do it his way, and it worked. basically i just cut out the drums during the chorus and it sound good....when befor i was pushing the drums too much and it didnt flow.

ive never copied exactly but i might hear a track and then say thats dope so i use the same instruments they use but rearrange them differently..i just get in that kinda mood sometimes when im really feelin a song..i never use the same sample though